Photography-Still
Certificate of Achievement Photography · Orange Coast College · 2026-2027 Catalog
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.
Students will be prepared for entry level positions as a photographer, production assistant, producer, content creator, director, media director, photo researcher, entrepreneur, videographer, visual researcher and visual communicator.
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
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to demonstrate competence in the technical skills of photography, demonstrate the ability to evaluate photographic aesthetic strategies, and create photographs that illustrate a critical understanding of visual language. Students will be prepared for entry level positions as a photographer, production assistant, producer, content creator, director, media director, photo researcher, entrepreneur, videographer, visual researcher and visual communicator.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate photographic aesthetic strategies.
Requirements
Review Certificate Requirements.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHOT A123 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A130 | History and Appreciation of Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A101 | Photography and Society | 3 |
| orART A101 | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary | |
| orART A101H | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors | |
| orART A102 | Survey of Modern and Contemporary Art History | |
| PHOT A125 | Imaging for Photographers I | 3 |
| PHOT A127 | Darkroom For Photography Majors | 2 |
| PHOT A180 | Introduction to Professional Photography | 4 |
| PHOT A188 | Commercial Photography | 5 |
| PHOT A225 | Professional Digital Workflow and Color Management | 3 |
| Select three units of A200-level PHOT courses | 3 | |
| 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 | |
| Total Units | 41 | |
- (Excluding PHOT A260 Art Portfolio Development 1 through PHOT A267 Marketing and Self Promotion 2).
- (Including PHOT A260 Art Portfolio Development 1 through PHOT A267 Marketing and Self Promotion 2).
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Electives: A200-Level Photography Courses | ||
| PHOT A200 | Documentary Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A220 | Fashion Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A223 | Action Sports Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A230 | Photography Since 1945 | 3 |
| PHOT A260 | Art Portfolio Development 1 | 1 |
| PHOT A261 | Art Portfolio Development 2 | 1 |
| PHOT A262 | Commercial Portfolio Development 1 | 1 |
| PHOT A263 | Commercial Portfolio Development 2 | 1 |
| PHOT A264 | Exhibition Preparation 1 | 1 |
| PHOT A265 | Exhibition Preparation 2 | 1 |
| PHOT A266 | Marketing and Self Promotion 1 | 1 |
| PHOT A267 | Marketing and Self Promotion 2 | 1 |
| PHOT A282 | Professional Portraiture | 3 |
| PHOT A285 | Wedding and Event Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A287 | Alternative Methods | 3 |
| PHOT A288 | Lifestyle and Editorial People Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A289 | Architectural Photography | 3 |
| PHOT A290 | Advertising Illustration Photography | 3 |
Photography - Still Suggested Electives:
ENGL C1000 (ENGL A100) Academic Reading and Writing
Program Sequence
Program Sequence
These sequences at Orange Coast College are curriculum maps for students to finish all requirements for the certificate. There may be advisories, prerequisites, or time requirements that students need to consider before following these maps. Students are advised to meet with an Orange Coast College Counselor for alternate sequencing.
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Units |
|---|---|
| ART A101or ART A101Hor ART A102or PHOT A101 | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporaryor Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary - Honorsor Survey of Modern and Contemporary Art Historyor Photography and Society |
| PHOT A123 | Introduction to Digital Photography |
| PHOT A130 | History and Appreciation of Photography |
| Units |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| PHOT A125 |
| PHOT A127 |
| PHOT A180 |
Year 2
| Semester 1 |
|---|
| PHOT A188 |
| PHOT A225 |
| PHOT ELECTIVE A200-LEVEL COURSE (See Requirements) 1 |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| PHOT A241 |
| PHOT A280 |
| PHOT A283 |
| PHOT ELECTIVE A200-LEVEL COURSE (See Requirements) 2 |
- PHOT ELECTIVE A2OO-LEVEL COURSE EXCLUDING: PHOT A260 Art Portfolio Development 1 through PHOT A267 Marketing and Self Promotion 2
- PHOT ELECTIVE A200-LEVEL COURSE INCLUDING: PHOT A260 Art Portfolio Development 1 through PHOT A267 Marketing and Self Promotion 2