What Web Design Degree Programs are Available?

If you want to pursue a Web design certification, diploma or degree either online or on campus, it might help to understand the options available to you within that Web design program. Often, the term, “Web design” serves as an umbrella term that offers many different design programs and just as many careers.

Usually, students who opt for the diploma or A.A., or two year, degree spend time learning Web design basics. These courses can encompass the ability to master key software applications, fundamental design principles, Web content management – including writing for the Web, and basic HTML coding. You’ll learn how to design, illustrate, compile and produce visual communication solutions, especially for the Internet.

While many self-taught Web designers might scoff at the basic offerings in a minor Web design diploma or degree, this college education can be invaluable to help prepare a professional portfolio. Plus, your willingness to apply a college degree to your experience can help further your career options. If you become addicted to learning in a college atmosphere, you can make the decision to obtain a higher degree now or later.

Students who obtain a four-year B.A. degree in Web design may discover that many more options are available to them upon graduation. The four-year Web design program provides much more education, and usually is billed as a degree in “visual communications.” Visual communications encompasses the ability to communicate visually in many media, including the Internet.

The four-year degree provides Web design graduates with the ability to obtain jobs in game design, design management, advertising or marketing, teaching at the high school level or in vocational schools, programming and database management and more. The four-year Web design or visual communications student also studies topics such as writing, physics and statistics. Many design colleges have altered these courses to ensure that each topic applies to the design field.

Some Web designers who obtain a four-year undergraduate degree may decide to enter a new field of design for a master’s degree or for a doctoral program. Some students enter interior design, fashion design, multimedia design or industrial design programs. Some students may find a passion for software development or for writing. Many students may tell you that the more education they receive, the more opportunities seem to become available to them.

So, if you decide to enter college as a Web designer, you may learn that many other design or science options are available to Web design students who want to expand their horizons after the first two years. This is one reason why the choice of an accredited college is important, because if you decide to change your career later, accredited design courses can be transferred to another degree program in most cases.

The best way to understand all the options available to the Web designer who wishes to obtain a higher design degree is to look through information provided by various college Web sites and from the U.S. Department of Education. Many former Web design students now work in various professional occupations such as software engineers, architects, cartographers, broadcasters, public relations consultants and more.

Top 10 Online Web Design Schools

Web designers Web design is a career field where persons with experience and expertise are in high demand. In order to get this expertise, you should consider enrolling in an accredited institution. Below is a list of top web design colleges where you can earn an online degree in graphics design or Website design.

AS in Web Design BFA in Graphic Design	International Academy of Design & Technology — The Associate of Science degree in Web design from the International Academy of Design & Technology is sure to prepare its graduates for careers in numerous technical fields, including Web design, digital design, Web scripting, and networking.
BS in IT-Multimedia	University of Phoenix — At Phoenix, students who study a Web design program will focus on the application of HTML, programming languages, web authoring tools, and web standards to design Web sites for a wide array of business and e-commerce applications.
AS in Web Design	DeVry University — DeVry's College of Media Arts & Technology offers a robust Web graphic design associate's degree program that enables its students to work on industry standard equipment and software, ensuring that what the student learns will be practical in a career setting.
BS in Web Design	Kaplan University — Kaplan University prides itself in having flexible schedules for those working professionals busy with their current jobs. At Kaplan's design school, students will learn all of the skills they need to pursue or further a career in Web site design.
Diploma in Web Design AS in Media Design BS in Graphic Design BS in Media Design	Art Institute of Pittsburgh — The Art Institute Online prepares its students for careers in the quickly growing field of Web design and Web marketing. The programs at the Art Institute teach how to integrate the elements of images, animation, audio, video, text, and other data for the delivery of interactive content.
AS in Web Design	Rasmussen College — Rasmussen College offers an associate's degree in Web design that will prepare students for work in Web design or Internet advertising fields. Coursework includes server side scripting, dynamic content management, networking technologies, and more.
BA in Web Development AAS in Web Development	Baker College — Baker College offers two degrees in Web Development through online courses for students looking to pursue exciting careers in an industry that is always looking for creative and skilled individuals: a Bachelors and Associates on Web Development. These programs can be completed on your own timeline and in an environment of your choosing. In addition, the online programs cut many of the costs associated with campus programs.
Website Design & Dev Cert	University of Masachusetts — The certificate program in Website Design and Development from University of Massachusetts gives students a foundation in interactive design and building dynamic websites. Students will learn to use software and programming languages like PHP and Javascript to build advance websites that follow today's standards and latest advances. This program is available through online courses and it is recommended that students have a basic understanding of HTML.
BS in Web Design & Development	Full Sail University — Full Sail University offers an online Bachelor of Science degree in Web design and development that explores one of the most rapidly developing industries on the planet. Students will learn to design and develop a Web site using programming technologies such as ActionScript, CSS, Flash, JavaScript, XHML, and XML.
BFA in Web Design	American InterContinental University — American InterContinental University offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in visual communications with a specialization in Web design. This degree prepares students for many career possibilities, including Web designer, digital artist, Flash designer, and more.
BSIS in Web Development	Strayer University — Strayer's Bachelor of Science degree program in Information Systems (IS) with a concentration in Web development teaches students state-of-the-art computer concepts, including programming, database management, networking, Web development, and Web security. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter jobs in fields such as network security, Web development, data management, and more.
BS in Web Design BFA in Animation BS in Game Design	Westwood College — Students who successfully complete the Web design training program from Westwood will be well prepared for a career and have advanced knowledge of HTML, WFL, XML, developing industry-compliant Web design projects, and building e-commerce Web sites. Similar degrees are also offered in animation and game design.
BS in IT/Web Mgmt	South University — South University's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology / Web Administration degree program prepares students with knowledge of computer programming, e-commerce site management, Web design, systems analysis, and more.
AOS in Web Design	Sessions College for Professional Design — Art and design professionals within the AOS in web design program at Sessions College are encouraged to cultivate technical, creative, and critical thinking skills needed for a fast-changing industry. An enrollee may be able to obtain degrees in graphic design, Web design, multimedia arts, digital arts, marketing design, game art, and fine arts.
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