Still Bill
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 p.1 #15 · Is a Degree Worth the Cost? | |
I think in your case (i.e. looking to improve/gain photographic skill and not get a degree or change careers), that this approach doesn't represent good value to you. I checked out A of A's website, and while it's well-respected (with legitimate accreditation - many online schools don't have that), I don't think a lot of the classes will get you where you want to be, and that could get expensive.
$2300 per class is pretty steep ($11,500/semester $23k/yr full time, plus books, software and hardware) to 'take the long way around the barn' to get to the nuts and bolts skills it sounds like you're after. It's not unreasonable tuition for a good private college (price out Duke University, for example), but in skill learned vs money and time invested, I just feel you'd be better off going a different route, particularly since your intention isn't going for a degree or a career change.
I'd imagine you'd be better off spending your money on one (or more) of the traveling seminars/workshops, maybe something along the lines of Kelby Training, Nikon School, etc. that put on 1-3 day workshops in different cities (some workshops are longer, up week, and travel ones can be longer). Since you're working part-time, you could probably swing a couple of days away from work to attend some of those, especially when they come to L.A. or San Diego. If you wanted to make a weekend of it, you could attend one in a location you'd like to visit anyway, like Seattle, Tampa, New York, or Las Vegas.
For workshops/seminars, you could pick specific skills you want to learn, like Zack Arias' 'One Light' workshop, David Hobby's 'strobist' seminars, Scott Kelby, one of the bunch from 'Luminous Landscape' (www.luminous-landscape.com/workshops/), and a host of others. Many accomplished professionals put on seminars and workshops that might give you a more direct result and return for your time and money. Even the infamous Ken Rockwell partners with Dave Wyman to co-teach workshops for Route 66, Bodie/Mono lake, Yosemite, etc.
While I was checking out A of A's website (and checking their credentials/accreditation), I did notice they list the course textbooks and recommended reading for their classes in the Course Catalog section (undergraduate program>photography major>fall 2010 schedule, under 'course details'). No reason you couldn't read the same books if you like to learn that way. I may get one or two myself...looks like worthwhile reading.
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