Easiest Photography Courses & Degrees for 2025

Are you interested in becoming a photographer? You may be able to achieve this dream by taking a few short-term courses, but if you want to take a deep dive into the art form, you may decide to pursue a degree in photography.

Read on as we discuss the various types of photography degrees available and which ones are the easiest to pursue. We'll also talk about some schools that offer photography degrees and answer other questions you may have.

What Are Different Types of Photography Degrees?

You can take photography courses at local community education centers or by enrolling in college-based courses available to the public. You can also pursue short-term certificates and associate degrees in photography.

For the purpose of this article, we'll be focusing mainly on photography bachelor's degree programs. Several different degrees are offered that fall into this category.

Let's take a look at some common bachelor's degrees that help you develop your skills in photography.

Photography - Bachelor of Arts

Many schools offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in photography or a degree in art with an emphasis on photography. These programs typically provide a broad academic foundation, preparing students for graduate-level studies or to work as a photographer in a wide range of fields.

In other words, students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in photography can keep their options open as they develop their picture-taking skills. Their versatile degree enables them to pursue a variety of academic and career paths.

Photography - Bachelor of Fine Arts

Some schools offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography. Fine arts degrees spend a lot of time and focus on helping students develop their skills in the specific art form of their choosing. So, a photography fine arts student would focus primarily on becoming a photographer.

Though this degree is similar to a Bachelor of Arts, it's more focused and provides a greater wealth of opportunities for students to study and perfect their craft.

Digital Media

You may be able to pursue a digital media degree at some schools. The degree may be offered as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts.

As the name suggests, students in these programs focus on understanding and producing various types of digital media for a variety of purposes. This often includes having a deep understanding of photography.

Photographic Design

Photographic design degrees or concentrations are specialized types of programs that focus on the design aspect of photography: knowing how to use digital media and programs to edit and improve photographs.

This degree is similar to graphic design in some ways, but also teaches the fundamentals of taking pictures and learning to market yourself as a photographer.

Photojournalism

Photography degrees are sometimes combined with other subjects such as communications and journalism. A photojournalism degree or concentration teaches students how to use photography skills for journalism.

Some of the topics students learn about in photojournalism degrees include:

• still photography
• journalism writing
• business best practices.

What Are the Easiest Photography Degree Programs?

Speaking in generalities, the degree level you choose may have a lot to do with how easy you personally find your program. An associate degree in photography, for example, may be considered easier than a bachelor's degree because it can be completed within two years and does not contain more advanced courses.

On the other hand, a master's degree in photography typically lasts two years, which is shorter than the average bachelor's degree (which takes about four years to complete); nevertheless, it may be considered more challenging due to the more advanced nature of the courses.

Finally, degree programs that focus on a specific area of photography, such as photographic design or photojournalism, may be considered easy by students who have a particular talent or interest in that specific area.

All that to say, the easiest photography degrees are the ones that are most well-suited to your particular interests and talents.

Can I Earn My Photography Degree Online?

Some schools offer online photography degrees for students. While these aren't necessarily easier than campus-based programs, they may work best for some students.

For example, if you need a flexible class schedule and the ability to work your studies around other family or life commitments, the ability to study online may make your life easier than trying to study on-campus.

On the other hand, the amount of self-discipline needed to thrive in an online degree program may make it harder for you to get your degree.

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is key to helping you determine whether enrolling in an online photography degree is right for you.

What Are Some Schools that Offer Online Photography Degrees?

Photography is a fairly common art degree at many schools. Let's take a closer look at a few of these schools and discuss the programs they offer.

1. Willamette University - Pacific Northwest College of Art

Pacific Northwest College of Art, located in Portland, Oregon, became affiliated with Willamette University in 2021. It is an art school enrolling about 500 students.

Students at this college can pursue Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, and Master of Fine Arts degrees. One of these is a bachelor's degree in photography.

This immersive program teaches students all they need to know about taking photos and photo production, as well as a variety of related skills to prepare them for work in a variety of professional and artistic settings.

2. Art Academy of Cincinnati

The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a small private art school in Cincinnati, Ohio. It enrolls fewer than 250 students.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography is available at this school. The program is interdisciplinary, allowing students to approach photography from a variety of angles and interests.

Students in this program are prepared for careers ranging from photojournalism to museum curation to commercial photography.

3. Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University is a public school headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It's a fairly large school with more than 16,000 students.

The school boasts a nationally recognized undergraduate program in visual journalism and photography. Two program concentrations are available: photography and photojournalism and documentary.

Students have the ability to focus on their personal and professional interests by choosing a concentration. They also have a wealth of opportunities to practice what they learn in the classroom through internships, study-abroad programs, freelance jobs, and workshops.

4. Delta State University

Delta State University is a public school in Cleveland, Mississippi. It has around 2,500 students.

The school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in photography. The program helps students develop many skills, such as darkroom procedures, studio lighting, and experimental photography techniques.

As part of the program, students create and submit a portfolio for review before advancing to upper-division classes.

5. Liberty University

Liberty University is a large private school that enrolls almost 100,000 students. Many of these students study online, though the school's physical campus is located in Lynchburg, Virginia.

A Bachelor of Science in digital design with a concentration in photographic design. This degree consists of 120 credit hours and can be completed either in-person or online.

Hands-on experience is gained through practicum and internship experiences, allowing students to put their book learning into practice to fine-tune their skills.

Start Your Photography Degree Today

If you're interested in pursuing an easy photography degree, consider some of the options discussed above to find out which one will work best for you.