A Brief History of the Web Design Major
Web design deals with the creation and implementation of websites and online networks. Virtually every establishment in every industry relies on a website as a promotional tool and vehicle for communication with customers and clients. But not every organization has the in-house resources to create and maintain their own websites. Instead, they turn to web design majors for help in this area.
Web design has constantly evolved ever since Tim-Berners Lee published what is widely considered the first website in 1991, according to Time. Web design is an indispensible aspect of business. Students who graduate with a degree in web design will go on to secure employment with various public and private organizations. Web designers can work as graphic artists, media specialists, and web producers.
Web designers are responsible for creating some of the most important and ironic ideas that communicate messages from companies to customers, governments to businesses, and so on. They combine their artistic talent with their technical knowledge to create ensure the usability and integrity of their clients’ websites. If web design sounds like your dream job, then you should consider enrolling in one of the numerous online colleges and universities that offer web design.
Delving Into the Web Design Major
The curriculum for web design will vary based upon institution and area of specialization. Generally, students who major in web design will start with foundational courses in classes like math, humanities, arts, design, behavioral sciences, and more. Upon completion of these core classes (usually within the first two years of the program), students will gradually transition to more specialized topics. This will include technical computer classes, html coding, CSS, digital imaging, digital layout, animation, computer algorithms, and more creative courses in design principles and color theory.
In this major, students will learn how to create user-friendly websites that adhere to current industry standards while also experimenting with innovative, cutting-edge techniques that will inspire clients and consumers. Online web design degree programs may also introduce you to various software design programs that you will need to use in the real world. Top online institutions will offer web design majors the opportunity to specialize in a certain niche area, or at least help you tailor your degree or degrees to marketable skill set in web design. While associate degree holders can usually gain employment, most employers at larger firms prefer graduates with at least a bachelor’s degree or higher in web design or related field.
Degree Levels:
Associate
The associate degree curriculum lays the foundation of a career in web design. To graduate with an associate degree, you will have to take core curriculum classes in liberal arts, including composition, arts, mathematics, humanities, behavioral sciences, and more. This academic level equips students with a strong foundation and sets them on the path toward a bachelor’s degree in web design or related fields.
The associate degree program entails the first two years of coursework, preparing students for transfer to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees. This degree level empowers students with a broad background of liberal arts courses. The Associate of Arts in Web Design curriculum is designed to prepare students for a bachelor’s degree concentrating in sub-topics such as: web design, graphic design, and web development.
Bachelor’s
The Bachelor of Science in Web Design curriculum provides students with a thorough grounding in computerized design knowledge. This degree level spans the breadth and depth of web design and development. Majors learn about the various concepts of creativity, communication, and fine arts.
The Bachelor of Science curriculum covers coursework in computerized design, commercial graphics production, web site design, and principles of design. Students may find themselves developing an affinity toward one aspect of design and taking most of their electives from faculty whose work is in that area. These concentrations can lead students to more specialized graduate work in the field.
Master’s
The Master of Science in web development is an advanced degree that prepares students for proficiency in all aspects of Internet operation. This degree level is designed for those students who seek advanced training in the study of web design.
The coursework may include classes on statistics, advanced web programming, Internet databases, data structures, graphic design, computer algorithms, and computer research, and software development. Master’s degree candidates may also focus on operating systems, network security, and development of web applications. Most graduate programs conclude with a thesis or project designed to demonstrate proficiency in web development.
Doctorate
The advent of technology has spurred interest in computer science doctorate degree programs. As technological advances continue to revolutionize the models of modern business, corporations are eager to keep pace. These changes present challenges and opportunities for those help shape the future of technology and website management.
Such topics present doctoral degree candidates with ample study and research material. The emphasis of this curriculum is on the interaction between business and web design. Graduates typically gain employment in research and teaching.
Supplementing Your Web Design Major
Web design majors boast technological skills many employers and businesses find desirable. They learn how to build websites, incorporate things like forums and widgets, as well as how to present information to users the best way possible. Despite their valuable role in the modern work environment, professional web designers face keen competition in the job market. The allure of the field constantly attracts many talented individuals.
Those with experience and advanced education stand a good chance of landing good jobs. For new graduates, a broad education in liberal arts will prepare them for gainful employment even in a highly competitive market. Most institutions allow web design majors to specialize in a niche area, such as 3D modeling. Although web designers primarily deal with websites, they are sometimes required to deal directly with customers. It’s important for students to pair their web design with other fields that will boost their training.
Examples of majors that pair well with web design are advertising and communications. Another practical field to double major in is business, as an understanding of business communications, management and marketing will help your own career and make you more desirable to employers. Students can also increase their desirability by furthering their education. Bachelor’s degree holders enhance their employment opportunities by seeking advanced degrees. Master’s degree holders can seek further certification from computer science organizations in computer programming languages like java or C++.
Learn More About the Web Design Major
- Princeton Review’s Overview of Web Design
- Introduction to Web Design
- HTML Best Practices
- Computer Graphics
The Web Design Major in the Job Market
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for web designers is projected to grow by at least 13% between 2008 and 2010. Web designers can work for all kinds of businesses, institutions and firms, including large design firms, as in-house designers for companies, for the government, and as independent freelancers who work from home and manage their own clients.
To become a successful freelancer, however, you must prove your ability and experience level and constantly work to build up your list of clients. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that graphic designers working for specialized design services make the highest salaries, followed by designers who work in advertising. The industry is a competitive one, and while job growth is expected to continue at the average national rate for other jobs, professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree will have the best chance at finding stable jobs.
To supplement your salary or keep yourself employed between jobs, you can work as a freelancer on the side, too. Median annual wages for graphic designers were $42,400 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $32,600 and $56,620. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,660. Actual salaries will vary based on resume, reputation, region, and level of education.
Careers I Can Get with This Degree:
