The smallest state in the United States by land mass has a broad array of offerings when it comes to accredited web design degree programs in Rhode Island. The main industries within the state are health care, manufacturing and tourism, and its capital Providence is a major financial hub for the entire New England region. Since most modern businesses rely heavily on computing technology, there is a solid demand for skilled website designers and multimedia experts. Students enrolled in one of the state’s web design programs have opportunities to help local businesses build their brands through engaging websites and organized intranet sites for employees. Here are some of the schools and programs where many web designers in Rhode Island get their start.
Johnson & Wales University
School of Science & Liberal Arts
While Johnson & Wales University is most famous for its culinary arts programs, the school has expanded its offerings to include a variety of professional degree programs that are taught from a liberal arts perspective. These programs instruct students on relevant core competencies while helping them to develop the communication skills needed in today’s corporate environment. Students enrolled in the school of Science & Liberal Arts have customizable degree programs that help them to pursue their career goals through traditional classroom and experiential learning opportunities like study abroad and internship programs. The goal of these degree programs is to produce engaged leaders with valuable technical, interpersonal, and creative problem solving skills that can be used throughout their careers.
Media & Communication Studies BS
The school’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in Media & Communication Studies is a popular option for students who want a variety of career options in media related fields like broadcast journalism, print publication, and other multimedia communications. Students develop foundational written and verbal communication skills that are used throughout the program’s courses and as students put skills into practice for production projects. Media & Communication students can expect instruction about the different forms of media from a socio-economic, cultural, and political perspective. Students also learn how media influences society and how the ethical use of media can produce positive social change. The technical skills of media and communication majors are transferable to a variety of career fields like marketing, management consulting, public relations, technical training, and law.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
Contact
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (800) 342-5598
Email: admissions@learnonline.jwu.edu
Website: http://academics.jwu.edu/school-of-science-and-liberal-arts/media-and-communication-studies-bs/?taxId=170
Graphic Design & Digital Media BS
The undergraduate Graphic Design and Digital Media degree program at Johnson & Wales is part of the university’s Engineering and Design school. Students enrolled in this program learn art and digital design principles that they can use in a variety of information technology (IT) and marketing career fields. The curriculum is guided by accomplished faculty who teach fundamentals as well as trending technology. Since they are often working professionals in their fields, they are deemed well qualified to guide student projects and give beneficial feedback. Examples of courses taught within this degree program are Print Design, Portfolio Assessment and Digital Media Design Solutions. In these courses, students learn about how product packaging influences brand strategy, and they build working portfolios of their work that become more mature as they progress through the program. The classroom work is supplemented by field work projects and internships with real world clients.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
Contact
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (800) 342-5598
Email: admissions@learnonline.jwu.edu
Website: http://academics.jwu.edu/school-of-engineering-and-design/graphic-design-digital-media-bs/?taxId=170
New England Institute of Technology
Communications
The New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) is a private technical college that offers associate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs in vocational and professional career fields like Communications. The school’s programs that fall under the Communications category consist of web development, multimedia design, and game development. Students usually take about 18 months to complete associate degree programs, and they can choose to further their academic studies by taking an additional 18 months worth of courses toward a B.S. degree in their chosen area of study. Communications degree programs have convenient day time and evening courses.
Associate in Science in Graphics, Multimedia, & Web Design
The Associate in Science (A.S.) in Graphics, Multimedia, & Web Design degree program instructs students on the foundations of digital marketing. The goal of fostering visual creativity is enhanced by courses in web design, desktop publishing, branding and graphic design. The expected outcome of these integrated courses is that students are prepared for entry-level positions as web, graphic or multimedia designers in a variety of media industries. These students are also prepared to progress into more advanced communications and media concepts taught at the undergraduate level. This attitude of lifelong learning is further demonstrated by the program’s comprehensive curriculum that includes both theoretical concepts and applied learning projects. It is through the applied learning projects that students demonstrate the knowledge and skills gained through foundational level courses.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
Contact
One New England Tech Boulevard
East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818
Phone: (800) 736-7744
Email: Contact Form
Website: http://www.neit.edu/Programs/Associate-Degree-Programs/Communications/Graphics-Multimedia-and-Web-Design
Bachelor of Science in Graphics, Multimedia, & Web Design
The B.S. in Graphics, Multimedia, & Web Design at NEIT builds on the design principles and skills that students learn in the associate level degree program. This program features marketing based art and design principles that are taught within a digital multimedia environment. The combination of skills from business marketing, creative design, and IT disciplines prepares students for a number of employment opportunities within media. Examples of course topics taught within this degree program include concept development, typography, web animation, and mobile design strategy. In addition to these courses that foster the development of technical skills, students also take business related classes like project management, social media marketing and brand strategy, and marketing. In addition to classroom lectures, program activities range from perfecting portfolio designs through constructive instructor feedback to group production projects.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
Contact
One New England Tech Boulevard
East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818
Phone: (800) 736-7744
Email: Contact Form
Website: http://www.neit.edu/Programs/Bachelors-Degree-Programs/Graphics-Multimedia-and-Web-Design
The University of Rhode Island
Office of Special Programs
The University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Office of Special Programs provides professionals working in a number of industries with certificate programs that are designed to hone current skills and develop new ones needed to maintain their competitive advantage in the labor market. Students can choose among skill focused, credit, and non-credit training programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Office of Special Programs certificate options range from vocational programs like Master Seamstress to professional ones for auditors and accountants.
Design for Web Certificate
URI’s Office of Special Programs offers a variety of Multimedia Certificates for professionals who want to gain skills in digital design, web design, and production and social media marketing. The Design for Web Certificate program includes instruction about design and development of interactive websites according to industry standards. Students enrolled in this program become internet literate from a design perspective, and they learn the tools and techniques to create stunning websites that capture functional and aesthetic requirements. Some of the course topics that students take as part of the Design for Web Certificate program include web design, mobile web design, and web marketing. Some of the popular industry applications used during the courses are Adobe Flash, Dreamweaver, and Photoshop. This Design for Web Certificate program is held over a nine month time period and covers 144 hours of instruction.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
Contact
URI/Providence Feinstein Campus
80 Washington Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone: (401) 277-5200
Email: christine@uri.edu
Website: http://www.uri.edu/prov/certificate_noncredit/certificate/Multimedia/MultimediaTech.html
Those with web design and development skills are in high demand as the world of business becomes more digitized. However, the concepts taught within many accredited web design degree programs in Rhode Island foster communication and marketing skills that are transferable to a variety of career fields.
Related Resource: Is a web design degree worth it?
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