Start prepping NOW for your dream job or work-anywhere trade skills!
Launch a Colorful Career You Can Be Proud Of — Starting Today
It’s a big, wide world out there. Chock full of opportunity. Do you have a love for creativity, art, expression, design and printing? Enjoy experimenting with drones and Go-Pro cameras? Maybe you’re fascinated by aerial video and photography? Perhaps you want to work for yourself in an entrepreneurial capacity? If this sounds like you, then a career in commercial design, production, aerial photography or entrepreneurship might be just your speed. By offering a wide range of activities, insights, techniques and experiences, this program presents a unique and invaluable opportunity to get a high-flying start on your dream career.
What You'll Learn
From 10th grade upward, enroll in A-G approved courses to start preparing for your career in the arts, media and entertainment industry. Classes include:
- Year 1: CTE Concentrator Graphic Production Technologies | UC/CSU Approved as “F” Visual and performing arts
- Year 2: CTE Capstone Aerial Video Photography | UC/CSU Approved as “G” Elective
- Want to continue in this pathway? Enroll in one of the following for a third or fourth year:
- CTE Leadership/Internship Directed Studies (with teacher approval) | UC/CSU Approved as “G” Elective
- Ventura College: PHOT V02 Digital Studio (dual enrollment) (dual enrollment)
What You’ll Do
Take what you’re learning in the classroom into the real world and experience for yourself all that awaits you in the fast-moving and ever-evolving fields of arts, media, entertainment and photography. Hands-on, immersive experiences include:
- Printing on a variety of objects, car wraps, etc.
- Creation of an online portfolio of work
- Leadership roles and opportunities
- Entrepreneurship opportunities
- Field trips to local industry partners and colleges to explore potential career paths
- Guest lectures from local professionals
Who You Can Be
Kickstart your career path with top-tier academic instruction and industry-leader insights. The Commercial Design and Video program prepares you for potential careers such as:
- Graphic Designer
- Art Director
- Photographer
- Drone Operator
- Videographer
- Director
- Entrepreneur
- Business Owner
- Advertising/Marketing Professional
Industry Average Wages: $54,000 - $90,000
Projected Industry Growth: 2-25%
CE Teacher:
Peter Ippel
(805) 641-5116 x2132
Peter.Ippel@venturausd.org
Jesse Barnett
(805) 641-6881
Jesse.Barnett@venturausd.org
What You Need to Know
VUSD’s Commercial Design and Video CTE pathway prepares students for successful careers in the entertainment and arts industries, with a particular focus on the disciplines of graphic production, design and aerial video photography. The program is based at Pacific High School and consists of two sequenced year-long courses, a concentrator followed by a capstone.
Students (10th grade and up) in the program are grounded in the fundamentals of art, and also learn an array of graphic production skills, techniques and tools — including actual output and dye sublimation on a variety of objects, color printing on vinyl, car wrap and paper. Students will also produce online work that results in a personal portfolio that can then be showcased to potential employers. The Aerial Video Photography capstone course teaches students advanced photography and videography skills, including the operation of drones and Go-Pro cameras and technology.
Students emerge from this program with enhanced skills, insight, perspective, confidence and leadership skills.
Once you have gained the skills and knowledge in this pathway, there are many options for your next steps after high school - some you can even begin pursuing before you graduate!
1 year
Media Arts, Certificate of Achievement - Moorpark College
2 year
Studio Arts, Associate in Arts for Transfer - Ventura College
Studio Arts, Associate in Arts for Transfer - Oxnard College
Media Arts, Associate in Science - Moorpark College
Design, Associate in Science - Moorpark College
4 year
Art, Bachelor of Arts, Art Studio Emphasis - California State University, Channel Islands