Certificate in Photography
Academy of Art University
Key Information
Campus location
San Francisco, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
8 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,156 *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Jun 2024
* per unit for international students | $1,072 per unit for domestic students. Additional fees apply
Introduction
The four-year certificate program provides students with a disciplined approach to the study of Photography. Student portfolios will demonstrate the variety of skills and creativity developed. Graduates enter the field prepared for professional opportunities in Photography. Students take electives and art history courses to round out their experience. Unlike the BFA program, students pursuing the Certificate program do not take liberal arts coursework.
Program Outcome
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Conceptual and Problem-Solving Skills
- Make creative decisions that optimize conceptual impact, cohesiveness, and memorability of created images
- Integrate key conceptual elements (such as mood, narrative, and introduction of the unexpected) with technical elements (such as composition, lighting, and point of view) to suggest a story or elicit an emotional response from the viewer
- Solve creative and technical problems that include project parameters and modeled client expectations
Lighting Skills
- Master indoor and outdoor lighting, studio lighting techniques, lighting with constant light sources, and mixed lighting situations
- Work effectively with natural light and demonstrate understanding of the relationship between time of day and variations related to the quality of light
- Work effectively with a point source, flood, spot, diffused, and reflected light
Camera Capture Skills
- Demonstrate full knowledge of digital SLR components
- Demonstrate complete understanding of exposure controls
- Effectively use a light meter for multiple lighting situations
Digital Imaging
- Apply advanced Photoshop techniques using various tools, layers, curves, and selections with digital images
- Apply retouching skills and color correction knowledge consistent with industry standards
Digital Printing
- Produce professional-quality prints
- Create a high-quality print portfolio demonstrating printing skills and the overall quality of images required for the petition to graduate
- Demonstrate understanding of archival qualities, including ink and paper stability
Professional Readiness
- Produce and present a professional portfolio that meets department expectations and industry standards
- Create promotional materials to support print portfolio and website
- Demonstrate knowledge of industry trends and professional practices related to professional photography
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Career Opportunities
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your photography career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your chosen profession. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring photographers with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the industry.
Commercial Photographer
Simply put, commercial photography means taking photos for commercial use; for business, for sales, and for money. Commercial photographers often create photos for advertisements, sales pitches, brochures, product placements, and merchandising—to name a few. You also contribute to campaigns in illustration and editorial contexts for a variety of fields and industries.
Documentary Photographer
Documentary photography aims to chronicle people, events, and environments in order to tell a story, and at times, send a message. Working as a documentary photographer, you will capture a series of images that represent pieces of what living means, and share them with the world.
Fine Art Photographer
As a fine art photographer, you will develop original works of art from concept to exhibition. The definition of what a fine art photographer is lies in the aspirations and motivations of the photographer—their personal style and preferences. The best fine art photographers create a visual language to communicate with the world.
Retoucher/Compositor
As a high-end retoucher/compositor, you’ll assist photographers, photo studios, or corporate clients in creating a unique digital composition after shooting. This usually involves combining layers of previously-created material to construct the final image.
Gallery
Curriculum
Unit Requirements
Art History | 6 |
Major | 42 |
Art by Advisement | 24 |
Elective | 12 |
Core | 36 |
Total | 120 |
Degree Requirements
- 2 Art Historical Awareness
Curriculum
Semester 1
- LA 147: History of Photography (Art History)
- MPT 256: Film History 2: 1940-1974 (Art History)
- PH 108: Photography Principles and Techniques (Core)
- PH 115: Visualization (Core)
Semester 2
- MPT 135: Virtual Reality/360 Production: The New Frontier (Art by Advisement)
Recommended for summer - PH 107: Imaging Workflow & Process (Core)
- PH 112: Quality of Light (Core)
- PH 225: Photo Design and Concept (Core)
- PRO 314: Social Media Content Development (Art by Advisement)
- PRO 315: Social Media Strategies (Elective)
Recommended for summer
Semester 3
- PH 177: Imaging for Photographers (Core)
- PH 235: People Photography (Core)
- PH 256: Motion for Photographers (Core)
- PH 325: Advanced Digital Capture (Major)
Semester 4
- COM 208: Dynamic Aerial Imagery (Major)
- MPT 235: Virtual Reality/360 Production & Post-Production (Art by Advisement)
Recommended for summer - PH 197: Digital Printing (Core)
- PH 250: Location Lighting (Core)
- PH 275: Concept Project (Core)
- PH 310: Fine Art Photography (Major)
Recommended for summer - PH 385: Advanced Photo Imagery (Major)
Semester 5
- MPT 138: Immersive Storytelling (Art by Advisement)
- PH 345: Still Life 1 (Major)
- PH 355: Portfolio Development 1 (Major)
- PH 385: Advanced Photo Imagery (Major)
Semester 6
- COM 208: Dynamic Aerial Imagery (Art by Advisement)
- FA 145: Printmaking (Art by Advisement)
Recommended for summer - PH 316: Landscape as Fine Art (Major)
- PH 356: Motion Project (Major)
- PH 372: Environmental Portraiture (Major)
Semester 7
- COM 208: Dynamic Aerial Imagery (Major)
- FA 241: Book Arts (Art by Advisement)
- PH 425: Advanced Digital Retouching (Major)
- PH 475: The Business of Photography (Major)
Semester 8
- FA 156: Beyond Paper: Kinetics & Electronics for Artists (Art by Advisement)
- PH 464: Self-Promotion & Marketing (Major)
- PH 495: Senior Portfolio (Core)
- PRO 316: Social Media Data Analytics (Elective)
- PRO 317: Social Media Management (Elective)
Recommended for summer - PRO 320: Social Media Law & Ethics (Elective)
Recommended for summer
Admissions
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English Language Requirements
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