Phil..depending on your experience behind a camera. I would phone up the teacher of the course you are thinking of attending. To find out what you are really getting for your money, i attended a 'fasion photography' course at UCA i lasted one day. Because i didnt do my research, i found it all to be extremely basic, it was more like a mothers meeting with canon rebels and d40s - not saying they are bad cameras...but theres people had no idea how to use them...the teacher was shocked i was shooting RAW...so i didnt go back, the internet is a GREAT source of info, im self taught and i think that is the way forward
go out and shoot everything u want, and practice shoot practice shoot....you will get there. Look at Chase Jarvis, hes self taught now look at him...
Unless there is a course or a one 2 one course...tailored to your needs i dont find them benifical