Photo Design I
Skills Competency Award (SCA) Photography · Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Overview
The Skills Competency Award in Photo Design I reflects achievements in basic skills for Digital Imaging, Digital Post Production Editing and Manipulations, Exhibition Printing, Basic Photography and Graphic Design principles. It will provide the following career and/or job opportunities: photo studio assistant, design studio assistant, advertising agency photo editor, design studio production, magazines and newspapers (online and print), art departments, corporate advertising/marketing departments, any media rich corporation needing digital imaging, workflow and management skills.
Requirements
Skills Competency Award Requirements
Complete all Major Requirements with a “C” or higher or "P" in each course. Candidates for a Skills Competency Award are required to complete at least 20% of the major requirements through SBCC.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| Required Core | ||
| GDP 110 | Media Design | 3 |
| PHOT 109 | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 180 | Digital Darkroom | 3 |
| PHOT 209 | Intermediate Photography and Lighting | 3 |
| PHOT 260 | Portfolio | 3 |
| Total Units | 15.00 | |
Other Recommended Courses
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| GDP 113 | Typography | 3 |
| GDP 118 | Creative Thinking | 3 |
| MAT 103 | Introduction to Multimedia | 3 |
| MKT 101 | Introduction to Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 209 | International Marketing | 3 |
| PHOT 190/JOUR 190 | Photojournalism | 3 |
| PHOT 250 | Fine Art Photography | 3 |
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate digital camera skills to include manual operation; independent use of aperture and shutter speeds for creative intent as well as video capture.
- Demonstrate digital image management skills (workflow, archiving and color management).
- Demonstrate an ability to control exposures in available light as well as UNDER basic studio lighting conditions.
- Identify the basic principles of Media Design.
- Demonstrate Digital Darkroom proficiency (printing, image editing, image enhancing and output control).
- Identify the basic principles of Marketing as they apply to Photography, Graphic Design and Multimedia.