I'm starting college next year, (I'm a Senior in high school as of right now) and I've been wanting to teach photography as a career. The only problem is, I'm not sure how to start all of this. I've talked to my councilor about this and she said my best bet was to get a B.A and a Masters in Art specializing in photography and then somewhere along the line get a teaching credential, so I'm able to teach. She also suggested to talk to the professor who teaches photography at the college I wanted to go to, which is Fresno State.

I was hoping I could get some help with all of this to get me going in the right direction. I know some APUG users here teach photography and I'd love to hear from you too. :)

What level do you want to teach? Most (if not all) colleges require a MFA or MA to teach --not sure about a teaching credential (I don't have one and teach at a community college). I don't know about other regions, but where I live there is a shortage of film/darkroom based instructors. And full classes!

I teach photography at a small liberal arts college, as well as teaching at Boston University's Center for Digital Imaging Arts (DC campus), and I do not have an MFA. Instead I have a BS in Photojournalism from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications, and 30 years of experience as a working professional.

After teaching one semester, I enjoy the texperience so much, I've now enrolled in a Master of Liberal Arts program. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

My favorite photo professor at SU had a BFA, MFA, and a PhD in education. He's now retired, flying his ultralite.

Robert Hanashiro, USA Today's Los Angeles bureau photographer, attended Fresno State (Go Bulldogs), and is the founder of SportsShooter.com. Go to the web site, link to his page, and shoot him an e-mail to learn of his experience at Fresno. He might take a little time getting back to you because he's in Beijing covering the Olympics right now. He's very helpful.

Concentrate on learning as much as you can about photography before worrying about teaching. Shot, shot, shot, and always shot photographs. Making a portfolio is the key (something that is never completed 'cause it is a lifetime of work).

What level do you want to teach? Most (if not all) colleges require a MFA or MA to teach --not sure about a teaching credential (I don't have one and teach at a community college).
I was thinking about teaching at college level. I actually wanted to teach at Fresno State because I think they still do everything by darkroom. It was hard for me to find a college that still taught traditional photography, until I learned that my local State collage still did it the old fashion way. lol

@ Pinholemaster
Thanks, I'll be sure to email him. :)
Yes, I know practice makes perfect. lol It's just my parents have really been pushing college on me and I don't think they're very fond of my decision, but I just wanted to get everything covered so I can get some kind of understand of what I need to do.

In addition to an MFA you might also want to actively participate in the Society For Photographic Education (http://www.spenational.org/) whenever you can. Networking through SPE could prove very helpful.

Something other posters have missed is better colleges & universities will also want to see experience, either of commercial work, or as an artist/exhibiting photographer.

In the UK it's becoming the norm to be required to obtain some type of teaching certificate/diploma, but these can be obtained while you are teaching. This is part of an overall effort to improve the quality of teaching in higher education establishments.

Ian

Hi, I suggest you talk to Steve Dzerigian who ran the photo department at Fresno City College for 30 years. He would also be able to suggest other professors to talk with. You can get in touch with him through Spectrum Gallery in Fresno.

Jon

I've talked to my councilor about this and she said my best bet was to get a B.A and a Masters in Art specializing in photography and then somewhere along the line get a teaching credential

Your counselor got it right. Get the B.A. first. A broadly educated person will: A. be a better teacher, and B. have more in the way of options when job hunting. If you want to teach at the secondary level, try independent schools if the public school route seems less likely to have a traditional photo program.

I absloutelly agree with Pinholemaster in this:

Shot, shot, shot, and always shot photographs. Making a portfolio is the key (something that is never completed 'cause it is a lifetime of work).

I remember that saying which says: "Who can't do it, teach it"

So, don't become one of these. That is people who love photography, can't make good photographs themselves, but have enough theoretical knowledge to be able to teach photography, so they become teachers for just one reason: To be, atleast in that level, involved with things they love :)

Good luck

I suggest you talk to Steve Dzerigian who ran the photo department at Fresno City College for 30 years. He would also be able to suggest other professors to talk with. You can get in touch with him through Spectrum Gallery in Fresno.
Okay, will do. Thank you. :)

Alrightly, I'll follow your guys is suggestions and I agree with every one of you who said that it's important to develop your skills in photography too. So until colleges comes, that's what I'll be doing.

I remember that saying which says: "Who can't do it, teach it"

Those who can, do.
Those who can't , teach.
Those who understand, teach well.

I have a friend who has a MA in Art, 16+ years experience teaching photography (and print-making) at a community college and part time at a university (and very well liked and respected), but was not allowed to apply to a tenue-track position at the university (a CSU) because he did not have a MFA.

So it might be well to look into a BFA program that leads directly to a MFA program if you wish to teach on a university level. Otherwise you might spend an extra year or two going from BA to MA to MFA.

I believe a couple folks from Humboldt State University teach photo at Fresno at some level -- say hello to them from Vaughn for me (I take care of the HSU darkroom).

It is the norm for university teaching candidates to be selected on the strength of portfolio/exhibitions/published projects, assuming the position is in the Art department.

Good luck!

Jon

There is an awful lot to your question that is not being addressed here so far and YOU NEED TO KNOW.

The world of education is not a simple thing where you are going to be assured of getting what you expect. Like everything in life, many factors are at play, some of which can be anticipated, and some of which will surprise everyone, even (perhaps especially) the "experts". Economic factors are very difficult to predict and they influence jobs, programs, funding, enrollment, etc. It may surprise you, but fashion is a big one - what's in favor at a given time. Also, the nature of education has been changing, and not always in directions that those of us who are deeply committed to the liberal education like very much. For example, the direction it has gone lately overall seems to be that education ought to enable people to understand just enough to be able to do their job according to standards required by industry. This most likely isn't what you are thinking of in your wanting to teach.

There is a job market in education, just like in every other field. Institutions try to save money by hiring part-time instructors in place of full timers, denying even the possibility of achieving tenure to those part time educational heros who work their tails off for low pay, often with few or no benefits, often working two, three, or more jobs at as many campuses. It is not a simple matter of getting your MFA, and signing the contract. I myself have worked more than 200% of full time, and I know another faculty member who finally, after many years of teaching some 40+ credit hours on multiple campuses (full time is 16) actually got a full time contract. That is unusual. Most people who take part time jobs in academia never are able to convert them to full time positions.

Sometimes I am criticized for what the critics consider trying to discourage students, usually just until I explain my intentions. I don't wish to discourage students who really want to be professional photographers, teachers, etc. Rather, I simply want them to know what is involved. For example, I once had a student who wanted to be a Nat. Geo. photographer. This fellow showed up for class maybe four or five times in a quarter, never once made a deadline, had no ability to focus on how to achieve his goals and had no ability at all to organize anything. Is it wrong to tell him that he's exactly the kind of photographer that Nat Geo wishes only to avoid? I don't think so. I think students need REAL information, not bland encouragement that ignores the vital facts.

I don't know you, Alisha, but even so, I want you to go into this with your eyes wide open and make your choices on the basis of realistic evaluation of the whole picture. Read the Chronical of Higher Education, for example. It's a great paper, and it will be available in the library of every college in your area. They publish lots of articles that pertain to the field as a whole and specific changing areas, such as the current part time crisis, the emergence of online courses, the problems that teachers have with constantly increasing administratively imposed requirements (paperwork) etc. I would suggest that you interview some teachers, ask them hard questions and demand realistic, rather than just optimistic answers. Find out who the officers are of the local union at the colleges (usually the AFT) and interview them. Find out what areas they are working on in their negotiations with the administrations, what their successes have been, where their concerns are and where they think it is going.

If after doing this kind of research, you still want to teach, then you really belong in there doing it. If you are discouraged then it is far better to find out now, rather than after you've closed the other doors.

I myself have taught since 1972, and I really love it. I don't love ALL of it. I love the teaching. It is time for me to retire, but while I look forward to that, I suspect I'll still be down there on campus using the lab along with the students, even if I have to sign up to take the courses I used to teach from my successor. It has not been a particularly easy, or a secure life, but it has been a good one in many ways. Others have had different experiences, both "better" and "worse". If you really want to do it, I wish you all the success in the world. If you decide not to do it, I'd wish you the same.

@ bowzart
I don't at all consider what you've said a discouragement. I know teachers who've taught many years tell you the truth of how things are and usually it's not at all easy. I'll take what you said to heart, I've already been suggested by my councilor to interview other teachers who teach this field to get an understanding of how it's like. My councilor has also warned me that to teach, you have to have a lot of energy to spare because it's not just in class time that you have to worry about, but also everything else that comes with teaching. I might just be another "dreamer" like a lot of high school Seniors/college Freshmen, but I feel as if this is what I really want to do and I'm open to learning.

Hmmm, thought I already replied to this, but it seems not to have shown up.

@ bowzart
I don't at all consider what you've said a discouragement.... ...I'm open to learning.

Then you are exactly in the right place.

Best wishes.

L.