Sample syllabus including learning objectives, course description, grading criteria, and

classroom policies.

PGY 2401C - Photography

St. Petersburg College, Clearwater Campus CR 136

Fall 2017, Wednesday 5-10 PM

Bethany Souza, souza.bethany@spcollege.edu

office hours: M/W by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

PGY2401C is a beginning photography course which presents the fundamentals of

black and white darkroom photography. The course includes the study of photographic
composition, camera operation, film processing, print enlargement, and presentation.
Emphasis will be placed on photography’s use as a fine art and a medium of personal
expression.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the completion of this course students will:

• Identify the visual elements and principles of design

• Describe the parts of a single lens reflex camera

• Demonstrate the ability to properly expose black and white film using a manual

exposure 35 mm camera

• Demonstrate the ability to properly handle and process black and white film

• Demonstrate the ability to print professional quality darkroom prints with proper
density and contrast

• Identify important movements and works of art from the history of photography

• Analyze works of art using proper vocabulary (both in writing and group

critiques)

COURSE CONTENT/PHILOSOPHY
Although this is an introductory course, it is about more than just taking pictures; it is
about learning to see photography as a fine art form and to create visually compelling
imagery with a unique point of view. Please be aware that this course can be VERY
time consuming. Most of your “homework” will need to be done in the lab, so if you will
need to manage your time effectively in order to be successful.

EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS

Materials for this class are expensive. You should expect to spend a minimum of $200
on supplies (not including a camera). You may need to spend more spending on your
personal level of proficiency.

• Camera: 35mm with full manual controls (shutter, aperture, ISO setting, focusing
controls, working light meter)*
• Photographic paper: Resin Coated, Variable Contrast, 8” X 10”, 250 sheets

• 200 - 250 sheets estimated

• Recommended: Arista EDU (pearl or semi-matte surface), Ilford Multigrade

(pearl surface)

• Do not open photographic paper until you are in the darkroom!

• Black and white film: ISO100-400, 15 (estimated)

• Recommended: Kodak Tri-X (400), Arista EDU Ultra (100-400), Ilford HP5
400, Ilford FP4 125

• Do not buy color film or any black and white film marked “C41 process”

• Dry Mounting Tissue (8X10) and Mounting Board (11X14)

• Negative sleeves

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• Print preservers (for contact sheets and prints)

• 3 ring binder (for organizing negatives and prints)

• TOWEL (for drying wet hands)

• Apron and latex gloves (optional)

• Canned Air (optional)

* The department has some cameras available for checkout. They are available on a
first come, first served basis and it isn’t guaranteed that one will always be available
when you need it, nor can it be guaranteed that you will get the same brand/model
every time. If you are relying on check out cameras, work early and plan ahead. It is
your responsibility to have assignments done on time. You will not get an extension
because you waited until the last minute and there were no cameras available
and/or because you had technical difficulties with an unfamiliar camera.

A lot of class materials and supplies (filters, grain focusers, etc) are provided by
the department and shared with your classmates. Students are responsible for
shared equipment – if shared materials are lost or disappear, students will need
to purchase their own for the remainder of the semester and/or replace the
item(s) which were lost or damaged.

WHERE TO BUY SUPPLIES:

Local suppliers for analog photographic materials are limited. The bookstore usually
has a small supply of photographic film and paper, so you may wish to check with
them first.

Sams Golden Triangle (Tampa)

813-876-5211

B&H Photo

http://www.bhphotovideo.com

Freestyle

http://www.freestylephoto.biz

(freestyle is the only supplier of Arista products)

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TEXTBOOK:
• London & Stone, A Short Course in Photography-Film and Darkroom.
• The bookstore should have the newest edition (9th), earlier editions are acceptable

as long as they are not the “digital” edition.

GRADING
• Visual Assignments

(75% of final grade, 5 assignments - 15% each)

• Unit Quizzes

(15% of final grade)

• Participation

(10% of final grade)

Extra Credit Project (worth a possible 5% extra credit added to final grade)

In addition, you are required to attend a mandatory lab cleanup at the end of the
semester. If you fail to attend the required cleanup, your final grade will be
reduced by 5 percentage points.

• A’s (90-100%) are reserved for truly outstanding work that displays exceptional
effort and full mastery of the objectives of the assignment

• B’s (80-89%) are for above average work

• C’s (70-79%) are for work that fulfills the basic objectives of the assignment with
the minimum amount of effort

• D’s (60-69%) are for work that does not fully complete the objectives of the
assignment and/or displays a lack of appropriate effort

• F’s (below 60%) are for incomplete assignments, assignments turned in past the
acceptable deadline (see late work policy below) and assignments that display a
complete lack of effort and/or fulfillment of assignment objectives

Grades are not negotiable. If your final grade for the semester is close to the cutoff
the next letter grade (within a point), I may consider rounding it up (based on
attendance and participation) only if you have completed all the class projects AND the
extra credit assignment.

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LATE WORK
Late work will be marked down one letter grade for each class period that it is late. You
are still responsible for attending critiques even if your work is not complete. Failure to
attend and participate in critiques will negatively affect your class participation grade.

Late work is accepted up to two weeks after the project deadline.

ATTENDENCE:
The college-wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum http://
www.spcollege.edu/central/asa/addendum.htm. The policy notes that each
instructor is to exercise professional judgment and define “active participation” in
class (and therefore “attendance”), and publish that definition in each syllabus.

For this class an “absence” is defined as any of the following:

• Missing the entire class period

• Leaving class more than 30 minutes early

• Arriving to class more than 30 minutes late

• Not working on materials relevant to the current class project during the class

period

• Lack of proper preparation for class

Upon the third absence:

a.) Before the academic calendar withdrawal date (listed in the current SPC college
catalog) student may be dropped from the course.

b.) After the academic calendar withdrawal date (listed in the current SPC college
catalog) student will not be dropped from class, but instead may receive a failing grade
of “F.”

An “excused absence” is defined as an absence that is beyond the student’s control

(illness, car accident, etc). Any excused absence must include written documentation
for student to be able to make up any graded items (participation activities,
assignments, quizzes, etc). You are responsible for any material you miss when you are
absent, even if the absence is excused. Demonstrations and lecture materials will not
be repeated.

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LAB AND FACILITY HOURS:
Although some of the work required in this course will be completed during class time,
additional lab hours and homework time will be necessary to complete class
assignments depending on individual proficiency, previous experience, and the
availability of enlargers during class and outside time. Lab hours will be posted to
inform you when the room will be open for student use. The darkroom is for use by
photography students for work on class assignments only. No personal use is
permitted. The care and proper use of the equipment and materials is the responsibility
of each student. Food and beverages are prohibited in the photography lab.

Fall 2017 Lab Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00* p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00* p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00* p.m.

*White lights go on one hour before facility closes to allow for finishing and clean
up time. This means that you must stop working in the darkrooms and film
processing sinks at this time. You must be ready to leave the lab (prints washed
and everything cleaned up and put away) at closing time.

FINE PRINT
CLASSROOM CONDUCT:
Classroom behavior that interferes with either (a) the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or (b) the
ability of students to benefit from the instruction is not acceptable. Examples may include routinely
entering class late or departing early; use of beepers, cellular telephones, or other electronic devices;
repeatedly talking in class without being recognized; talking while others are speaking; or arguing in a
way that is perceived as “crossing the civility line.” In the event of a situation where a student legitimately
needs to carry a beeper/cellular telephone to class, prior notice and approval of the instructor is required.

DOCUMENTED DISABILITY INFORMATION:

If you wish to receive special accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make
an appointment with the Learning Specialist on this campus. If you have a documented hearing loss,
please contact the Program for the Deaf at 791-2628 (V/TDD). If you will need assistance during an
emergency classroom evacuation, it is imperative that you speak with your campus Learning Specialist
immediately about arrangements for your safety. Clearwater: 791-2710, Health Education Center:
341-3721, St.Petersburg/Gibbs: 341-4316, Tarpon Springs: 712-5789.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
All assignments, written or visual, are to be of the student’s own creation. The copying of material
without permission and crediting its author is plagiarism and considered grounds for failure or dismissal
from the course.

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COURSE/TEACHER EVALUATION:
Students have the opportunity to evaluate this course and its instructor through the online Student
Survey of Instruction (SSI) in Angel. Be aware to the particular dates for access to the survey.

DISCLAIMER:
This syllabus and associated schedule is a guide and may be amended as the course progresses. We
will discuss any changes as a group.