Nearly 4300 people were employed in Ohio as web developers in 2013, and the job forecast for the future remains promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of employees in this growing field will increase by 20 percent through 2022 – faster than the average for other occupations. Prospective students who like those positive odds can find several career-based web design degree programs in the Buckeye State.
Terra State Community College
Business, Communication and Arts Division
Terra State Community is a two-year commuter college located in the northern Ohio town of Fremont. The state-supported school offers more than 110 degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of fields, from business to nursing to engineering. Terra State was founded in 1968 as a night school under the name Vanguard Technical Institute. The college adopted its current name in 1994. More than 3000 undergraduates are enrolled at the school.
Traditional classes are offered on Terra State’s 103-acre campus, but distance learning and “e-degree” options also are available. The Business, Communication and Arts Division encompasses several career preparation programs, including Digital Arts and Media, Marketing, Management, Arts, and Music. The digital arts certificate and degrees and certificates include 3D Animation degree, Design for Print degree, Web Design degree, and Digital Publishing Certificate.
Associate of Applied Science Web Design Major
In an age when computers are so essential to everyday lives, the web design major prepares students to enter the workplace in a variety of web design and programming support roles. Potential occupations include programmer, webmaster, web site developer or designer, project manager, or multimedia developer.
Terra State’s program focuses on technical training, design, critical thinking, and communications. Course work includes classes such as digital photography, web design, interactive media, and digital creation and editing. Students also must take core courses in subjects like algebra and effective speaking. The college expects that graduates will be able to create a web site in a variety of formats, to edit and create graphics, and to use authoring software to create interactive content.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Terra State Community College
2830 Napoleon Rd.
Fremont, OH 43420-9670
Phone: (419) 559-2349 or 866-288-3772
Email: admissions@terra.edu
Website: http://www.terra.edu/Academics/AcademicPrograms/DigitalArtsandMediaDesign/WebDesign.html
The Art Institute of Ohio – Cincinnati
Graphic & Web Design
The Art Institute of Ohio in Cincinnati offers schooling in a variety of creative endeavors, including media arts, fashion, design, and culinary arts. The institution is part of a nationwide educational system that includes more than 50 schools in such wide-ranging locations as California, New York, Florida, Colorado, and Texas.
The Cincinnati location is situated on a campus in the northeastern suburbs of Symmes Township. These Ohio students have access to up-to-date classrooms, design laboratories, and computer labs in a 40,000-square-foot facility. Prospective students can prepare for both associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees in a variety of career-based fields.
Graphic Design Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
The Art Institute’s AAS graphic design students prepare for entry-level positions in jobs such as computer artist, graphic designer, layout artist, or advertising design. The program helps students to become familiar with such fundamental skills as drawing, advertising design, color theory, composition, and typography. Over the course of their studies, students will cover more advanced topics like desktop publishing, computer graphics, and computer illustration.
By the time they graduate, students should be able to understand layout and design concepts and to apply this knowledge in the workplace. They also should be skilled in computer software programs needed to produce creative projects. The school expects graduates to develop the professional practice, ethical standards, and communication skills needed for practical application of their knowledge in the real world.
Graphic Design Bachelor of Fine Arts
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree in graphic design will begin with the same basics as the AAS students but will pursue a more comprehensive program. Classroom topics for all media arts degrees include core concepts such as color theory, design, illustration, and typography. Students who concentrate on graphic design also will study advertising concepts, package design, publication design, art direction, advanced layout, and the business of graphic design.
The bachelor’s degree program spans nearly 2700 hours on the clock. Students spend 1320 hours in lectures, 1232 in laboratory work, and 132 hours in a hands-on practicum or internship. Prospective graduates must meet grade requirements, develop a portfolio, and participate in a Senior Portfolio Show.
Web Design and Interactive Media Associate of Applied Science
Web design students will learn about many of the same core topics as those in graphic design during their first year of study. Color and design fundamentals, typography, image manipulation, layout design, motion graphics, and digital illustration all are part of this basic coursework. During their second year, these AAS students will consider such topics as information architecture, audio and video, web page scripting, and design for emerging technologies.
By the completion of the degree program, the Art Institute expects graduates to be familiar with the design, communication, problem-solving, and technological skills necessary to apply creative solutions on all types of web-related mediums. The associate’s program includes 1342 clock hours of classroom and laboratory work, but there is no practicum or internship requirement.
Web Design and Interactive Media Bachelor of Fine Arts
Graduates of the web design program will be prepared to seek entry-level jobs as special effects artists, computer artist, interactive designer, or animator. The program is described by the college as a “user-centered” design program where students focus on developing valuable design skills and technological knowledge to solve problems on a variety of media platforms. Job sites that hire web designers include corporate communications departments, television studios, web development firms, and interactive media companies.
The bachelor’s degree program includes nearly double the hours of the associate’s program. Students are required to complete 1342 lecture hour and 1276 laboratory hours. There are no internship requirements, but students must complete a portfolio and participate in a Senior Portfolio Show.
Accreditation
- The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
- The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
Contact
Art Institute of Ohio – Cincinnati
8845 Governor’s Hill Drive, Suite 100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45249-3317
Phone: (513) 833-2400 or (866) 613-5184
Website: http://new.artinstitutes.edu/cincinnati
University of Mount Union
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
The University of Mount Union is a four-year private liberal arts college located in the northeastern Ohio city of Alliance. Founded in 1846, the school originated as a place where equal opportunity would be afforded to everyone regardless of their race, color, or sex. The college has been affiliated with the Methodist Church for more than 100 years.
Mount Union offers 62 undergraduate majors and has an enrollment of more than 2200 undergraduates. The Department of Computer Science and Information Systems offers four majors and five minors in the areas of computer science, computer information systems, media computing, web design, interactive media, computer security, and database management.
Interactive Media Major
Three departments contribute to Mount Union’s interdisciplinary major of interactive media – art, communication, and computer science. Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete courses in each of these areas. Art credits may include classes in graphic design, three-dimensional modeling and animation, and drawing. Communication class topics cover subjects such as audio and video production, photojournalism, design for multimedia, and writing for the media. In the computer science field, students are asked to master web design, introduction to flash animation, programming for interactive media, and interactive animation.
By demonstrating how different disciplines overlap, the college prepares students to handle modern design issues and to get ready for a career after graduation. Interactive media majors may be employed in web design, digital animation, computer graphic design, website management, and application development
Computer Information Systems – Web Design Minor
Mount Union students who are interested in interactive media but prefer to focus on computer-based skills can choose to minor in web design. These students can choose to major in computer information systems, taking courses in programming, database theory, computer networks, and systems analysis along with a slate of core liberal arts classes. The web design minor program blends visual design and computing design training as preparation for careers in the promising field of web design.
To fulfill requirements for the minor, students will take classes such as web design, interactive design, digital aspects of photography, flash animation, and programming for interactive media. Students can pair this minor with majors other than computer information systems as well.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
University of Mount Union
1972 Clark Ave.
Alliance, OH 44601
Phone: (800) 992-6682
Email: info@mountunion.edu
Website: http://www.mountunion.edu/computer-science-major
Zane State College
Business Department
Founded in 1969, Zane State College is a two-year public institution with campuses in Zanesville and Cambridge in the central east region of Ohio. More than 40 associate degree, certificate, occupational training and workshop programs are offered at the college, where the emphasis is on hands-on, career-based education. The school’s main location is shared with Ohio University’s Zanesville campus.
Enrollment at Zane State has more than doubled in the last 10 years, topping about 3500 students currently. The college’s business department is the umbrella for the information technology program and for its interactive digital media major. Other business programs at the school include e-commerce, business management, accounting, technical services, and information systems and technology.
Associate Degree in Interactive Digital Media
The interactive media program at Zane State focuses on the elements of design as it strives to prepare students for post-graduation jobs in both digital and print media. Successful graduates may find jobs as graphic designers, customer support professionals, illustrators, page layout artists and webmasters.
The interactive media major is offered at the main campus in Zanesville. Students take core courses in subjects such as English, math and the humanities. As part of the interactive media concentration, they also may take classes in digital photography, web design, 3-D graphics, print layout, database management systems, and editing digital video.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and schools (NCA HLC)
Contact
Zane State College
1555 Newark Road
Zanesville, Oh 43701
Phone: (740) 454-2501 or (800) 686-8324
Email: admissions@ZaneState.edu
Website: https://www.zanestate.edu/programs/information-technology-%E2%80%93-interactive-digital-media-major
The web design degree programs in Ohio give students across the state an opportunity to successfully prepare for careers in this growing field. Whatever program you choose, the forecast for future job opportunities in strong both in Ohio and across the country.
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