About the Program
The Photography program provides students with a working knowledge of black-and-white and color photography, and fundamental laboratory and technical skills required for entry-level employment. The curriculum is designed to teach students to become independent professional photographers or to work as technician/photographers for others. Photography is a two-year Associate Degree program.
Photography is used in virtually every field in this media-conscious age. Public relations and advertising firms, newspapers, magazines and the fashion industry are among the more traditional employers. Camera and lab skills also are required for portraiture, wedding and scientific photography. Staff photographers are employed by industrial and architectural firms, hospitals, telecommunication and record companies, galleries and schools, as well as state agencies. Photographers also are needed for aerial surveying for land and/or agricultural development projects. Working photographers encounter challenges requiring their technical skills and artistic innovation. Jobs involve scheduling photographic assignments for a variety of clients.
Program Requirements
For current program requirements -> 2024-2025
Program Goal: Career
GE Pattern(s): Butte Local
Program Code: 01334.00AS
Program Learning Outcome(s):
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
Produce photographs suitable for seeking career opportunities in photography.
Solve creative problems in photography, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
Communicate photography concepts to specific audiences using proper visual, oral, and written presentation skills.
Evaluate photographic works, including their own, using professional terminology.
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course focuses on the history of photography from its origins to current day. Students will learn about the primary artistic and stylistic movements and historical trends in photography as well as gain an understanding of key photographic technical terms. Students will also learn about the unique visual language of photographs and how to evaluate the aesthetics of photographic images.
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course is an introduction to the processes, principles, and tools of photography. Topics include the development of technical and aesthetic skills, elements of design and composition, camera technology (film and digital), materials and equipment, and contemporary trends in photography.
Prerequisite(s): PHO 2
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course introduces students to the principles of producing quality digital prints. Topics include color balance, color temperature and the psychology of color. Students will also explore the expressive and aesthetic aspects of digital color photography.
Prerequisite(s): PHO 2
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course introduces students to the formation, construction, and presentation of gallery-ready black and white photographs. Students will make professional quality prints while they perfect their own personal style and expression. Students will use film to learn the Zone System, basic sensitometry, advanced printing techniques, and archival preservation techniques. Students will also develop advanced proficiency in the use of digital cameras, scanners and inkjet printers to produce black and white prints. Students will also study historical and contemporary photographic trends.
Prerequisite(s): PHO 2
Unit(s): 3.00
Recommended Prep: Reading Level IV; English Level III; Math Level II
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course introduces students to the basic aspects of commercial photography including planning, production and editing of images for a variety of applications including industrial, medical, technical, product display, architectural, portrait, food and fashion modeling. Students will also learn to use a 4x5 digital camera and studio lighting systems to produce commercial quality photographs.
Prerequisite(s): PHO 2
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of non-silver alternative photographic processes with emphasis on technical skills, aesthetic values, and critique of photographic work. Students will learn skills related to safe chemistry usage, scanning, Photoshop manipulation of digital negatives, paper coating and contact printing techniques. Historical and contemporary trends in non-silver alternative photography will also be discussed.
Prerequisite(s): PHO 4
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course introduces students to the production of professional portfolios, hand bound books and digital online publications. A broad practical and contextual introduction to book design will be covered as well as advanced digital imaging techniques. Students will also learn to plan, develop and implement photographic projects with particular emphasis on conceptual thinking and the development of individual style.
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course is an introduction to digital asset management and digital image processing using Lightroom. Topics include techniques to integrate Lightroom with other software image editing software to manage, adjust, and present large volumes of digital photographs.
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 85.00
This course is an introduction to Adobe Photoshop for digital photograph editing, color correction, and formatting. Students will learn to manipulate color and black-and-white images, layers, special effects, photo restoration/colorizing, and filters to prepare images for print and web distribution.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of Cooperative Work Experience Education instructor and employment supervisor
Unit(s): 1.00
- 8.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
Total Course Hours: 0.00
Career Work Experience (CWE) is a course that gives students the opportunity to earn both a grade and units for what they learn on the job related to their vocational major while gaining practical work experience. Students may earn one semester unit of college credit in this course for every sixty hours of unpaid work experience (60-480 hours unpaid) or seventy-five hours of paid work experience (75-600 hours paid). Students may earn a maximum of sixteen units for all types of Work Experience.
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Contacts
Daniel Donnelly, Chair
(530) 895-2880
Department Office: ARTS 224
(530) 895-2404
Counseling and Advising:
(530) 895-2378
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