The Associate of Arts Degree provides students with a foundational knowledge of important conceptual and technical aspects of fine art photography with the goal of preparing students to transfer to a four-year university. The courses in this degree emphasize photography as a means of communication and personal expression, with an emphasis on cultural significance and visual literacy.
Students planning to prepare for a four-year degree in Photography should consult the lower division requirements of the university to which they plan to transfer
Please contact the Student Success Team for this program if you have any questions.Course | Units | Typically Offered |
1st Semester | ||
Select one: ART 105 / ART 105H (RHC GE 7a)M | 3.0 | |
ART 105 - Survey of Western Art: Prehistory through the Middle Ages (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course presents a broad overview of Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Early Christian, Islamic, and Medieval art and architecture. This course is appropriate for all students pursuing the degree in Studio Art or Art History or seeking to fulfill general education requirements in Fine Arts and Humanities. ART 105H - Survey of Western Art: Prehistory through the Middle Ages Honors (3.0 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 101 This course presents a broad overview of Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Early Christian, Islamic, and Medieval art and architecture. This course is appropriate for all students pursuing the degree in Studio Art and/or seeking to fulfill general education requirements in Fine Arts and Humanities. This course is designed for those who meet Honors Program requirements. | ||
ART 120 - Two Dimensional DesignM | 3.0 | |
ART 120 - Two Dimensional Design (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate assessment; READ 043 or appropriate assessment This is a foundational, first semester course and is open to any student interested in the fundamentals of visual thinking as they apply to all visual media and fulfills a general education requirement in Art. This course provides an introduction to the concepts, applications, and art historical references related to two-dimensional art and composition, and includes the study of the basic elements of line, shape, texture, value, color and spatial illusion. Students will develop a visual vocabulary for creative expression through lecture presentations, studio projects, and written assignments. | ||
PHTO 185 - Introduction to Digital PhotographyM | 3.0 | |
PHTO 185 - Introduction to Digital Photography (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course provides an introduction to digital photography as a creative art, emphasizing photography as a means of communication and personal expression. An examination of the theory of aesthetics, cultural significance, historical progression, elements of composition, visual literacy, and technical elements of photography will conducted. Students will be introduced to DSLR camera operation and digital imaging techniques. Students are required to supply their own digital camera. Critical evaluation of student work is also a component of this course. This class is suitable for photography majors and non-majors alike. | ||
ENGL 101 - College Composition and ResearchGE | 3.5 | |
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (3.5 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate placement This is a composition course that enables students to generate logical, coherent essays and reports necessary to academic and professional success. Students will become proficient in research techniques, learn critical reading and thinking skills through expository and persuasive reading selections, and apply these skills to creating original essays and a final research paper. The lab component of this course is designed to assist students in improving and refining their writing and language skills. Students will complete lab activities that enhance their ability to compose logical, well-supported arguments that exhibit grammatical fluency and correct documentation form. Students will meet with composition instructors through individual conferences that address students’ specific writing concerns. This course is designed for students who wish to fulfill the General Education requirement for Written Communication. | ||
RHC GE 4 - American InstitutionsGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 15.5 | |
2nd Semester | ||
ART 130 - Freehand Drawing IM | 3.0 | |
ART 130 - Freehand Drawing I (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate assessment; READ 043 or appropriate assessment This is a first semester course for art and non-art majors interested in developing basic drawing skills. As an introduction to observational drawing and composition, students will develop the ability to perceive and define shape, contour, volume, space, and light using a variety of drawing media and subject matter. Emphasis is on clarity of observation and the ability to order and translate 3-dimensional form and space into 2-dimensional drawings. | ||
PHTO 130 - Beginning PhotographyM | 3.0 | |
PHTO 130 - Beginning Photography (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate ploacement; READ 043 or appropriate placement; ART 120 This course is designed for students who wish to study the basic technical and conceptual approaches to contemporary photography. Traditional black and white photography techniques are explored, with special emphasis on the basic use of the 35 mm camera and enlarger as well as the processing of black-and-white film and printing paper. Students are required to provide their own 35 mm camera with manual controls. | ||
ART 121 - Three Dimensional DesignM | 3.0 | |
ART 121 - Three Dimensional Design (3.0 units) Advisory: ART 120; READ 043 or appropriate placement; ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate placement This is a foundational first semester art course and is open to all students interested in the fundamentals of visual thinking as they apply to all three dimensional media. This course provides an introduction to the concepts, applications, and art historical references related to three-dimensional art, and includes the basic elements and principles of three-dimensional design. Students will develop a visual vocabulary for creative expression through lecture, slide and video presentations, and studio projects using a variety of tools and written assignments. | ||
RHC GE 2 - Math CompetencyGE | 3.0† | |
† some classes may have higher units. Note: Students intending to transfer should begin at transfer level math. Transfer math courses are numbered 100+. Please meet with a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
RHC GE 3 - Physical EducationGE | 1.0 | |
Select one: KINA or DANC activity course. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.0† | |
Summer 1 | ||
RHC GE 5 - Natural Science with LabGE | 4.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one Natural Science with Lab: | ||
ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 7.0 | |
3rd Semester | ||
Select one: ART 106 / ART 106H M | 3.0 | |
ART 106 - Survey of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course provides an overview of the history of Western art from the 14th century through the Modern Era, including Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Early Photography, Impressionism, Post Impressionism, Modernism, Postmodernism, and major art developments of the 20th and 21st centuries. The course is appropriate for all students pursuing the degree in Studio Art or Art History, or seeking to fulfill general education requirements in Fine Arts and Humanities. ART 106H - Survey of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary Honors (3.0 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 101 This course provides an overview of the history of Western art from the 14th century through the Modern Era, including Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Early Photography, Impressionism, Post Impressionism, Modernism, Postmodernism, and major art developments of the 20th and 21st centuries. The course is designed for students who meet Honors Program requirements, and is appropriate for all students pursuing the degree in Studio Art or Art History, or seeking to fulfill general education requirements in Fine Arts and Humanities. | ||
PHTO 292 - Intermediate Digital PhotographyM | 3.0 | |
PHTO 292 - Intermediate Digital Photography (3.0 units) Prerequisite: PHTO 185 This course is designed for students who have successfully completed PHTO 185 and have a working knowledge of basic camera control and photographic composition. It will cover use of digital cameras, metadata, workflow organization, global and local image editing and manipulation, color theory, and basic lighting techniques using flash and strobe. Emphasis will be placed on using photography as a means of communication and personal expression. Students are required to supply their own DSLR or mirrorless cameras capable of shooting in RAW file format. | ||
RHC GE 7b - HumanitiesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
RHC GE 3 - Physical EducationGE | 1.0 | |
Select one: KINA or DANC activity course. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 10.0† | |
4th Semester | ||
PHTO 191 - Intermediate PhotographyM | 3.0 | |
PHTO 191 - Intermediate Photography (3.0 units) Prerequisite: PHTO 190 This course is designed for students who have successfully completed beginning photography and wish to study more advanced technical and conceptual approaches to contemporary black and white photography in a, 35mm film based, wet lab environment. Techniques such as the use of studio lighting, light meters, toners, hand coloring, and solarization are explored, with special emphasis given to understanding the conceptual framework for the production and analysis of both personal and commercial photographic imagery. Students are required to provide their own 35mm camera with manual controls. | ||
GDSN 178 - Digital Imaging DesignM | 3.0 | |
GDSN 178 - Digital Imaging Design (3.0 units) Advisory: NART 285; READ 043 or appropriate assessment; ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate assessment This introductory graphic design course uses bitmap software as the principal digital tool. Topics include the principles and elements of design, typography, color, photo/raster/bitmapped-based scanning, vector graphic integration, time-based design, image formats, optimization, re-touching, adjustments, compositing, blending, color, conceptual, narrative and time-based techniques, technical and creative methods and styles employed by graphic designers as well as well as introductory critical concepts and professional practices. This course includes exercises, projects, and portfolio building with an emphasis on professional standards. This course is for the student interested in obtaining a degree or certificate in graphic design, transfer, and those seeking to pursue a career in graphic design or related professions. | ||
RHC GE 6 - Social and Behavioral ScienceGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
RHC GE 8b - Communication/Analytical ThinkingGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 15.0† | |
Total Units for Photography AA program | 60.5† | |
† | Some classes may have higher units |
M | Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement |
GE | General Education course |
EL | Elective Course |
Rio Hondo photography majors will create properly exposed photographs that demonstrate effective control of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings in various lighting situations.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the safe and proper use of equipment including cameras, darkroom, lighting, and digital equipment.
Students will identify basic principles of photographic composition and apply these elements in the creation of photographic images.
Students will recognize and identify important historic photographic genres based on their formal and conceptual elements.
Students will demonstrate visual literacy by verbally analyzing both the formal and conceptual properties of photographic works utilizing appropriate photographic vocabulary.
Students will create a portfolio of photographic work that demonstrates an understanding of print finishing and presentation.
For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
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Rio Hondo College, serving the communities of El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, and Whittier for over 50 years.
Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
Phone: (562) 692-0921
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