About Video and Photography Certificate at CSUSB
What It Is & Why It’s Beneficial
Open to anyone, CSUSB’s Video and Photography Certificate equips students with the creative, technical, and production skills needed to produce compelling visual content for artistic, commercial, and digital media contexts. Through hands-on courses in digital photography, video production, lighting, editing, and visual storytelling, students gain practical experience using industry-standard tools and techniques.
Learners explore composition, camera operation, post-production workflows, narrative structure, and multimedia design while building a professional-quality portfolio. Coursework emphasizes creativity, conceptual development, and the ability to communicate ideas through powerful visuals—skills essential in today’s media-driven world.
This certificate is ideal for students interested in filmmaking, photography, content creation, marketing, journalism, social media production, or any field where strong visual communication is an asset.
Why This Certificate Is Beneficial
✔ Develops technical mastery of photography and video production
Students learn how to shoot, light, edit, and produce high-quality visual content.
✔ Builds creative and conceptual storytelling skills
The program emphasizes narrative thinking and strong visual design, preparing students for artistic and commercial work.
✔ Supports careers in digital media and creative industries
Skills gained are relevant to marketing, advertising, journalism, film, entertainment, nonprofit outreach, and more.
✔ Provides a competitive portfolio for professional opportunities
Students create a body of work that demonstrates their technical skills and artistic vision.
✔ Complements a wide range of majors
Ideal for students in communication studies, art, design, marketing, media studies, theatre, and business.
Careers in Video and Photography Certificate
Potential Careers
Graduates of the Video and Photography Certificate often pursue roles such as:
- Photographer or Videographer (entry-level)
- Digital Content Creator or Social Media Producer
- Video Editor or Production Assistant
- Marketing or Communications Media Assistant
- Multimedia Specialist or Creative Services Support
With additional experience, students may move into roles such as cinematographer, multimedia designer, creative director, or independent photographer/filmmaker.
Sample Courses
Video Art
Creative research and experimentation in digital video art including history, theory, production (camera, lighting, sound, and editing techniques), presentation (single channel, multi-channel, projection, and installation), and contemporary practices.
The Development of Motion Pictures
Course follows the medium from its earliest origins through the rise and decline of the studio system to the influences of television. Emphasis on key directors and styles of film communication.
Digital Video Field Production
Introduction to portable video equipment and the single-camera/video field production process.
In Summary
CSUSB’s Video and Photography Certificate gives students the creative and technical tools needed to excel in visual media production. Through hands-on practice and artistic exploration, the program prepares graduates to craft compelling images, tell meaningful stories, and contribute to a wide range of media, marketing, and creative industries.
Similar to Video and Photography Certificate
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