Website Design Bachelor’s Degree Online

Is a Website Design Degree for You?

Every day, there are new innovations that make the Internet more valuable to our daily lives. Students in a website design bachelor's degree program learn the tools and technology needed to understand the language of web design, and how to transition that knowledge into a professional career. A website design degree will cover both front-end and back-end development. Students will learn to conceptualize, code, and publish their own content in a variety of different formats. While it is important to know and understand website design on the graphic end, it is also important to learn the technical aspects of website development, which is why students in website design programs study computer coding languages as well as graphic design elements. A bachelor's degree in website design can help you attain a position in technology- and web-related industries.

Before choosing a program, it is a good idea to decide which specific area of study you are most passionate about. There are a variety of career opportunities in website design, and determining the area that would best allow your skills to grow will make your entire career journey more satisfying. Bachelor’s degrees in website design normally focus on the basics of building sites, including color and imaging, web usability, search engine optimization, and advanced design. Students who pursue a bachelor's degree in website design must be creative thinkers who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. If you enjoy aspects of artistic design as well as intense technical knowledge and thinking, then a bachelor's degree program in website design may be a perfect fit for your interests. Students who are most successful in a website design degree program are those who can think on their feet while also being careful and precise in their work.

Advice for Earning Your Website Design Degree Online

Today’s companies are demand high-quality websites to represent their business, which makes a degree in website design a valuable commodity. A website design degree demonstrates an professional’s drive and devotion to their field of interest. Although there are no specific accreditations beyond a bachelor's degree needed to enter the workforce as a website designer, many students pursue a master's or doctoral degree in website design after they obtain their bachelor's degree. However, individuals graduating from bachelor's degree programs in website design are perfectly qualified to enter the career field.

Required Courses

Students pursuing a degree in website design can expect to complete courses in graphic design, introduction to web databases, basic web programming, technical writing, and more. Several mathematics courses may be required, as well as art and some basic writing courses. Students in this degree program should anticipate extended work in groups as well as independent assignments.

Common Career Paths:

Some career options as a website designer include (but are not limited to) the following areas:

• Graphic Designer

  Graphic designers, or graphic artists as they are sometimes called, are responsible for planning, analyzing, and creating visual solutions to communications problems. They are expected to uncover the most efficient way of getting a message across in electronic media (particularly websites) as well as in print. They use illustrations, varying colors, animation, photography, and every technique they know to create the overall layout and production design of magazines, newspapers, and online publications. Graphic designers also use their talents to design unique logos for their employers.

  A growing number of graphic designers are now producing material for websites and multimedia projects. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median annual wages for graphic designers were $42,400. The middle 50% earned between $32,600 and $56,620 yearly, while the lowest 10% earned less than $26,110, and the highest 10% earned more than $74,660.

• Webmaster

  Webmasters are in charge of the maintenance of a website. They manage issues such as availability to users, the speed of access, and the content of the website. A webmaster gathers and analyzes information on all web activity, including traffic patterns and other metrics, and they are also tasked with responding to user feedback. Some webmasters go by the title of "Web architect" or "website administrator."

  All are well-versed in web transaction software, as well as payment processing and security software. They bring their HTML proficiency to almost every aspect of web operations. Depending upon the nature of a site, they will understand scripting languages like JavaScript. Some webmasters are actually required to know how to arrange web servers so that they can serve as the server administrator, as well. While they are generally not required to create content, webmasters are responsible for the placement of said content. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, webmasters had an average yearly salary of $80,220.

• Web Developer

  A Web developer is in charge of all of the technical aspects of site creation. This important profession involves using software languages and tools to create applications for the web. One of the critical job duties for a Web developer is identifying a website’s users and managing the site’s production and implementation. Companies worldwide look to Web developers to make their organization’s homepage flawless and productive, which means deciding what information the site will contain and how it will be organized.

  Web developers have also been known to use web development software to incorporate databases and other information systems. In some cases, a web developer can be credited for the visual appearance of a site as they perform additional work by an organization looking to avoid hiring multiple technical professionals. In the end, Web developers use design software and construct pages that appeal to the tastes of the site’s frequent users. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median annual salary of Web developers was $66,310.