Graphic Design Associate Degree Online
Guide to Schools offering an Associate Degree in Graphic Design
If you've always wanted to be an artist but never really loved the idea of struggling, perhaps forever, to make any money, then you might want to consider getting a graphic design associate degree.
The great thing about this degree is that your opportunities are wide open. If you're a creative, artistically minded person, then there are dozens of different directions you could go with a graphic design associate degree. Graphic designers work in just about every field you can imagine: health care, entertainment, publishing, finance, education, and much more.
It's definitely an out of the box career choice. Many creative people end up "settling" for a career simply because they don't know what else they could do besides being an independent artist. And although that lifestyle sounds fun, it's very hard to pay the bills and put food on the table.
With a graphic design degree, however, you would be making great money using your creative skills on a daily basis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the growth in this field is expected to keep pace with the national average so you shouldn't have trouble finding a job once you're out of school, especially if you live close to a big city.
There are many different careers you could find yourself in with this degree. For example, if you love gaming then you could go into video game design and put your love of Halo 3 to work in an exciting, high tech career that your friends could only dream about.
If you'd like a more hands on career, then you could go to work as a graphic designer creating ads, logos, or other marketing material. Advertising agencies and design firms employ graphic designers to help build up a brand or ad campaign for their clients. Iconic symbols like the Golden Arches or the apple in Apple computers were created by graphic designers. Sounds pretty interesting, right?
Now, it's important to realize that if you're interested in getting a graphic design associate degree, you're going to have to build a portfolio if you want to find employment. The nice thing is that you'll be creating samples to put in there while you're in school, so by the time you graduate you'll be ready to find an entry-level job in this field.
You'll also be taking some really fun classes with this degree. You'll learn things like color theory, design fundamentals, computer aided drawing, advertising, web page design, typography, and much more.
Graphic designers have a pretty wide range of income levels. Entry-level designers start at around $25,000, but as you gain more experience your income can go up much higher. With a Bachelor's Degree in graphic design, you could do very well for yourself. Income levels also vary with location, so if you live in a big city you'll make significantly more than a rural area.
If you love the idea of being an artist, but don't love the idea of always struggling to make ends meet, then getting a graphic design associate degree might be the perfect fit for you.
