Web Design Degree Programs in Pennsylvania (A-D)

There are a number of accredited web design degree programs in Pennsylvania. There are other collegiate programs that may not lead to a degree but still offer substantial knowledge and skills in generating online content. Choosing from among them can be a daunting task—one which the information below seeks to make easier for those facing it. In it, selected schools in Pennsylvania are named, information about their divisions and programs offered, and contact information provided for further research, each a piece of knowledge that should make finding the best-fitting program much more manageable.

Bucks County Community College

Department of the Arts

The Department of the Arts at Bucks County Community College offers associate’s degrees in cinema and video production, communication studies, fine arts, woodworking, graphic design, music, multimedia and photography, as well as certificates in applied photography, web design & multimedia and furniture and cabinetmaking. The offerings bespeak a broad understanding of art that argues well for the roundedness of graduates.

Web Designer and Multimedia Certificate

The Department offers a certificate program in web and multimedia design that seeks to equip students for digital design work. Requiring enrollees to have prior knowledge of basic computing, the program equips students for entry-level work in digital design through a 24-credit program requiring a prescribed core of classes (Digital Imaging, Web and Interactive Design, Interface Design, 3-D Modeling Concepts, Multimedia Concepts I and Illustration: Drawing & Digital) supplemented by 6 credits of electives (Visual Basic Programming I, Media Authoring, Web Databases, Media Scriptwriting, Video Studio Production I, Audio Production, Electronic Music Synthesis I, Digital Photography Fundamentals, Multimedia Concepts II and 3-D Digital Animation). Students can thus specialize within the general knowledge offered by the certificate, making them more responsive to professional demands and thus helping to secure their futures. Expected costs approach $3,900 for tuition and fees and $1,700 for books and supplies.

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

The Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics at Bucks Community College offers degree and certificate programs in such areas as Allied Health, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics. Some of the courses are on fast tracks, allowing for rapid completion of prerequisite classes so that students can move into professional studies across the breadth of applied human endeavor.

Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology Studies

The Department offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Information Technology Studies meant to prepare students to enter the workforce across computer-related areas. The transferability of courses supporting the degree to four-year programs is somewhat limited, with students seeking to transfer advised to seek mentoring early in their curricula. The degree requires some 60 credits of coursework across an expected four semesters, provided prerequisites and placement tests are in order. Required courses include Effective Speaking, Introduction to Business and Integration of Knowledge (something of a general education capstone); other courses are distributed across such fields as collegiate writing, cultural perspectives, personal health, mathematics, and computing. The degree is largely self-chosen, with the student compiling a curriculum in consultation with advisors; the result is that students can select a broad-based course of study that equips them to enter into a variety of situations or a focused plan that allows them to excel in a single area.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
275 Swamp Road
Newtown PA, 18940
Phones:

  • Certificate: (215) 968-8425
  • AAS: (215) 968-8305

Emails:

  • Certificate: arts@bucks.edu
  • AAS: stem@bucks.edu

Websites:

Butler County Community College

Business Division

The Business Division at Butler County Community College offers occupational programs in accounting, business management, computer information systems, computer forensics & security, hospitality management, human resource management, management of applied technology, marketing management, medical coding specialist, office administration and tourism as well as a business administration degree intended for transfer to a four-year program. The programs emphasize preparedness for a changing workplace.

Associate in Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Web Programming Specialist

The Division offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Systems with a specialization in Web Programming meant to equip students with the programming and basic graphic design knowledge and skills necessary to pursue employment as a web designer, web programmer or webmaster successfully. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits of coursework (prerequisites may add to the number), including such general education courses as six credits of college writing, a math course, a customer service course, a humanities or social sciences elective and a physical education elective. Primary coursework in the major includes such courses as Computer Information Systems, Microcomputing Applications, Introduction to and Advanced Web Programming, Database Systems, Web Marketing, Data Communication and Networking, Web Page Design Tools, Systems Analysis & Design, Visual Programming, Computer and Internet Security, Linux and a Web Programming Practicum that acts as a sort of capstone.

Humanities and Social Sciences Division

The Humanities and Social Sciences Division at Butler County Community College handles much of the general education coursework offered by the school as well as hosting occupational and transfer degrees in communications, criminology, digital audio and video, education, emergency services, English, fine arts, graphic design, homeland security, park and recreation management, photography, physical education, psychology, social work and general studies.

Associate in Applied Science in Graphic Design

The Division offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Grpahic Design meant to equip students to enter the workforce as graphic designers, illustrators, web masters, layout artists, electronic illustrators and technical illustrators who work in offices and from their own homes. The degree requires a minimum of 65 credits of coursework (prerequisites may add to the number), including such general education courses as six credits of college writing, a math course and a health or wellness class. Primary coursework in the major includes Introductions to Microcomputing, Art, Graphic Arts Production and Black & White Photography; Creative Thinking; Design Organization I and II; Drawing; Electronic Art and Design I and II; Electronic Layout and Design I and II; Applied Media Art and Illustration; Graphic Designer Web Pages; Electronic Multimedia’ a Graphic Design Seminar and a Graphic Design Photography Practicum which, taken together, constitute a sort of capstone experience.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), with the Graphic Design program cited for distinction in the 2006 reaccreditation report
  • Programs in the Business Division are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact
PO Box 1203
Butler, PA 16003-1203
Phone: (724) 287-8711
Contact Page
Websites:

Delaware County Community College

Division of Business and Computer Information Systems

The Division of Business and Computer Information Systems at Delaware County Community College offers associate’s degrees and certificate programs in such fields as accounting, business administration, computer science, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, general business, hotel and restaurant management, human resource management, information technology, interactive multimedia, mobile computing, small business management and web development. The breadth of offerings corresponds with the breadth of business and related endeavors, bespeaking their interpenetration with many if not most aspects of human life. It ensures that the Division remains abreast of developments in a wide variety of fields, helping its offerings to remain current and aware of broader trends.

Information Technology, Interactive Multimedia, A.A.S.

The Division offers an Associate of Applied Sciences in Information Technology with a specialization in Interactive Multimedia. The career-focused degree seeks to equip students to develop both web materials and computer-based training programs involving audio and video components. It obliges students to 61 to 66 credits of coursework, plus prerequisites. They include general education classes such as a six-credit composition sequence and electives in mathematics, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences. They also include required core and specialized information technology courses such as Introductions to Information Technology, Computer Science and Java Programming; Web Page Development; Network Communications; Management Information Systems; Interface Design and Rapid-Prototyping; Multimedia Graphics & Design; Audio & Video for Multimedia; Multimedia Authoring; Flash; Object Oriented C++; Programming for the Web and a Portfolio Development class that seeks to ease entry into professional life. Transfer to a four-year school is not normally facilitated by the curriculum.

Information Technology, Web Development, A.A.S.

The Division offers an Associate of Applied Sciences in Information Technology with a specialization in Web Development. The career-focused degree seeks to equip students to enter the workforce as web professionals, creating and maintaining many forms of online content. It obliges students to 62 to 67 credits of coursework, plus prerequisites. They include general education classes such as a six-credit composition sequence and electives in mathematics, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences. They also include required core and specialized information technology courses such as Introductions to Information Technology, Computer Science and Oracle:SQL; Web Page Development; Management Information Systems; Network Communications; Interface Design and Rapid-Prototyping; jQuery/Java Script; Flash; UNIX Operating Systems; Mobile Web Development and Programming for the Web. Students emerge from the program amply qualified for entry-level work as webmasters for small businesses and website maintenance staff for larger agencies, suggesting that they can expect relatively stable futures.

Accreditation

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
3310 Academic Building
901 S. Media Line Rd.
Media, PA 19063
Phone: (610) 359-5278
Email: wecare@dccc.edu
Websites:

DeVry University- Philadelphia/Center City

College of Media Arts & Technology

The College of Media Arts & Technology at DeVry University- Philadelphia/Center City offers an associate’s degree in web graphic design and a bachelor’s degree in multimedia design and development with four available specializations. Programs in the College seek to provide students the technical, creative and reasoning skills they will need the changing digital design industry. Programs are available on site and online, allowing for greater flexibility in study and an increased ability for students to succeed in their educational and later career goals.  DeVry’s programs are listed number four of the “Top 10 Best Online Web Design Schools and Degrees” by our editors.

Associate of Applied Science in Web Graphic Design

The College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Web Graphic Design that helps students master software, design, content management and animation so that they can enter the workforce as web designers for advertising agencies, marketing firms and other businesses that need to assert and maintain effective online presences. The degree requires 67 credit hours of coursework, normally completed in five full-time semesters, and it articulates with the University’s Multimedia Design and Development degree (discussed below). In addition to general education coursework meant to equip students with a broad knowledge base upon which to draw, students can expect to take such core courses as Introduction to Business and Technology, Computer Applications for Business with lab, Visual Design Fundamentals, Advanced Design and Rapid Visualization and Digital Imaging Fundamentals. They can also expect to take courses in information design, web design, web animation and instructional design, as well as to compile a professional media portfolio to ease their entry into the workforce.

Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Design and Development—Web Design and Development

The College also offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Multimedia Design and Development in four specializations: Graphic and Multimedia Design, Graphics and Multimedia Management, Web Design and Development and Web Game Programming. Of them, the third is most narrowly tailored to web design, focusing on the smooth and rich development of online content. The degree requires 124 credit hours of coursework, normally completed in eight full-time semesters; it includes all of the coursework for the Associate of Applied Science in Web Graphic Design noted above as well as additional general education courses suitable to the higher degree. Primary coursework in the major includes classes in multimedia standards and emerging technologies, graphics business, databases, web page scripting, website development and database integration, accessibility and a two-semester senior project that serves as a capstone experience. Graduates are thus suited to higher-level work as webmasters and digital content creators, professions likely to be needed for many years to come.

Accreditation

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact

1800 JFK Blvd.
Ste. 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 568-2911
Email: None listed, but contact forms are provided
Websites:

There are other programs to be found in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, each with its own benefits. Hopefully, the above information about accredited web design degree programs in Pennsylvania will help in selecting which of them is the best fit, doing more to ensure future personal and professional success.

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