Student Work

The Corcoran’s 120-credit photography program is mentored by faculty who are practicing artists themselves, dedicated to the role that lens-based media plays in our contemporary society. Fine Art Photography students at the Corcoran develop artistic and technical skills in tandem, in traditional darkrooms and on the cutting-edge of digital photography and video, or with a combination of the two. Because our curriculum lets you tailor your studies to your interests, interactions with other fine-art approaches such as sculpture and installation are encouraged.

The Corcoran’s 120-credit photojournalism program is one of the most innovative in the country, offering an ideal training ground for a new generation of creative visual reporters and documentarians. Our faculty includes working photographers from The Washington Post and other news media, White House photography staff, and picture editors from The National Geographic. The curriculum includes a variety of fine-art components that stress how important individual creativity is in today’s marketplace.

This 120-credit degree program provides students with the skills necessary to communicate complex information in creative and diverse formats. Students will gain competence in fundamentals of design, creating narratives with form, image, and typography. Learn design processes, methods, and communication strategies which include theory, aesthetics, culture, and practice. Students will learn state-of-the-art hardware and software used by design professionals in the field.

The Corcoran’s 120-credit Digital Media Design program concentrates on interactive design, motion graphics, animation, 3D modeling, character design, and digital filmmaking. With faculty comprised of professional animators, digital video editors, and interactive designers, students benefit from excellent instruction, an intimate classroom setting, and detailed critique feedback. During your four years of study, you will become engaged in an immersive educational experience in design, design history, interactive design, motion graphics, and animation.

The 120-credit Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design degree program is designed for students who wish to achieve expertise in this broad-based and fulfilling profession, channeling their creative talents to this important component of the built environment. The program addresses both commercial and residential design while ensuring students have an equally strong background in the humanities, including the essentials of the history of art and design.

The Foundation Year is an instrumental part of your education at the Corcoran College of Art + Design, and delivers the skills and experiences that will sustain you during your years at the Corcoran and the  evolution of your own art practice. The program is fundamental, focused, and flexible. Whether your intended major is in fine art, photography, design, or art studies, this important first-year curriculum is specifically designed to introduce you to the essential elements of visual thinking and critical understandings that underpin your creative process.

The Master of Arts in the Art and the Book Program offers a comprehensive approach to studying the history and theory of book culture, as well as contemporary methods of artist book production. The program draws on the culturally rich collections and visiting artists at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, as well as resources at the Library of Congress, the National Museum of Women In the Arts, and other regional institutions.

This is one of the few accredited graduate programs in the nation devoted to interpretive exhibition design. The curriculum is a balanced integration of academic, technical, and design courses. Students attain the professional skills needed to create experiences that engage, educate, and entertain audiences, and to assume the responsibilities of storytellers, communicators, and visitor advocates.   

The Department