Tuition for the California Community College system is $46 per unit.
A student will have the option of choosing one out of 7 certificates available within the Photography (PHOTO) program:
1. Professional Photography - Major #5221 - Certificate of Achievement
a. Courses include:
2. Commercial Photography - Major #5222 - Certificate of Achievement
a. Courses include:
3. Digital Photography - Major #5223 - Certificate of Achievement
a. Courses include:
4. Fine Art Photography - Major #5224 - Certificate of Achievement
a. Courses include:
5. Photojournalism - Major #5225 - Certificate of Achievement
a. Courses include:
6. Social Media Imaging - Major #5226 - Certificate
a. Courses include:
7. Special Event Photography - Major #5227 - Certificate
a. Courses include:Financial Aid, if available to the student, can cover tuition. Review our Financial Aid website for further information.
There are required textbooks for this program, along with recommended textbooks that are a good reference as well as some free” open educational resources” required for some courses.
1. Professional Photography:
a. PHOTO-6:
$29.95 How Do I Do That in Lightroom Classic?, Second edition, ISBN: 9781681984209 (FCC Bookstore)
b. PHOTO-12:
$15.00 (digital) / $29.95 How Do I Do That in Photoshop?, ISBN: 9781681980799 (FCC Bookstore)
c. PHOTO-15:
$64.95 Perception & Imaging, Fifth edition, ISBN: 9781138212190 (FCC Bookstore)
d. PHOTO-23:
$29.50 Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 release Book for Digital Photographers, ISBN: 978013454110 (FCC Bookstore)
e. PHOTO-26:
$25.00 ABCs of Beautiful Light: A Complete Course in Lighting for Photographers, ISBN: 9781608957170 (FCC Bookstore)
f. PHOTO-32:
$22.50 Photographer’s Guide to Posing, ISBN: 9781681981949 (FCC Bookstore)
g. PHOTO-45: No Textbook
h. PHOTO-57:
$26.99 Understanding Color in Photography, ISBN: 9780770433116 (FCC Bookstore)
2. Commercial Photography:
a. PHOTO-6:
$29.95 How Do I Do That in Lightroom Classic?, Second edition, ISBN: 9781681984209 (FCC Bookstore)
b. PHOTO-12:
$15.00 (digital) / $29.95 How Do I Do That in Photoshop?, ISBN: 9781681980799 (FCC Bookstore)
c. PHOTO-23:
$29.50 Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 release Book for Digital Photographers, ISBN: 978013454110 (FCC Bookstore)
d. PHOTO-26:
$25.00 ABCs of Beautiful Light: A Complete Course in Lighting for Photographers, ISBN: 9781608957170 (FCC Bookstore)
e. PHOTO-32:
$22.50 Photographer’s Guide to Posing, ISBN: 9781681981949 (FCC Bookstore)
f. PHOTO-57:
$26.99 Understanding Color in Photography, ISBN: 9780770433116 (FCC Bookstore)
3. Digital Photography:
a. PHOTO-6:
$29.95 How Do I Do That in Lightroom Classic?, Second edition, ISBN: 9781681984209 (FCC Bookstore)
b. PHOTO-12:
$15.00 (digital) / $29.95 How Do I Do That in Photoshop?, ISBN: 9781681980799 (FCC Bookstore)
c. PHOTO-23:
$29.50 Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 release Book for Digital Photographers, ISBN: 978013454110 (FCC Bookstore)
d. PHOTO-52:
$26.75 The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC for Digital Photographers, ISBN:9780134545134
e. PHOTO-57:
$26.99 Understanding Color in Photography, ISBN: 9780770433116 (FCC Bookstore)
4. Fine Art Photography:
a. PHOTO-6:
$29.95 How Do I Do That in Lightroom Classic?, Second edition, ISBN: 9781681984209 (FCC Bookstore)
b. PHOTO-12:
$15.00 (digital) / $29.95 How Do I Do That in Photoshop?, ISBN: 9781681980799 (FCC Bookstore)
c. PHOTO-15:
$64.95 Perception & Imaging, Fifth edition, ISBN: 9781138212190 (FCC Bookstore)
d. PHOTO-18:
$35.00 Photographer’s Black & White Handbook: Making and Processing Stunning Digital Black and White Photos, ISBN: 9781580934787
e. PHOTO-23:
$29.50 Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 release Book for Digital Photographers, ISBN: 978013454110 (FCC Bookstore)
f. PHOTO-57:
$26.99 Understanding Color in Photography, ISBN: 9780770433116 (FCC Bookstore)
5. Photojournalism:
a. BA-52:
$92.00 (digital) Entrepreneurial Small Business (RRMCG), Sixth edition, ISBN: 9781260260540, (FCC Bookstore)
b. PHOTO-6:
$29.95 How Do I Do That in Lightroom Classic?, Second edition, ISBN: 9781681984209 (FCC Bookstore)
c. PHOTO-49: No textbook
d. PHOTO-52:
$26.75 The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC for Digital Photographers, ISBN:9780134545134
6. Social Media Imaging:
a. PHOTO-5:
$25.99 Extraordinary Everyday Photography, ISBN: 9780817435936 (FCC Bookstore)
b. PHOTO-14:
$24.99 Hashtag Authentic: finding creativity and building a community on Instagram and beyond (FCC bookstore)
c. PHOTO-52:
$26.75 The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC for Digital Photographers, ISBN:9780134545134
7. Special Event Photography:
a. BA-35:
$70.00 Principles of Managerial Finance, Seventh edition, ISBN:978-0133546408 (FCC Bookstore)
A. Required Fees:
- Health fee ($21 per semester, $13 if off campus/online per semester)
- Associated Student Body fee ($2 per semester, but opportunity to waive the fee at time of registration if the student so chooses)
Optional fees:
- Parking pass ($30 per semester)
- Fall 2022 semester: Parking is waived
- Spring 2023 semester: Parking is waived
- Student ID Card ($5)
B. Some courses require additional materials fee for the following courses:
Some courses require additional materials that will be required or recommended. Instructors will review and demonstrate examples of supplies during the first week of class to ensure that you are successful in the program.
Photography Courses:
$599.99 - DSLR or Mirrorless Camera with prime lens 35 or 50mm (recommended)
$46.99 - External Hard Drive of 1 TB
Estimated cost for materials: $646.98
C. Vendor Recommendations:
Each Photo certificate requires all students to have their materials prepared and purchased by the second week of classes. The following vendors are some examples where students may be able to purchase materials.
D. Technology Requirements:
- A Dell Precision laptop (or equivalent) or Desktop (8 GB and 500 GB storage) with Windows 10 Operating Systems:
- Windows: 10
- RAM 16 GB
- Mac: MacOS 10.12 and above, must be able to run Windows 10 or above
- iOS: 11.0 and above (iPad only). Must have a compatible LMS integration
- 1TB SSD (minimum)
- Memory:
- Windows: 75 MB permanent space on the hard drive
- Mac: 120 MB permanent space on the hard drive
- Additional Equipment:
- High Speed Internet
- Wireless USB Mouse
- Webcam
- Earbuds w/ microphone 3.5mm stereo plug / jack
- A cloud-based file storage platform, such as iCloud, Google Drive, DropBox, or similar
* Fresno City Library offers the opportunity for students to use the computer lab or to check out a laptop if available. For additional information and hours of operations.
A student can pay in one or a combination of ways:
- Pay in person: Fee Payments or Tuition, Business office Holds, Refunds/Fee Reversals, Financial Aid Payments/Repayments, Billing, Parking Permits
- Business Office: Location OAB 151A (Old Administration Building)
- Pay online (directly using a credit card): You may pay online in Self-Service or follow the steps about making a payment.
- through a grant (review our Financial Aid website for grant information)
- or with a scholarship or fee waiver through partner programs such as California's Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) which provides employment training resources for adults and dislocated workers. For more information about how to qualify for ETPL.
The Photography certificates have the potential for entry-level to advanced skill sets or improve their current professional photography skills. Students enrolled in photography courses will develop skills to create photography for the commercial marketplace in small and large-scale studios. A potential resource for investigating jobs in the Photography field is: O*Net Online or Career Coach.
Yes! The Photography certificate is stackable — the units count —toward an associate degree in Professional Photography can be used as undergraduate coursework toward the transferring to a 4-year institution of higher education.
Every 4-year college accepts coursework differently, however, if a student would like to complete the associates degree at Fresno City College along with the general education to successfully transfer to a 4-year institution of choice.
The Photography certificate is a “stackable” certificate meaning that your successful completion of this certificate can be used to apply for additional certificates and/or the associate degree.
The Photography certificate is a “stackable” certificate meaning that your successful completion of this certificate can be used as valuable training in conjunction with other visual media certificates. When the student applies for a bachelor’s degree program, the 4-year institution of higher education would make the decision as to which courses are fully transferable. Consult with a college counselor to discuss these opportunities.
This Photography program uses the same registration system as all California Community Colleges. A student must apply through CCCApply, if not already a California Community College student, in order to receive a student identification number. Once you have a student identification number, we can arrange for a counselor appointment to discuss the program and/or assist with registration through Self Service.
For more assistance with applying to Fresno City College, please access one or more of the resources below:
Initial Steps
Information to FCC Apply Now (Admissions & Aid)
If you are a first-time student, transfer student, high school student, graduating senior, or returning student, and would like to apply to become a Fresno City College student, start the enrollment process with the application, portal and email, orientation, advising, financial aid, and registration. Or feel free to join a Live Help via Zoom Session and find out more.
Extreme Registration (In person):
January 3rd, 2023: 1pm-6pm at Fresno City College Library
January 4th, 2023: 1pm-6pm at Fresno City College Library
If you are interested in dropping in for some academic counseling support, have registration questions, need financial aid assistance, or have questions about fees and payment, please join in one of the Extreme Registration activities listed above, or call 559-442-8226 during event hours to get placed in the queue or they can sign up through the virtual Kiosk. The Kiosk is closed until the day and time of the event.
RAM Ready
January 3rd, 2023: Virtual
January 4th, 2023: Virtual
RAM Ready is our New Student Welcome event designed to help students navigate their first week and semester of college. The virtual experience will consist of presentations, campus tours, information about on campus resources available for students.
If you have any questions about Ram Ready, please contact the College Relations Office by phone at 559.442.8225 or email at collegerelations@fresnocitycollege.edu and use the subject line “Ram Ready Question”. You can also visit the website to get further information.
New Student Registration Resources
Link for New Student Registration Resources
FCC offers live assistance on Zoom to assist students in filling out the online application, logging into the Student Portal, accessing Canvas and Self-Service, and more. Use the link below to view available support times and register to attend a live workshop.
To make an appointment via zoom.
Student Services
For additional support and guidance about starting at Fresno City college you may visit or contact the Student Services office. The office supports campus wide efforts to improve service delivery, communication, collaboration and the social/personal development of students within the division and the campus as a whole.
Please visit the website to discover the additional student services that are available to support you as a student.
Each PHOTO certificate is designed to deliver 2-3 courses for a total of 13-15 units, over a period of eighteen weeks for each course. Typical this can occur over a two-semester period.
The PHOTO Certificate will help to prepare you to begin an entry level position in advanced Professional Photography job opportunities. Students who complete photo 67 and 77 he/she/ze should be able to pass the FAA certification to fly a drone. GRC also offers ACA certification which allows students to acquire Adobe certificates.
The PHOTO certificate instructor(s) can assist with job placement opportunities. In the second semester you could choose to take a course, AT-19, for a paid or unpaid work experience to build your resume and begin working in your field of study.
