Applied Photography

In today’s world,images have become the most dominant form of communication the planet over.Images are used to sell the products that surround us, drive valuable traffic in the online environment, influence public perception, as well to inform, entertain,or inspire.  These images are created by highly skilled photographers who are able to use tools such as lighting, composition, digital editing software,and the full capabilities of their camera to create their desired effect.

The Applied Photography Certificate of Achievement provides a strong foundation for students wishing to earn a living as a photographer as well as to further their education in the fields of photography, fine arts, or graphic design. Students will learn the basic skills, processes, and practices needed to begin working as a photographer. Students will emerge with a portfolio of images, a website, and CV for professional or academic use.

The Centers For Excellence for the Inland Empire/Desert Region expects a 9% increase in employment opportunities for photographers in our region over the next 5 years. Labor market data anticipates more than 700 job openings over that 5-year time-frame.

The entry level wage for photographers is above the MIT living wage estimate for our region and the avg. annual earnings of a photographer in the Inland Empire/Desert Region is $37,400 which is higher than the per capita income statewide as well as Riverside County and 12 desert cities we serve.

In a recent review of minimum advertised qualifications in local job postings for photographers,Centers for Excellence show 71% require only vocational training or a high school diploma.

The Applied Photography Certificate of Achievement would provide our students with the technical, soft, and specialized skills they need to address a need in our region and the ability to earn a living wage in a growing field in our area from an entry-level position.

The certificate will provide a strong foundation for students wishing to earn a living as a photographer as well as to further their education in the fields of photography, fine arts, or graphic design. Students will learn the basic skills, processes, and practices needed to begin working as a photographer. Students will emerge with a portfolio of images, a website, and CV for professional or academic use.

The program meets a need in the geographic area and does not cause undue competition with an existing program at another college. Need was determined by Labor Market Analysis (see LMI attached and Program Goals and Objectives above), Advisory Committee (see Advisory Committee meeting minutes attached), Enrollment and Completer Projections (see chart below) and Enrollment Data (see chart below). 

Enrollment and Completer Projections:

Enrollment Data:

Compared to the net annual labor demand projection stated in the Labor Market Information and Analysis provided as Supporting Documentation, the data demonstrates more than adequate demand for the completer projections for this field. 

In today’s world,images have become the most dominant form of communication the planet over.Images are used to sell the products that surround us, drive valuable traffic in the online environment, influence public perception, as well to inform,entertain, or inspire.  These images are created by highly skilled photographers who are able to use tools such as lighting, composition, digital editing software, and the full capabilities of their camera to create their desired effect. The opportunities for our students who understand how to create, interpret, and edit images is growing.

The Centers of Excellence for the Inland Empire/Desert Region expects a 9% increase in employment opportunities for photographers in our region over the next 5 years. Labor market data anticipates more than 700 job openings over that 5-year time-frame.

The entry level wage for photographers is above the MIT living wage estimate for our region and the avg. annual earnings of a photographer in the Inland Empire/Desert Region is $37,400 which is higher than the per capita income statewide as well as Riverside County and 12 desert cities we serve.

In a recent review of minimum advertised qualifications in local job postings for photographers,Centers for Excellence show 71% require only vocational training or a high school diploma.

The Applied Photography Certificate of Achievement would provide our students with the technical, soft, and specialized skills they need to address a need in our region and the ability to earn a living wage in a growing field in our area from an entry-level position.

The certificate will provide a strong foundation for students wishing to earn a living as a photographer as well as to further their education in the fields of photography, fine arts, or graphic design. Students will learn the basic skills, processes, and practices needed to begin working as a photographer. Students will emerge with a portfolio of images, a website, and CV for professional or academic use.

Required Core (14 units)

Elective (6 units)

Required Core (14 units):

Art 30A Beg B&W Photography, Art031/DDP030 Digital Photography, DDP 001A Computer Graphics 1A, DDP 032 Applied Digital Photography, Art 028 Portfolio Preparation

Electives (6 units):

BUMA 028 Entrepreneurship andInnovation, ART 030B Intermediate Photography, ART 003A Basic Design &Color, DDP002 Computer Graphics 2, RTV 010A Film Production I: Basic Film Production

Certificate Total: 20 units

Proposed Course Sequence: Fall = 9; Spring = 6; Fall or Spring = 5 units