Photography Micro-Credential

Photography isn’t just about taking pictures, it’s about seeing stories. The Micro-Credential in Photography helps you capture the world with purpose, teaching you how to blend creativity, technique, and emotion to create images that connect and communicate.

You’ll explore how light, composition, and editing work together to transform ordinary moments into visual narratives. Through hands-on projects, you’ll learn to shoot, refine, and present professional-quality photographs that tell a story… whether for marketing, journalism, social media, education, or artistic expression.

Comprising three courses, including one full-semester experience,  this fully online credential can be stacked toward the BA or BFA in Graphic Design. More than a technical skill, it’s a creative language that helps you share ideas, inspire emotion, and see the world through a more intentional lens.

To design like a professional, you need the tools professionals use. At Missouri Valley College, we’ve removed course fees for Graphic Design classes and rely on textbooks only when absolutely necessary… lowering costs so you can invest in what truly matters: your creative toolkit. Students are expected to have access to a device capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud and an active subscription to the software suite. This approach ensures you’re not just completing assignments; you’re building the skills, experience, and tools you’ll carry confidently into your creative career.

For photography courses, students should also have access to a digital SLR camera, as cellphone cameras and point-and-shoot devices do not provide the creative control needed for advanced photographic work.

Assessment:
To complete this Microcredential, students submit a portfolio of 3–5 representative works at the end of their final required course. Faculty and/or subject matter experts review the portfolio to confirm mastery of the key skills and competencies.