When it comes to accredited web design degree programs in Kansas, students will find a variety of in-depth programs offered by several institutions that enables them to pursue careers in the rapidly growing, highly competitive field of web design and development. The Sunflower State is well-known for its economic dependence on aviation manufacturing, telecommunications, and agriculture, and as more companies continue to expand in the state they will rely on technologically trained employees to promote their virtual presence. For those interested in a career related to web design or development, the following Kansas institutions offer rewarding programs with challenging academics.
The Art Institutes International—Kansas City
Graphic and Web Design
The Art Institutes International is a network of more than 40 private, for-profit educational institutions serving the needs of those who want to pursue careers in creative fields such as fashion design, culinary arts, game design, and web development. In Kansas City, the Art Institute offers two programs at the undergraduate level for students looking into web design degrees. Housed under the Design department, both the Graphic Design Associate of Applied Science and the Graphic and Web Design Bachelor of Science are relatively new programs that prepare students to work as private web designers or as part of a team for larger companies.
Graphic Design Associate of Applied Science
Students interested in accredited web design degree programs in Kansas will appreciate the program offered by the Art Institute in Kansas City because the program is specifically tailored to meet creative and practical needs. An associate’s degree helps students gain the skills needed for entry-level positions in a wide range of graphic design positions. The A.A.S. program at AI—Kansas City focuses on three core concepts: color theory, design, and topography. Students will utilize software and equipment relevant to the web development industry, and upon completion of the program they will be able to pursue careers in both print and digital media as they relate to design. The program requires 21 months or seven quarters and covers a broad range of applicable web design principles such as visual composition, image manipulation, and media design. Students who completed the associate’s program in 2013 reported a 58 percent job placement rate.
Graphic & Web Design Bachelor of Science
For those interested in additional instruction in web design or those who want to earn a bachelor’s degree for career advancement, the Art Institute offers a Graphic & Web Design Bachelor of Science program that teaches students how to express their creative talents while still respecting industry standards and client specifications. Like the associate’s program, the bachelor’s program gives students access to classes on topography, illustration and other relevant web design subjects. However, this degree also amplifies academics so that students learn more about interface design and in-depth courses related to more advanced career paths. The B.S. program requires 180 hours spread over 12 quarters, and students will also need to complete general education requirements along with their core curriculum subjects. The school values hands-on learning, and students will prove successful completion of the program by completing a live website, portfolio project and other assignments indicating mastery of their chosen field of study.
Accreditation
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
Contact
The Art Institutes International — Kansas City
8208 Melrose Drive
Lenexa, KS 66214
Phone: (913) 217-4600
Website: http://www.artinstitutes.edu/kansas-city/design-502.aspx
Cloud County Community College
Career Programs
Founded in 1965, Cloud County Community College serves a broad community comprising 12 counties and hundreds of students interested in technical programs that prepare them for entry-level positions in a wide range of fields. Students who study at Cloud County Community College gain access to a practical and academically stimulating education, and those who wish to study graphic design will find ample opportunity under the school’s unique Career Programs department. With 16 different career programs designed to prepare students for a career upon graduation, Cloud offers students the chance to develop integral skills needed for a variety of positions including those in the creative arts.
Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design
All of Cloud County Community College’s programs housed under the Career Programs initiative require a minimum of 62 credit hours for completion, but each program varies in terms of the allotment of hours and degree awarded. For graphic design students, the school awards an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design to those who fulfill the following hour requirements: 18 general credit hours, between 30 and 32 core subject hours, and 15 hours of electives. The A.A.S. program is designed for busy students who want to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. These students will be prepared to pursue entry-level positions in design. However, students may choose instead to transfer their credits to a four-year school in order to complete a supplemental degree program. Required core classes cover topics such as visual communication, marketing and an introduction to digital photography while electives cover subjects like advanced magazine publication or digital video techniques.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
Cloud County Community College
2221 Campus Drive
Concordia, KS 66901
Phone: (800) 729-5101
Email: njones@cloud.edu
Website: http://www.cloud.edu/Academics/programs/Graphic-Design/index
Hutchinson Community College
Computer & Industrial Technology—Visual Communication
As a two-year technical school founded in 1928, Hutchinson Community College enjoys a longstanding history as an institution committed to helping students achieve career success through a wide range of academic programs and technical training. Students who attend the school can choose from more than 120 majors covering fields relevant to the modern job market. Those interested in accredited web design degree programs in Kansas will find plenty of opportunity within the Visual Communication program housed under Hutchinson’s Computer & Industrial Technology department as the Visual Communication program encourages students to develop strong visual skills related to a broad range of creative pursuits.
Graphic Design/Web Technologies—AAS
Students who study disciplines under the direction of the Visual Communications department gain access to academic coursework and hands-on training in the realm of art, computer technology, design, digital video and photography, small business training, and the written word in the context of design. These core areas help prepare students to enter the workforce upon completion of the department’s associate’s degree in graphic design or Graphic Design/Web Technologies—AAS. The associate’s program requires 64 credit hours designated as follows: 37 credits on core subject matter, 15 credits on general education, and 12 credits on technical electives. Hutchinson’s graphic design program explores a variety of subjects relevant to contemporary designers such as microcomputer applications, storyboard techniques, and website ethics and security. Students will work closely with experienced designers to ensure success, and those who pursue the program will enjoy practical instruction that translates directly into the job field.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
Hutchinson Community College
1300 North Plum
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Phone: (620) 665-3358
Email: Brawnera@hutchcc.edu
Website: http://www.hutchcc.edu/catalog/major/?major=0607
Johnson County Community College
Graphic Design Department/Computing Sciences and Information Technology Department
As the largest college in the state of Kansas according to total enrollment, Johnson County Community College stands out among typical technical schools for its commitment to higher education in the form of extensive choices when it comes to academic degrees and certificate programs. The school offers an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design under its Graphic Design Department as well as an Associate of Applied Science in Web Technologies under its Computing Sciences and Information Technology Department. Both departments provide academically enriched programs that help students enter the workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue creative and practical career paths.
Graphic Design, A.A.S.
Johnson County Community College recognizes that today’s graphic design field is saturated with skilled workers, and those with better and more consistent portfolios are much more likely to land good jobs. Keeping this in mind, the school has developed an academic program that enables students interested in graphic design degrees to create comprehensive portfolios during their tenure at the school. Experienced faculty will evaluate these portfolios each semester in order to provide relevant and useful feedback so that students can pursue serious careers. The program requires at least 71 credit hours and typically takes two years to complete. Students should keep in mind that certain courses are only offered during the fall while others may be limited to spring semesters. Courses cover a broad range of hands-on topics such as drawing and media methods, desktop publishing and advanced typography. The program also covers several elective courses related to general education.
Web Technologies, A.A.S.
For students more interested in the technical development of websites, Johnson County Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Web Technologies that focuses on the creation and maintenance of contemporary websites as well as the broader technology that drives the Internet as a whole. Students will take a set of core classes that prepare them for work in the field while concentrating their portfolios in one of three sub-genres of web development: mobile web applications, rich media applications, or web programming. The web technologies program requires a minimum of 67 credit hours for completion, and core courses cover topics like the fundamentals of programming, technical interface skills, and a survey of web technologies. Students will utilize a variety of equipment, software, and hardware to create and maintain websites as part of the school’s hands-on approach to technical education. Additionally, candidates for the associate’s degree will complete a limited amount of general electives.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
For Graphic Design:
Johnson County Community College
Graphic Design Department
12345 College Blvd
Overland Park, KS 66210-1299
Phone: (913) 469-8500, ext. 3703
Email: jlane@jccc.edu
Website: http://catalog.jccc.edu/fall/degreecertificates/graphicdesign/graphic-design-aas/
For Web Technologies:
Johnson County Community College
Computing Sciences and Information Technology Department
12345 College Blvd
Overland Park, KS 66210-1299
Phone: (913) 469-8500 ext. 3168
Email: csitdept@jccc.edu
Website: http://catalog.jccc.edu/fall/degreecertificates/webtechnologies/web-technologies-aas/
Kansas State University
Engineering Technology
Originally established in 1863, Kansas State University boasts more than 250 undergraduate programs; a student enrollment of more than 24,300; substantial financial aid assistance; and a number of distinctions among top college publications such as The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. The university’s aggressive commitment to academics extends to its comprehensive Engineering Technology department. Under this department, students may pursue an associate’s degree in Web Development Technology that prepares students to enter the field as web developers and designers and encompasses a variety of subjects relevant to the industry including programming, database applications, and audio and video streaming.
Web Development Technology
For those interested in web development programs, Kansas State University offers a thorough grounding in the field with its associate degree option. Students who pursue this degree will gain access to an overview of web development techniques, software and applications used in the industry while honing their skills as entry-level designers. The program requires 66 credit hours designated into 39 major credit hours, 33 hours on core courses and an additional six hours on applicable electives. Courses cover topics most useful to a position in the web development industry like fundamentals of visual literacy or Java programming. Electives cover specific programming languages and will largely depend on students’ specific career goals. In addition to the associate’s program, Kansas State offers a bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Technology, and those who complete the associate’s program may choose to roll their core credit hours into the bachelor’s program along with relevant electives.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
K-State Salina
Office of Admissions
2310 Centennial Road
Salina, KS 67401-8196
Phone: (785) 826-2640
Email: admiss@salina.k-state.edu
Website: http://www.salina.k-state.edu/engtech/webdevelopment.html
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Department of Humanities
Christian faith plays an integral role in the academics and student life of MidAmerica Nazarene University, and the school believes in offering stimulating programs that uphold the fundamentals of evangelical Christianity on which the school was founded in 1966. Today, this small but vibrant campus offers more than 40 academic programs at the undergraduate level including two distinct media programs under the university’s Department of Humanities. Students may pursue an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design or Multimedia, and both programs prepare students to meet the challenges of today’s competitive design and communications industry through the use of rigorous coursework and practical application.
Graphic Design
MidAmerica Nazarene University’s Department of Humanities offers a broad-reaching graphic design program that was created to help students prepare for real-world challenges using relevant technology and modern instruction. Those who study here will gain access to a faculty well-versed in the art of modern graphic design and its practical application. The school emphasizes real-world application to the point that students will be teamed up with marketing students to develop projects and portfolios for local clients and businesses. This experience should prove invaluable in a particularly competitive field. The Graphic Design bachelor’s program comprises a variety of subjects including web interface design, corporate identity and principles of marketing. Candidates may focus their degree further by choosing an emphasis in either marketing or art. Due to the school’s emphasis on Christian faith, students are required to take a total of nine hours covering spiritual development in addition to general education and core graphic design courses.
Multimedia
Students researching accredited web design degree programs in Kansas may opt for a broader focus than graphic design, and for those students MidAmerica Nazarene University offers a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia that could translate into a variety of occupations related to broadcast, on-air communication and dissemination of information. The school combines several disciplines in its multimedia program including video and print, animation, and the web. Courses cover topics applicable to the field of information such as the fundamentals of public speaking, mass media communications and cross-cultural communications. Students will also gain experience in various media and equipment while participating in hands-on learning experienced related to the field. The school hosts its own student-run media outlet called the Box, and students involved in the multimedia program will learn how to manage different operations using this feature. The multimedia program requires more concentration courses than the graphic design program, and students will also be expected to complete internships.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Department of Humanities
2030 E. College Way
Olathe, KS 66062-1899
Phone: (913) 971-3380
Email: admissions@mnu.edu
Websites:
- Graphic Design: http://www.mnu.edu/undergraduate/academics/graphic-design.html
- Multimedia: http://www.mnu.edu/undergraduate/academics/multimedia.html
Rasmussen College
School of Design/School of Technology
Celebrating its 114th year as a for-profit, private institution in 2014, Rasmussen College offers a wide range of traditional and online programs for students at 24 campuses spread over six states. The school was founded on the principle of solid business education and now encompasses a broad range of subject areas, and students looking into accredited web design degree programs in Kansas will find several programs available under Rasmussen’s School of Design and School of Technology that prepare them for practical careers in the media design industry. Both of the programs outlined below are available at the Kansas City/Overland Park location as well as the Topeka campus. Rasmussen College’s online Associate’s in Multimedia Technologies – Specialization in Web Design was rated number five of the top ten best online web design schools and degrees by our editors.
Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree—Web & Interactive Design Specialization
The Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree—Web & Interactive Design Specialization offered by Rasmussen College is designed for students who plan to pursue careers in a variety of media design fields and has been tailored to meet the needs of busy professionals. Students will utilize technology and relevant equipment necessary for the creation of portfolios that showcase their abilities along with learned technical competencies. In addition, students will take a broad range of courses that offer an in-depth look at the modern graphic design industry and its techniques such as web content management systems, advanced digital photography, and the history of graphic design. For completion of the bachelor’s program, students must complete at least 181 credit hours divided into 56 general education credits, 102 major credits, and 23 specialization credits related to their chosen field. During the program, students will also complete a capstone project to demonstrate certain skills and techniques.
Web Programming Associate’s Degree
Students who are more interested in behind-the-scenes programming as it relates to web media may find that an Associate of Applied Science in Web Programming will prove more useful to their careers. Rasmussen College offers an associate’s degree as well as a diploma for professionals who need additional web training or for those who plan to pursue bachelor’s degrees in the future. For those planning to work in web development, the associate’s program offers a hands-on approach to learning several different programming languages that form industry standards today. The Web Programming Associate’s Degree requires 92 credit hours that cover 32 credit hours of general education and 60 credit hours of core major courses. Core classes discuss contemporary topics in web programming such as JavaScript, object-oriented programming and an introduction to HTML. Students will also complete a capstone project that demonstrates practical application of the theoretical concepts learned throughout the program.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
For Kansas City/Overland Park:
11600 College Boulevard
Overland Park, KS 66210
Phone: (913) 491-7870
For Topeka:
620 SW Governor View
Topeka, KS 66606
Phone: (785) 228-7320
Websites:
- Design: http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/design/web-interactive-design/bachelors/
- Web Technology: http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/web-programming/associates/
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 20 percent increase in the number of web development jobs over the next decade, a faster increase than most other occupations. It comes as no surprise that the world’s increasing dependence on the Internet will result in steady employment for those with the right training. The aforementioned accredited web design degree programs in Kansas should help students meet the challenge of evolving technology.
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