Course Syllabus

Syllabus Photography, One Half Unit

Mizzou Academy 

Welcome

We are pleased that you selected this course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Mizzou Academy's global student body.

 

Course Overview

This course is designed to give you a basic understanding of photography and design principles and to facilitate a joy of photography. Through this course, you will be taken through a number of projects that will take you beyond being a person who casually captures photos and turn you into someone who thinks about how you compose photos artistically.

The course will begin by looking at photography as an art form, looking at photographs for their composition, color, and overall design.  Your assignments will help you learn how take action photos, portraits, as well as landscape photos all with a smartphone or simple digital camera. Along the way, you will be building a portfolio of your best work for the final project in this course, which is your opportunity to show your growth and abilities as a photographer.

Photography has provided the opportunity for people to see the world in ways that they have never seen it before. It has the power to isolate the beauty and drama of the complex world in which we live. It can also make visible much of the inconsistency, emotion, and wonder we often do not see. Like all art, the most wonderful thing about photography is the way it shapes our vision to see the richness that surrounds our lives. Enjoy this course as you are introduced to an exciting new way of seeing.

Course Description

In this introductory photography course, students will learn the art of photography and develop basic photographing techniques to create their own photographs using artistic principles. Lesson topics include photography as an art; portrait, action, architecture, landscape, animal, and still life photography; and even stop-motion video. Students will need a smartphone or digital camera for their assignments.

Pacing

This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment. You can download the course pacing guide to help you keep track of your assignments. 

Required Materials

Note: Textbooks are electronic and embedded within the course so there is nothing you need to purchase or download.

Technical Requirements

The most up-to-date requirements can be found here: 

Additional requirements for the course are below: 

  • audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)

Accessibility

If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.

Exams

You are required to take proctored exams for this course. See the "About Exams" in the policies section for additional information on exams with Mizzou Academy

Grades

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on assignments and exams. You will be able to see your exam percentage in the "Exams" column in your gradebook.

Points Distribution
Source Available Points
Quizzes 180
Assignments 100
Midterm Project and Exam 250
Final Portfolio and Exam 170
Total 700

 

Grading Scale
Grade Percentage
A 90–100
B 80–89
C 70–79
D 60–69
F 0–59

After completing the course, unofficial transcripts will be available in the Tiger Portal. See this page for information on requesting official transcripts. 

Canvas and Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.

Credit

 

Julia dunn

Julia Dunn received bachelor's degrees in Printmaking and Distributive Studio Art with a minor in English from Truman State University. She received her Master's of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction and K–12 teaching certification, and is currently working on her PhD in Art Education at the University of Missouri.  She has taught art to kids from pre-K to high school and has taught Printmaking, art education and art history courses at the university level. She has written and reviewed curriculum for the Columbia Public Schools and has reviewed and recommended curriculum for the State of Missouri. She has shown her artwork locally and nationally and has been a juror for various shows and festivals. She has received recognition for excellence in teaching from the Missouri Fine Arts Academy and Columbia Public Schools. Ms. Dunn is currently the Secondary Art Lead Teacher for Columbia Public Schools, a mentor teacher, and is teaching Photography,  Advanced Placement Art History, and Advanced Placement Studio Art at Hickman High School in Columbia. She lives in Columbia with her husband and two daughters.

Farah Nieuwenhuizen

Farah Nieuwenhuizen has lived and traveled throughout Western Europe, Brazil, Canada, and the United States of America. These experiences laid the basis for her lifelong concern with cultural diversity. She studied painting at the Escola de Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before she continued her studies in the visual arts at Washington University in St. Louis and at the University of Missouri in Columbia where she received her bachelor's degree in art education, K–12. For twenty years she taught at Hickman High School in Columbia, where she was recognized as an outstanding teacher. She has written and reviewed art curriculum for the Columbia Public Schools. While teaching at Hickman High School, she became the major contributor to the production of the annual multicultural assembly. Ms. Nieuwenhuizen has received several awards for her painting, batik, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber arts at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia and art shows at the Boone County National Bank and the Columbia Art League. Her artwork has been on display in several regional art exhibits. Also, she has taught art education at the University of Missouri's College of Education, where she received a High Flyer Award in fall 2001. She is currently teaching art at the Stephens College Children's School. Ms. Nieuwenhuizen lives in Columbia with her husband; they have four children and six grandchildren.