Academic Catalogs

Photography-Still, Certificate of Achievement

Financial Aid Eligible
Banner Code: 1_CT_PHST
Control Number: 22408

Anyone with an interest in photography, whether beginner, advanced amateur or professional, will find a course or program within the photography program that will teach them new skills and/or prepare them for a career in photography.

The OCC Photography program is intended to prepare students for employment in a number of specialization areas within the field of professional photography. The student, after completing the first year foundation courses, may elect to take advanced courses in art, commercial, advertising illustration, portraiture, architectural, fashion, or documentary photography, color management, digital work flow, and business practices for photographers.

In addition to courses intended to train photographers, the program also includes several black and white and digital classes for professional photographers who wish to learn new skills and/or for those who are interested in careers as photographic digital technicians.

Program Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate competence in the technical skills of photography.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate photographic aesthetic strategies.
  3. Create photographs that illustrate a critical understanding of visual language.

Certificate Requirements

Orange Coast College offers two types of certificate awards in career programs designed to prepare the graduate to enter a particular field of employment. At least 3 units in an advanced course from the certificate must be completed at OCC.

  1. Certificate of Achievement - 8 units or more in a state-approved program.  Certificates of Achievement are not automatically awarded. A petition must be filed in Enrollment Services or online at the beginning of the semester in which the student will be completing his or her final requirements.  The petitioning periods are listed in the Graduation Requirements section of this catalog. 
  2. Certificate of Specialization - 16 units or less in a locally approved program.  Certificates of Specialization are not automatically awarded, not printed on official academic transcripts, and there is no acknowledgment of completion given at graduation.  Please contact the division for details regarding the submission of petitions as procedures for each division vary.  Most division offices prefer that students complete all of the required courses and then provide a copy of the transcript while some divisions allow petitions for Certificates of Specialization before finishing.

Minimum Grade Requirement
In order to be awarded a certificate, students are required to obtain a grade of “C” or better in all program-required courses. Grades of “CR” or “P” will be accepted whereas “CR” or “P” meets the equivalency of a “C” or better. A list of certificate programs can be found in the Programs A-Z section of this catalog. Check with a counselor to determine the requirements for completion.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Semester 1Units
Select one of the following: 3
ART A101/A101H
 Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Modern  
ART A102
 Survey of Modern and Contemporary Art History  
PHOT A101
 Photography and Society  
PHOT A123 Introduction to Digital Photography 3
PHOT A130 History and Aesthetics of Still Photography 3
 Units9
Semester 2
PHOT A125 Imaging with Photoshop 1 3
PHOT A127 Darkroom For Photography Majors 2
PHOT A180 Introduction to Professional Photography 4
 Units9
Semester 3
PHOT A188 Commercial Photography 5
PHOT A225 Professional Digital Workflow and Color Management 3
Select three units of “A200” level PHOT courses 1 3
 Units11
Semester 4
PHOT A241 Business Practices for Photographers 3
PHOT A280 Professional Digital Techniques 3
PHOT A283 Art Photography 4
Select two units of “A200” level PHOT courses 2 2
 Units12
 Total Units41

Photography - Still Suggested Electives

Course Title Units
ENGL A100Freshman Composition3