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Certificate

Photography: Images and Techniques

Professional Certificate

About the Photography: Images and Techniques Program

The Professional Certificate in Photography offers concentrated study in the photographic arts and is designed for the novice and the intermediate photographer alike.

Develop a Comprehensive Photography Portfolio as you Enhance your Creative and Technical Photographic Skills.

This program will help you develop solid photography skills including an understanding of the aesthetic and technical processes essential to the field. You may choose an area of concentration and enroll in the electives that meet your personal interests and career goals.

Throughout this program, you will improve your ability to observe, find innovative solutions, and express your individual creativity. The final product of your journey is a portfolio of finished photographs.

This Program is Designed For: 

  • Novice photographers with little or no photography background.
  • Intermediate-level photographers who want to diversity their portfolios.
  • Individuals with a burgeoning career in photography who want to specialize and concentrate in an area of focus and help guide career advancement.

Program Highlights: 

  • Learn from working, professional photographers who are experts in the field. 
  • Develop your photographic skills.
  • Apply a variety techniques and tools to bring your creative ideas to life.
  • Broaden your artistic vision.
  • Work with fellow photography enthusiasts.
In-Person, Online, Hybrid, Live Online
Early enrollment discounts can reduce cost.
12 - 27 months
Varies by the number of courses taken per quarter.
$4,290
Textbooks, materials, and camera equipment are separate.

Program Benefits

  • Start in any term throughout the year. 
  • Customize specialized, elective courses to meet your personal and career goals.
  • Learn from photography professionals with years of experience, who will continually provide guidance and feedback.
  • Access to dedicated Career Resources Hub with career information, job postings, events and tutorials.
  • UC San Diego is proud to work with lenders to provide certificate students with an alternative for education funding. Extended Studies courses are not eligible for FAFSA; instead, you can apply online directly with lenders to secure the funds you need to pay for tuition and book fees. Learn More
  • Connect with our Digital Arts Linkedin Group.
  • Gain a certificate from one of the world’s top-rated universities.

Application & Course Requirements

  • Courses may be taken on an individual basis or you can apply for the Photography: Images and Techniques Professional Certification Program.
  • In order to establish candidacy in the Certification program, you must complete the application and pay the course-lock fee. 
  • A Certificate is awarded upon the successful completion of 5 required, Core Courses and 14 units of Elective Options.
  • All courses must be completed within 5 years of enrollment.
  • Camera recommendation: A fully adjustable DSLR camera, or a mirrorless camera with manual exposure mode, or a prosumer camera.
  • Some courses require: Creative Cloud Photography Plan (or the full Adobe Creative Cloud plan), Lightroom Classic (not Lightroom Creative Cloud).
  • A tripod is recommended.
  • Please check individual courses for specific equipment and software requirements. 

Photography: Images and Techniques

Classroom type:
Live Online
In-Person
Online
Hybrid
Download Course List

REQUIRED COURSES

All five are required

Artistic

Courses focus on aesthetic development

Technical

Courses focus on technical skill sets

Conditions for Admission

Please see the application for specific admission requirements for this program.

This program is open to all.

Current UC San Diego students may be considered for admission depending on their academic and career focus and educational performance.

Certificate Guidelines

To fulfill the certificate program, students must complete at least 28 quarter units in Photography. Student may enroll in the certificate program during any quarter of the year. The series of courses with both artistic and technical emphasis are organized into levels of increasing difficulty ensures that students develop and refine their skills over time. Students work at their own pace and choose from a wide variety of electives.

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FAQs

Advisory Board

Don Bartletti, 2003 Pulitzer Prize

Photojournalist,
Los Angeles Times

Becky Cohen

Photographer

Brian Cross

Associate Professor, Visual Arts
UCSD

Carol McCusker

(Former) Curator of Photography
Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA)

Lea Rudee

Founding Dean, Engineering
UCSD