Gaining an education in a digital field offers great opportunity for future employment success, and the accredited web design degree programs in North Carolina provide a strong foundation for a successful transition into the working world. The schools in North Carolina offer a variety of environments from community colleges to private schools. The state’s location on the East Coast ensures that students have access to many large cities for work after graduation including nearby areas like the Washington D.C metropolitan area. However, students well-versed in web design can work from anywhere since all that’s required for many web tasks is a computer and an internet connection.
ECPI University
College of Technology
A college that offers classes to students in North Carolina, as well as South Carolina and Virginia, ECPI offers 2-year and 4-year programs to students interested in a classroom experience, as well as opportunities to attend classes at the virtual campus. The school was established in 1966 and was named the Electronic Computer Programming Institute with its first location in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The institution gained university status in 2011 and soon after started offering master’s degrees. The university has four schools within it which include the School of Technology, the School of Culinary Arts, and the School of Business and Criminal Justice.
Computer and Information Sciences, Bachelor of Science, Web Development Concentration
The BS program in at ECPI University offers a variety of concentrations, including one in web development. The university describes its Computer and Information Science program as one that’s “hands-on” and is an interactive program designed to share all the necessary skills needed for students to succeed in various information technology environments. Students in the program learn how to manage their projects, write and design computer programs, and create websites. In addition, students learn how to use databases and maintain them, as well as install computer networks and make sure they’re secure. Upon completion of the program, students are expected to be able to analyze business operations related to information sciences, evaluate current systems and their impact on a business, as well as a variety of other important abilities required for work with computers today. When specializing in web development, students learn a variety of web development skills, and how best to manage a website.
Computer and Information Science, Associate of Science, Web Development Concentration
Like students in the bachelor’s degree program for web development, students seeking an associate’s degree in this area will be able to perform a variety of tasks and fill many roles in business today. Alternatively, students may also choose to move on to a bachelor’s degree program to complete or advance their study of web development. Some of the abilities that students will have after graduating from the program will include the ability to utilize a variety of operating systems, use various computer applications like spreadsheets, word processing, and presentation programs, and create basic web pages. Additionally students will take classes that feature ethical decisions that must be made with company data, as well as how to read things like flowcharts and process diagrams. These skills will help students troubleshoot problems and create solutions to common issues. Within the web development concentration, students will learn a variety of basic web design skills and the fundamentals of programming.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
Contact
ECPI Charlotte
4800 Airport Center Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone: (844) 334-4466
Email: admissions@ecpi.edu
Website: http://www.ecpi.edu/technology/?intcmp=technology-btn
Nash Community College
Computer Information Technologies
Founded in 1967, Nash Community College operate under an open admissions policy, and says that its mission is to ensure local students have access to an affordable education. Associate’s degrees and certificates are designed to help students move on to 4-year programs at the university level, as well as to offer students the opportunity to apply for a rewarding career. In addition to a focus upon quality instruction, the college also partners with local organizations and businesses to help students build valuable relationships while in school that will lead to many opportunities for employment. Around 12,000 students currently take classes from Nash Community College.
Web Technologies, Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Students who wish to enroll in essential positions within internet and computer-related fields will enjoy the employment opportunities afforded after graduating from Nash Community College with classroom experience. Some of the career opportunities available to graduates include those within the development of web applications, as well as administrator of applications, website developer, and jobs within web services and similar areas of computing. The courses required for the program will help students prepare for valuable vendor certifications like IC3 certification, Microsoft Office User Specialist certification, and Certified Internet Webmaster certification. Some of the courses included in the program are Database Concepts, Web Markup and Scripting, and Web Development Tools. The total number of semester hour credits required for the program is 73. Upon graduation, students may choose to work part time in the industry to gain experience while also proceeding to an advanced four-year degree which will help alleviate the costs of higher education.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
Contact
Nash Community College
522 N. Old Carriage Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Phone: (252) 451-8300
Email: admissions@nashcc.edu
Website: http://www.nashcc.edu/index.php/web-technologies-computersidebar-258
Stanly Community College
Advertising and Graphic Design
Established in 1971, Stanly Community College is one of 58 different community colleges in the state’s system. The main campus is located in Albemarle, and a satellite campus is located in Locust. Over 10,000 students attend classes at the school in a variety of programs that lead to associate’s degrees, diplomas of various kinds, and certificates. The school also provides a variety of training for essential skills like adult literacy, occupational training, and general education. The school offers many of its degrees through a wholly online program. When it originally opened, the school shared a campus with a local high school and offered classes in things like mechanics, secretarial science, and brick masonry.
Web Design Diploma
The program is designed to introduce students to a variety of essential topics in web design, computers, and information technology that will help students qualify for jobs that require experience with advanced computer topics. The diploma requires that students complete a total of 13 credits and requires attendance during a fall, spring, and summer semester. This means the program only takes about a year to complete as long as students can take a full course load. Classes required of the major include Graphic Design I, Computer Design Basics, and Web Development Tools. In addition, students must also take classes to expand their overall knowledge with Art Appreciation and Writing and Inquiry. Upon completion of the degree, students should be able to demonstrate advanced software skills through the expert use of industry standard software. In addition, students should be able to effectively communicate through visual communication options, as well as create files to be used for web and print media.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
Contact
Stanly Community College
141 College Drive
Albemarle, NC 28001
Phone: (704) 982-0121
Email: jmartin8295@stanly.edu
Website: http://www.stanly.edu/advertising-a-graphic-design?cCat=127&cView=program
The Art Institute (Charlotte & Raleigh-Durham Campuses)
Graphic and Web Design
There are around 50 different Art Institute campuses around the United States, and students in the North Carolina area who are interested in web design can attend the Raleigh-Durham or Charlotte location for instruction. The school system was established in 1969 and has around 69,000 students attending around the country. The school’s roots date back to 1921 with the founding of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. The Education Management Corporation bought the Pittsburgh location and eventually expanded campuses around the country. The school system also introduced online learning quite early with its distance learning program that it developed and introduced in 2001.
Graphic Design, Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
The graphic design program at The Art Institute features a variety of interesting topics like color theory, typography, and design. Students get to use the actual software that’s used in the industry by web professionals, which should prepare students for work in entry-level positions as a graphic designer or layout artist. Students may also choose to become an advertising designer, freelance artist, or computer artist with the skills learned in the program. The associate’s degree program requires that students complete 90 credits in classes that focus upon hands-on instruction and the technical skills needed to become a graphic artist or designer. In-depth topics on design studied by students include composition, color, technology, and design. During classes, students are often given problems to solve and offered instruction on various topics that help students solve common problems experienced in the professional world. At the end of the program, students will create a professional presentation of their knowledge of industry standards in graphic design.
Graphic & Web Design, Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA)
Creative students who wish to express their artistry in a visual medium will thrive in the Graphic & Web Design program at The Art Institute. Classes feature a variety of fascinating lessons on typography, interface design, illustration, and web development. Upon graduation, students should be able to find entry-level work in a variety of creative positions like web designer, interactive designer, and graphic designer. Program outcomes for this degree include advanced design and conceptual abilities alongside visual communication knowledge, as well as a professional presentation of knowledge. Students will have a printed and online portfolio at the close of their time with the program, which will highlight their knowledge of standard techniques, modern technology, and industry-wide software used in graphic and web design jobs. Some of the classes taken by students include Observational Drawing, Digital Color Theory, and Digital Illustration. Students also get to take several electives, which allows for some personalization of the degree in an area of the student’s personal interests.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
Contact
The Art Institute of Charlotte,
A Campus of South University
Three Lake Pointe Plaza
Charlotte, NC 28217
Phone: (704) 357-4536
Email: admissions@artinstitutes.edu
Website: http://new.artinstitutes.edu/areasofstudy/Graphic-and-Web-Design/detail/42/110
University of North Carolina at Asheville
New Media
A public, liberal arts university, the University of North Carolina at Asheville is part of the University of North Carolina system. The school was established in 1927 as a junior college and went through a variety of mergers and name changes over the next several decades to eventually become the university it is today. Around 3,600 students attend with just a small number of those students studying at the graduate level. The school scored a place on the Princeton Review’s list of “America’s Best Value Colleges” in 2008. The school also landed on the “Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges” list from that same publication.
New Media Bachelor of Arts
Creative individuals who wish to innovate in their jobs will thrive in the New Media program at UNC Asheville. The program features a balance of practice, theory, and criticism to help develop a student’s understanding of various new media standards. Students spend the first few years engaging in general coursework and then choose a concentration in their third year. Those concentrations include computer animation, video art & design, and interactive art & design. Some of the classes students will take include Digital Design Principles, Introduction to Web Page and Interactive Design, and History of New Media. Students get to take their classes inside Zeis Hall, which offers 86,000 square feet of research labs, teaching spaces, and offices for students in New Media, Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy. The school offers students state-of-the-art equipment in its computer labs and other facilities meant for student projects. The program is designed to help students gain confidence in their abilities in new media and to help graduates gain an expansive awareness of contemporary new media and how it impacts their goals.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
Contact
UNC Asheville
205 Zeis Hall
CPO #2015
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
Phone: (828) 350-4567
Email: tmccants@unca.edu
Website: http://nm.unca.edu/
A degree in web design offers students a fascinating combination of technical knowledge and artistic projects. Students who want to participate in a growing and vibrant medium will enjoy learning how to apply their creative endeavors to an essential area of modern technology. Web design will continue to grow and expand in the coming decades, so a student who obtains a degree today will be able to grow with the industry and experience its advancements over the next several years. For technologically and creatively inclined students, there are several terrific accredited web design degree programs in North Carolina.
Related Resource: How Can I Start My Own Web Design Firm?
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