Welcome!

In the Fall of 2013, the Imaging and Photographic Technology and Biomedical Photographic Communications programs will be combining. This merger will offer the best of both programs and give students a broader education while still being able to concentrate on areas and specialities of interest.

Biomedical Photographic Communications

The Biomedical Photographic Communications (BPC) is a unique media communications program located at Rochester Institute of Technology. Originally established in 1969 and is the only one of its type in the United States. It boasts of more than 700 alumni working in a wide range of professional capacities world-wide.

The curriculum blends science, applied imaging and visual communication problems that would be associated with the life sciences and educational- media fields. While obtaining a strong foundation in the sciences, students design and produce instructional media projects that might be found in medicine, industry, or science. In addition to photography, the curriculum also investigates image processing for data optimization, desktop and web publishing, as well as video and audio.

 

Imaging and Photographic Technology

The Imaging and Photographic Technology (IPT) curriculum blends experiences in contemporary digital photography with a diverse and specialized education exploring technical, professional, or scientific imaging applications that lead to careers as professional photographers or positions that use related imaging technologies. Imaging and technical skills are complemented by courses in mathematics, computing, physics, technical writing, and the liberal arts.

Third- and fourth-year students can develop expertise in professional or technical fields by selecting electives or minors from across the university. Within the department electives are available in photonics, scanning electron microscopy, photo instrumentation, technical photography, imaging chemistry, still photography, graphic arts, optics, imaging systems, business, science, and engineering. Opportunities for independent study also are available. While each student’s core program is similar, graduates’ academic backgrounds often vary with their choice of concentration electives.

 

Similarities

Both programs require at least one co-operative experience. A "co-op" usually lasts ten weeks and is paid. Co-ops can be completed in the summer or during the academic year, even while students are completing school work.

Students from the IPT and BPC programs graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and can be placed into careers including: the electronic imaging field as technical service representatives, producers of instructional media products, visual information specialists for multimedia and web publishing companies or in the sales and support positions of scientific instruments such as microscopes or ophthalmic instruments. Based on how a student uses their numerous free electives, students can apply to graduate studies programs including optics and medical schools.

 Following graduation, students have been actively recruited for positions in ophthalmology departments, forensic imaging laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, health care and biological research centers, and by companies that sell scientific imaging equipment.