Which Schools Offer Photography Classes in San Diego, CA?
Learn about photography schools and courses in the area of San Diego, California. See degree and specialization options, program requirements and courses, as well as tuition figures and enrollment of students.
There are certificate, associate's, and bachelor's programs for photography available in San Diego, California.
What You Need to Know
Students interested in learning photography near San Diego may complete a certificate program or earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in the field. Programs are offered by nearby public schools. The certificate programs in photography requires the completion of 22-42 credit hours; an associate's degree in photography may be earned in two years, while a bachelor's degree requires four years of study. Coursework in such programs is general enough to apply to many fields of photography, but students may choose to take more specific classes in topics such as commercial photography, wedding photography, or photojournalism.
Certificates in Photography in the San Diego, CA area
San Diego City College
Offered through the Visual and Performing Arts department, the visual and performing arts certificate of achievement at SDCC consists of 42 credit hours, including courses in black and white photography, digital imaging, history of photography and lighting techniques. You'll develop a portfolio and choose further courses from topics like advertising, fashion or wedding photography, photojournalism, legal issues for photographers, photographic exhibition and production for commercial photography.
- Program Name: Certificate of Achievement in Visual Performing Arts
- Field of Study Options: Photography
- Program Length: 42 credit hours
- Tuition and Fees: $1,144 per year for state residents, $7,024 per year for out-of-state students (2018-19 academic year)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED certificate.
- School Type: 2-year, public; 15,066 (all undergraduate as of Fall 2018)
Southwestern College
In this program, you can expect to take courses in digital photography, imaging, lighting, portrait photography and cooperative work experience. You'll also learn about business practices and advertising techniques in the field, and you'll work to develop a portfolio.
- Program Name: Certificate of Achievement in Professional Photography
- Program Length: 22-24 credit hours
- Tuition and Fees: $1,338 per year for state residents, $6,602 per year for out-of-state students (2018-19 tuition rates)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED certificate
- School Type: 2-year, public; 18,569 (all undergraduate)
Associate's Degrees in Photography in the San Diego, CA area
San Diego City College
Through this program, you'll take courses in digital imaging, lighting techniques and photographic composition and design. You'll choose further courses from several styles of photography, including wedding, fashion or landscape and nature photography. You'll also choose from topics like promotion for professional photographers, alternative photo processes and electronic portfolios. The program is essentially the same as the certificate of achievement offered by this school, but you would be required to complete at least 60 credit hours, which would most likely mean enrolling in general education courses.
- Program Name: Associate of Arts in Visual Performing Arts
- Field of Study Options: Photography
- Program Length: 2 years (60 credit hours)
- Tuition and Fees: $1,144 per year for state residents, $7,024 per year for out-of-state students (2018-19 academic year)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED certificate.
- School Type: 2-year, public; 15,066 (all undergraduate as of Fall 2018)
Bachelor's Degrees in Photography in the San Diego, CA Area
San Diego State University
San Diego State University's School of Art, Design and Art History offers several emphasis options to art majors. Within a painting and printmaking emphasis, you can choose photography as a sub-emphasis, which could include classes like photographic imagery, basic and advanced fine art photography as you complete 21 credit hours of upper-division courses.
- Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts and Sciences
- Field of Study Options: Painting and printmaking with a sub-emphasis in photography
- Program Length: 4 years
- Tuition and Fees: $7,488 per year for state residents, $19,340 per year for non-residents (2018-19 academic year)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED certificate
- School Type: 4-year, public; 30,586 undergraduates; 4,717 graduate students
In sum, San Diego City College offers certificate and associate degree programs in the field, Southwestern College has a certificate program, and San Diego State University offers a BA in painting and printmaking which has a sub-emphasis in photography.