What Is Your Main Goal?
Goal: Transfer To A 4-Year College or University
COC offers a wide range of AA and AS degrees, including one in Photography.
You may wish to start a conversation with the COC Academic Counseling team.
Associate in Arts Degree: Photography
This program offers an associate degree in photography. The primary goal of this degree is to provide the student with a foundation of knowledge and technical abilities in photography. All lower-division courses are sequenced to optimize transferability to an art or photography program at a four-year university. The associate degree in photography provides students with basic photographic competencies.
Printable list of AA degree requirements
AA Degree Student Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the core academic skills and knowledge required for transfer into a photography program at a four-year college or university.
AA Degree Program Mapper
COC's new program mapper enables you to see the degree requirements and the course options that satisfy each
requirement. Scroll down on the linked page to explore your academic options within
the Photo AA degree program.
AA Degree Requirements
Units Required: 30 units In Photo/Art + General Ed Requirements = 60 units total
Required Courses
- ART-110 Art History: Ancient to Medieval (3 units)
- ART-111 Art History: Renaissance to Modern (3 units)
- ART-124A Drawing I (3 units)
- ART-140 Beginning Design: Two-Dimensional Media (3 units)
- ART-141 Beginning Design: Three-Dimensional Media (3 units)
- PHOTO-140 History of Photography (3 units)
- PHOTO-150 Introduction to Cameras and Composition (3 units)
- PHOTO-155 Photography -or- PHOTO-160 Black and White Photography (3 units)
Plus six units from the following:
- PHOTO-120 Photographic Studio Etiquette (1 unit)
- PHOTO-156 Photography II (3 units)
- PHOTO-157 Digital Imaging (3 units)
- PHOTO-177 Video Capture for Still Photographers (3 units)
- PHOTO-191 Photographic Studio Fundamentals I (3 units)
- PHOTO-192 Photographic Studio Fundamentals II (3 units)
- PHOTO-195 Color Photography (3 units)
- PHOTO-201 Independent Projects in Photography (3 units)
- PHOTO-215 Photojournalism and News Photography (3 units)
- PHOTO-220 The Business of Photography (3 units)
- Photo-285 Concept Development (3 units)
Goal: Work In Commercial Photography
COC offers a Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Photography. Essentially, the certificate validates that you have an extensive education in Commercial Photography. If you are looking to enter industry directly, a certificate might be the right path for you.
Unlike COC's Associate of Arts in Photography, the certificate does not require the completion of general education requirements.
COC offers a wide range of certificate programs. You'll find the whole list here.
Certificate of Achievement: Commercial Photography
This program is designed to prepare a student for an entry-level position in a career related to commercial photography such as commercial photographer, digital imaging technician, event photographer, commercial assistant photographer, photography laboratory technician, photography restoration specialist, wedding photographer, portrait photographer, or advertising photographer.
Printable list of Certificate requirements
Certificate Student Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate and apply the technical skills and principles of commercial photography.
Certificate Program Mapper
COC's new program mapper enables you to see the certificate requirements and the course options that satisfy each requirement. Scroll down on the linked page to explore your academic options within the Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Photography program.
Certificate Requirements
Total Units Required: 23
- PHOTO-120 Photographic Studio Etiquette (1 unit)
- PHOTO-155 Photography I (3 units)
- PHOTO-156 Photography II (3 units)
- PHOTO-157 Digital Imaging (3 units)
- PHOTO-177 Video Capture for Still Photographers (3 units)
- PHOTO-191 Photographic Studio Fundamentals I (3 units)
- PHOTO-192 Photographic Studio Fundamentals II (3 units)
- PHOTO-220 The Business of Photography (3 units)
Plus a minimum of one units from the following:
- CWE-186PHOT Cooperative Work Experience Education Photography (Unpaid) (1–4 units)
or
- CWE-188PHOT Cooperative Work Experience Education Photography (Paid) (1–4 units)
Goal: Learn / Expand Basic Photography Skills
COC's School of Personal and Professional Learning offers a range of noncredit courses related to photography. These courses are shorter than our full-semester photography courses and focus on the development of specific skills.
Noncredit Classes: Photography
Adobe Photoshop Certification Training
COC FALL 2022 schedule of noncredit classes
General information about COC's School of Personal and Professional Learning
Ready to get started at COC?
Photography Career Tree
For more information on career opportunities in Photography, check out the Career Tree.