Photography at San Antonio College

"Photography, the universal language that transcends all cultures, all eras."
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Requirements for Associate in Arts Degree in Photography /     Journalism & Photography Syllabi /     Mission Statement /      Faculty / National Press Photographers Association / Texas Professional Photographers Association / American Society of Media Photographers / Student Photographic Society
The photography program is designed to provide educational opportunities in photography for a diverse group of students. Some students want to become professional photographers, some are interested in becoming better amateur photographers and some just love taking phhotographs for the sheer pleasure involved. Our mission is to help each individual student succeed in achieving his/her goals in photography. To achieve this mission, we offer lectures and labs teaching basic and advanced black and white, color, portrait, comerical, digital and photojournalistic photography. We provide services for the community through school visits, workshops and other outreach projects.

Coursework - All classes emphasize professional approaches to learning photography. Practical application of skills is possible on The Ranger, the award-winning weekly campus newspaper, to provide background experience required to be a working photojournalist.

Elective options - Students may use electives in the photography program to fulfill baccalaureate requirements at many four-years colleges or universities. Students planning to continue study toward a bachelor's degree should be aware of graduation requirements from their transfer institution.

Facilities - A full laboratory equipped with the latest photographic equipment on the first floor of Loftin Student Center, including Macintosh computers equipped with PhotoShop software.

Faculty - Full-time and adjunct faculty are committed to providing students with the latest information in the fields of photojournalism, portraiture, commercial photography and hobby photography.

Practical experience - Student photographers may choose to work as paid staff members on The Ranger. Stipends vary, according to position. Internships with Portrait, Wedding and Commercial photographers are available.

Photography career opportunities - include photojournalist, Portrait/Wedding, Industrial/Scientific, Fashion, Free-lance, Instructor/ Publications adviser or public relations practitioner.  

Students who choose to gain experience working on The Ranger or The Fourth Write magazine will either have to attend summer school or spend more than two years at San Antonio College.

Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree in Photography:

Note: A student may take 15 hours of photography. Or, a student may combine hours in journalism and photography. COMM 1307 is not required for a photography degree but it is recommended. Students pursuing either degree should visit the journalism-photography department in Room 204 of Loftin Student Center or contact the department at (210) 733-2870. Also, note that some of the 15 hours of the major might not transfer if the student subsequently wants to earn a bachelor's degree.
Requirements:
  • Satisfaction of mimimum entrance requirements.
  • Demonstration of college level reading proficiency on standardized examination.
  • Completion of a minimum of 66 hours, including 15 hours earned at San Antoni College.
  • Maintenance of a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 for all college-level courses taken at SAC and for all courses applied toward a degree, whether taken at SAC or attempted at another college.



    • It is recommended that you take your electives in photography-related courses. For core curriculum, consult the current college bulletin or www.accd.edu/sacmain/schedule. Then, click on the current catalog. Consult college counselors for a detailed degree plan. All photography majors should counsel with a photography adviser in the Journalism-Photography Department before registration.

    Core Components Course Selections Semester Hours
    Communication English 1301 and 1302 6
    Speech 1311 3
    Japanese 1311 or 1312;
    German 1300, 1310 or 2311;
    Spanish 1300, 1310 or 2311;
    French 1300, 1310 or 2311;
    Italian 1311 or 1312;
    or any 1400 series modern language course or equivalent; American Sign Language: SGNL 1301, 1302, 2301 or 2302     		3
    Mathematics Math 1314 or any math (except 1350 and 1351) for which 1314 or 1332 is a prerequisite. MATH 1332 may be taken for the associate's degree, but it may not satisfy transfer requirements at a four-year institution -- contact the transfer university to check. 3
    Natural Sciences (4 hours must be in a laboratory science) Select from: biology, chemistry, geology, Geography 1171, 1172, 1301, 1371 or 1372; astronomy, physics or Anthropology 2301. 7
    Humanities, Literature & Visual/Performing Arts LITERATURE -- Any sophomore level literature (English) course or Interdisciplinary Studies 2374 or Interdisciplinary Studies 2375 -- 3 hours
    HUMANITIES -- Humanities 1301, 1302, 1315 or 2319; Philosophy 1301 or 2306; Interdisciplinary Studies 2372 or 2373; German 2312; Latin 1311 or 1312; Spanish 2312, 2321 or 1301; or French 1301 or 2312 -- 3 hours
    VISUAL/PERFORMING ARTS -- Arts 1301, 1303 or 1304; Arch 1301 or 1302; Drama 1310; Interdisciplinary Studies 2376; or Music 1306, 1310 or 1370 -- 3 hours
    		9
    Social and Behavioral Sciences HISTORY -- History 1301 and 1302 -- 6 hours
    GOVERNMENT -- Government 2301 and 2302 -- 6 hours
    OTHER SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES -- Psychology 2301; Sociology 1301; Geography 1302 OR 1303; Economics 2301 or 2302; or IDST 2370 or 2371 -- 3 hours
    		15
    Physical Education/Kinesiology Choose from any two one-hour activity courses Note: Exception for students with more than two years of military service and those physician-certified as physically unable to participate -- 2 hours
    		2

    		48 hours
    Photography major Choose from COMM 1318 (Photography I), COMM 1319 (Photography II), PHOT 1372 (Portrait Photography), PHOT 2372 (Commercial Photography), PHOT 2373 (Photographic Perceptual Design), COMM 1316 (News Photography), COMM 2324 (Practicum Electronic Media (Digital Photoshop) -- 15 hours
    		15
    63 hours total

    Courses Recommended for Transfer:12 hours of English to include English 1301-1302 (minimum grade of C); English 2322-2323 or 2332-2333 or 2327-2328 Ñ The University of Texas at Austin will allow students to forego ENG 1302 and take coursework at UT-Austin to satisfy the writing requirement after transfer.12 or 14 hours (four semesters) of Foreign Language15 hours of Social Sciences to include History 1301-1302 and Government 2301-2302 (It is strongly recommended that students take both required courses in government at the same institution.) The above courses are required in the core curriculum. In addition, the student may choose 3 hours from ANTH, ECON, GEOG, PSYC OR SOCI.3 hours of Mathematics 1314 or higher8 hours of Natural Science to include Biology 1408-1409 or Chemistry 1411-1412 (or equivalent) or Geology 1403-1404 or Physics 1401-1402 (or equivalent)3 hours in a second Natural Science or a higher math course3 hours of Fine Arts (ARTS, DANC, DRAM or MUSI)

    9 hours from COMM 1318, COMM 1319, COMM 1316, COMM 1317, and COMM 2324.

    (NOTE: Certain courses may not be accepted except by special negotiation with the transfer institution. Please be aware that all four-year institutions do not accept the same transfer courses. The transfer student should check with the four-year university. Some will accept photography courses as "electives" in the major; others will not.)

    Click here for transfer institutions.

    ©2005 by the Department of Journalism-Photography at San Antonio College (c/o ranger@accdvm.accd.edu), 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, Texas 78212-4299. All rights reserved. With this notice intact, this publication may be distributed electronically, but no part may be otherwise reproduced without permission. Views expressed in this publication and in the student laboratory newspaper, The Ranger, do not necessarily reflect those of San Antonio College or the Alamo Community College District.

    San Antonio College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability with respect to access, employment programs, or services. Inquiries or complaints concerning these matters should be brought to the attention of: Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator, 210/208-8051. Address: Human Resources Department, 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. A, San Antonio, Texas 78204. For special accommodations or an alternate format, contact the San Antonio College DisABILITY Support Services at 733-2347.

    Updated March 17, 2007.