Applied Photography Certificate

This certificate helps the student focus on recognizing the variety of fields available to the novice photographer, and focusing on excellence in one or more area of specialization.  Emphasis will be placed on garnering expertise in the fundamental technical skills of image capture, composition, digital image editing, and output options. An awareness of business skills is encouraged. Completion of this certificate will prepare the student for entry-level employment in professional commercial photography.

1 - 10 students are projected to earn this certificate annually.

The mission of the Cerritos College Photography Program within the Fine Arts Department can be divided into applied and fine art. The description that follows addresses the mission for fine art, academic strength, and applied art supporting the attainment of marketable skills.

·       The required Art History classes create a context for making objects,  an understanding of the role visual objects play in society; and encourage critical and creative thinking skills.

·       As our Performance Data states, our student success has continually grown upward as a result of faculty and rigorous programs.   

·        The Studio Arts classes enable our diverse student population to appreciate and participate in the creation of a variety of original art forms while developing critical thinking skills and visual literacy. 

·       Through an understanding of the fundamental elements and principles of art and design, we unite practice and scholarly study. 

·       We also encourage the development of refined craftsmanship, technical proficiency and expression through a variety of media.

·       Students develop personal professional portfolios of their artwork which enable them to more effectively interview with potential employers in pursuit of  careers in their specialized field of photography.     

·       Through the Cerritos College Art Gallery, the campus and local community can see the professional results of our students' success at our annual student art exhibition and art sales.

The mission of the photography program within the Art and Design Department is to educate students in photography by providing a balanced education in both the creative and technical aspects of the photographic medium, the history of photography and the critical analysis of photographs. The mission is accomplished through course offerings that enable students to develop their technical skills, creativity and understanding of the social and historical role and relevance of the photographic medium.

 

Characteristics of the Cerritos College Photography Program:

·       We offer traditional photography, digital photography, and a combination of traditional analog and digital approaches to photography, as well as lecture courses in the history and the societal role of photography.

·       We offer a fine art photography certificate, as well as an AA degree.

·       Our faculty consists of two full time and four part-time faculty for lab courses and 1 faculty in photography history

·       We serve the students of the college that are, in terms of percentage, a virtual mirror image of the college's demographics.

·       Current practice is ensured through faculty who are actively engaged in the industry and through an advisory board.

·       We support student success and retention through an equipment lending program and up to date digital lab.

 

Program Student Learning Outcomes

·       Students analyze and control compositional features as well as varying qualities and quantities of artificial and natural light through digital capture and film exposure in a variety of formats.

·       Students assess, discuss, and critique photographic works.

·       Students combine presentation and communication techniques to create and/or promote their work.

·       Students distinguish between various photographic discourses.

·       Students edit and sequence a coherent portfolio of photographic images.

·       Students explain major historical and contemporary movements in photography.

·       Students utilize Photoshop techniques and both archival digital inkjet color printing, as well as traditional black and white darkroom processes.

Students must select 16 Units from the following courses:

PHOT 110 - Introduction to Digital Photography (3)

PHOT 112 - Intermediate Digital Photography (3)

PHOT 122 - Color Photography (3)

PHOT 130 - Photojournalism (3)

PHOT 171 Occupational Work Experience in Photography (1)

PHOT 200 Advanced Photography (3)

PHOT 230 - Portrait Photography (3)

PHOT 232 - Approaches to Studio Lighting (3)

PHOT 234 - Portfolio Development (3)

PHOT 235 - The Photographic Book (3)

One course from the following:

ACCT110 Introduction to Accounting (3)

BA100 Fundamentals of Business

BA110 Advertising

BA113 Legal Environment of Business

 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
PHOT 110 and PHOT 122	Introduction to Digital Photography and Color Photography	3 3	Year 1 / Semester 1
PHOT 112 or PHOT 130 or PHOT 200 or PHOT 230	Intermediate Digital Photography or Photojournalism Advanced Photography Portrait Photography	3 3 3 3	Year 1 / Semester 2
PHOT 232 or PHOT 234 or PHOT 235	Approaches to Studio Lighting Portfolio Development The Photographic Book	3 3 3	Year 2 / Semester 1
ACCT100 or BA100 or BA110 or BA113	Introduction to Accounting Fundamentals of Business Advertising Legal Environment of Business	3 3 3 3	Year 2 / Semester 2

The Applied Photography Certificate specifically addresses students who are not interested to transfer to another educational institution with the goal of a higher degree. The pathway is designed for students who want to streamline their employability by building up an impressively diverse portfolio of images to impress clientele or potential employers. The inclusion of a business course as a requirement for the certificate encourages students to face the facts that being a commercial photographer requires skills outside of visual production.

Cerritos College is the only college within our district offering a photography degree or certificate. However, in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas there are several other possibilities. - Glendale Community College has an AA degree, but no specific certificate in applied photography. - Santa Monica College has a general certificate of achievement in photography requiring 40 units. - Moorpark College has a modest commercial photography curriculum, but no certificate. - Los Angeles City College has an Applied Photography AA degree, but no certificate. - Cypress College has an AA degree in photography and several separate mini-applied photography certificates in advertising and illustrative photography, portrait and wedding photography, and drone photography and video. - Orange Coast College has a robust photography program, but the only certificate they offer in a technical ed speciality is limited to Digital SLR photography and videography. The courses required for the applied photography certificate at Cerritos College stand out as considerably more unique and inclusive than any of the other community colleges in our service area.

Normally, the Photography program offers 9 or more sections of Introductory Photography, 3 sections of Introduction to Digital Photography, and rotating advanced courses. During the pandemic we have been forced to offer less sections due to the unavailability of the lab and studio, and also because some classes do not translate well online. Nevertheless we have minimum of 100 - 200 students currently enrolled.