About Photography
The City College of San Francisco's Photography Department is one of the oldest and largest programs in the country founded in 1935.
We offer degrees and certificates and a broad selection of classes including but not limited to Digital Photography & Imaging, History and Aesthetics of Photography, Advanced B&W Darkroom Techniques, Advanced Studio Lighting, Mixed Media Processes and Business Practices of Photography.
Our faculty and staff consist of experienced professionals who create an environment that encourages creativity, technical aptitude and critical thinking. Whether your interest is as a commercial photographer, fine artist or enthusiast, we will provide the means and guidance that will help you achieve your goals.
Explore Potential Careers
Studying Photography can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!
- Commercial Photography
- Portrait & Event Photography
- Fine Art Photography
- Editorial Photography
- Documentary Photography
- Photographic Lab Technician
- Photo Assisting
- Digital Imaging Artist
- Photo Retoucher
- Gallery or Museum Assistant
- Digital Archivist
- Photographic Drone Operator
Program Options
Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish.
Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals.
View Requirements in College Catalog
Semester 1
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 51 |
Beginning Photography |
3 |
F, Sp, Su |
| PHOT 50A or PHOT 50B or PHOT40 |
History & Aesthetics Pre-1945 or History & Aesthetics Since 1945 or Photography as Activism |
4 |
F, Sp, Su
CCSF GE Area E |
| PHOT 100/DSGN 101/VMD 101 |
Design Fundamentals |
3 |
F, Sp |
| CCSF GE Area B |
ENGL 1A + 1AS: University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support |
4 - 6 |
F, Sp, Su |
| CCSF GE Area A |
Communication and Analytical Thinking |
3 |
F, Sp, Su |
Total Units: 17 +
Semester 2
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 80 |
Outdoor & Ambient Lighting |
3 |
F |
| PHOT 81A or 81D |
Intermediate Photo B&W Film/Darkroom or Intermediate Photo: Digital |
4 |
F, Sp |
| PHOT 85A |
Beginning Lighting Techniques |
4 |
F, Sp |
| MATH 46, MATH 60 or 860, ET 108B, or ET 50, or PSYC 5, or ECON 5, or LALS 5, or PHIL 12A, or FIN 136M or higher math course (or equivalent) |
Math Graduation Requirement |
3 - 8 |
F, Sp, Su |
| CCSF GE Area D |
Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirement |
3 |
F, Sp, Su |
Total Units: 16 +
Semester 3
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 85B or PHOT90 or PHOT92 |
Advanced Studio Lighting Tech or Portraiture or Fashion Photography |
4 |
F, Sp |
| PHOT 60A |
Photoshop for Photographers 1 |
3 |
F, Sp, Su |
| PHOT 52 |
Photographers and Their Images or other PHOT Elective such as PHOT140 Internship or any PHOT 101 or PHOT102 or extra lighting class (PHOT85B,90,92) |
1 - 3 |
F, Sp, Su |
| PHOT 99 |
Business Practices of Photography |
3 |
Sp |
| CCSF GE Area F |
United States History and Government Requirement |
3 |
F, Sp, Su |
| |
|
|
|
Total Units: 16+
Semester 4
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 60B or PHOT 81B |
Intermediate Photoshop or Advanced Black & White Darkroom |
3 - 4 |
Sp |
| PHOT 130 |
Portfolio Production |
2 |
Sp |
| PHOT 102B or PHOT102A or PHOT102D |
Documentary/News Photography or Architectural Photography or Drone Photography |
2 |
F, Sp, |
| Phot 83 or PHOT 102C or PHOT102E |
Phase One/Capture one OR Capture One OR View Camera |
2 |
F, Sp |
| CCSF GE Area C |
Natural Sciences Requirement |
3 |
F, Sp, Su |
|
CCSF GE Area H |
Ethnic Studies, Women's and Gender Studies and LGBTQ Studies |
3 |
F, Sp, Su |
Total Units: 16 +
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 51 |
Beginning Photography |
3 |
|
| PHOT 81A |
B&W Film/Darkroom 1 |
4 |
|
| PHOT 100 |
Design Fundamentals |
3 |
|
Total Units: 10
Choose a combination of the following courses (totaling 6 or more units)
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 52 |
Photographers and Their Images |
1 |
|
| PHOT 67 |
Digital Negatives for Darkroom Printing |
3 |
|
| PHOT 81B |
B&W Film/Darkroom 2 |
4 |
|
| PHOT 81C |
B&W Film/Darkroom 3 |
4 |
|
| PHOT 83 |
View Camera Techniques |
2 |
|
| PHOT 130 |
Portfolio Production |
3 |
|
Total Units: 6 - 8
Overall Total Units: 16 - 18
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| BCST 119 |
Digital Media Skills |
3 |
|
| PHOT 51 |
Beginning Photography |
3 |
|
| PHOT 52 |
Photographers and Their Images |
1 |
|
Total Units: 7
Choose one of the following lighting courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 80 |
Outdoor & Ambient Lighting |
3 |
|
| PHOT 85A |
Beginning Lighting Techniques |
4 |
|
Total Units: 3 - 4
Choose one of the following video production courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| BCST 140 |
Studio Video Production |
3 |
|
| BCST 141 |
Field Video Production |
3 |
|
Total Units: 3
Choose one course from the following video editing courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| BCST 144A |
Video Editing Premiere Intro |
4 |
|
| CINE 56 |
Introduction to Digital Film Editing |
4 |
|
Total Units: 4
Recommended additional coursework:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| BCST 135 |
Audio for the Web |
1 |
|
| BCST 136 |
Video for the Web |
1 |
|
| PHOT 99 |
Business Practices of Photograph |
3 |
|
| PHOT 102B |
Documentary/News Photography |
2 |
|
| PHOT 93 |
Editorial Photography |
2 |
|
| PHOT 85B |
Advanced Studio Lighting Techniques |
4 |
|
| PHOT 57 |
Photography for the Web |
3 |
|
| or |
|
|
|
| BCST 159 |
Digital Media Portfolio |
1 |
|
Total Units: 0
Overall Total Units: 17 - 18
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required courses
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 50A |
History & Aesthetics Pre-1945 |
4 |
|
| PHOT 50B |
History & Aesthetics Since 1945 |
4 |
|
| PHOT 52 |
Photographers and Their Images |
1 |
|
| ENGL 1A |
University-Parallel Reading and Composition |
4 |
|
| LI S 10 |
Use of Information Resources |
1 |
|
Total Units: 14
Recommended additional coursework
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 40 |
Photography as Activism |
3 |
|
| IDST 3 |
Introduction to Museum Studies |
3 |
|
| LIBR 57 |
Internet Research Strategies |
2 |
|
| ENGL 1B |
Writing about Literature |
4 |
|
| ENGL 1C |
Writing about Nonfiction |
4 |
|
Total Units: 0
Overall Total Units: 14
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 51 |
Beginning Photography |
3 |
|
| PHOT 100 |
Design Fundamentals |
3 |
|
| PHOT 80 |
Outdoor & Ambient Lighting |
3 |
|
| PHOT 85A |
Beginning Lighting Techniques |
4 |
|
| PHOT 90 |
Portraiture |
4 |
|
Total Units: 17
Recommended additional coursework:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 101E |
Environmental Portraiture |
1 |
|
| PHOT 93 |
Editorial Photography |
2 |
|
| PHOT 101C |
Self Portraiture |
1 |
|
| PHOT 52 |
Photographers and Their Images |
1 |
|
| PHOT 130 |
Portfolio Production |
3 |
|
Total Units: 0
Overall Total Units: 17
View Requirements in College Catalog
Required courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 51 |
Beginning Photography |
3 |
|
| PHOT 100 |
Design Fundamentals |
3 |
|
| PHOT 85A |
Beginning Lighting Techniques |
4 |
|
| PHOT 85B |
Advanced Studio Lighting Tech. |
4 |
|
| PHOT 99 |
Business Practices of Photography |
3 |
|
Total Units: 17
Recommended additional coursework:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
Notes |
| PHOT 52 |
Photographers and Their Images |
1 |
|
| PHOT 80 |
Outdoor & Ambient Lighting |
3 |
|
| PHOT 90 |
Portraiture |
4 |
|
Total Units: 0
Overall Total Units: 17
Transfer Options
The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities. The Photography AS degree also leads to Guided Pathways in many CSU and private colleges, including the following:
Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.
