Guide to Online Associate's Degrees in Media Design
If you like the idea of getting an associate degree that will allow you to work in television, advertising, or web development, then you might want to think about getting your associate degree in media design.
Why Get An Associate’s Degree in Media Design?
Getting an associate degree in media design is going to put you a career path that focuses on advertising in its various forms. This means that if you’re not sure you’d like to go into graphic design, web design, computer animation, or video broadcasting, starting out in media design can help you make a decision.
Why? Well, because media design teaches you about all these different mediums. It’s a great introduction to the field of advertising and design in general.
What You’ll Learn
Media design is a fascinating field that studies how, and why, people react to certain television commercials, print ads, or marketing campaigns. It also studies what design principals work best in different marketing forms.
This means that no only will you get to learn about consumer behavior, but you’ll also get an introduction into several different medias such as video broadcasting, web design, copywriting, and graphic design. You’ll learn about the effects of color, line, and form, and how to integrate all three into a design to create a visually stunning piece that will get results for the company you’re working for.
Some of the classes you might see once you enroll in a media design associate degree program include:
- Drawing
- Color Theory
- Graphic Design
- Marketing
- Psychology
- Intro to Web Design
- Desktop Video
- Copyright Law
- Intro to Audio
- Interactive Vector Graphics
Many schools will also train you to use specific design software. Most professionals depend on computerized software to do their work, so knowing how to use these complicated programs is vital for your career prospects. You’ll probably how to use programs such as:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Flash
- Dreamweaver
- Imagemaker
You’ll also learn important skills such as HTML, e-commerce, Internet marketing, animation, and advanced web-based graphic programs.
Getting an associate degree in media design is a lot of work; you’ll have a lot of projects to work on both in class, and at home. But the good news is that most of these projects can be put into your portfolio, which, in the art field, is more important to your resume. Most schools will spend plenty of time helping you put together a portfolio so that you can find a job once you’re done with school.
Careers With An Associate Degree in Media Design
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the fields of media design and web design (two fields that are often lumped together, along with graphic design) career prospects look good through 2016. Thanks to the every growing use of computers and the Internet, these careers will grow faster than average.
About 25% of people who work in media design and graphic design are self-employed. It’s hard to say how much you can earn in this field. A lot depends on the size of the company you work for, or if you decide to go out on your own.
Most designers (again, media and graphic designers are lumped together here) earned between $35,000 to $55,000. Self-employed designers earned $60,000 to $98,000.
Getting an associate degree in media design will allow you to work in a creative, innovate field that’s definitely exciting and artistic. If you’re looking for a career that’s a bit out of the box, then you’ll definitely want to consider media design.
Guide to Online Associates Degree Programs
Associate degree holders generally have better job prospects than those with only a high school diploma. Earning an associate degree usually takes two years, and doing so in at an online school can be much more convenient than at a traditional campus. Below are the top accredited online schools offering associate degrees in the US.
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With one of the largest offerings of accredited online associate degrees, Post University is consistently highly rated by its students because of its flexibility and affordability. All associate degrees offered are fully accredited. Post was founded in 1890 and has been providing highly-rated degree programs to students ever since with an emphasis on practicality and application. Read full school profile » |
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The University of Phoenix was one of the first accredited colleges to offer online degrees. Today, it has grown to become one of the nation's largest universities through its online division and campuses coast to coast. They remain one of the top choices for students looking for an associates degree online because of the broad array of choice and affordability they offer students. Read full school profile » |
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With perhaps the largest number of online associates degrees offered, Kaplan University's degrees are fully accredited, affordable, and offer a flexibility that many other online schools cannot match. This unrivaled selection spans several industries, hundreds of specializations, and all degree levels of education, empowering students to choose their own path to a career. Read full school profile » |
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One of the nation's leading Christian universities, Liberty offers a broad range of accredited associate degrees online. Their incorporation of moral and ethical considerations into study make them a popular choice for students seeking a well-rounded education built on academic integrity. Established in 1985, Liberty University has one of the longest-standing online education programs in the country. Read full school profile » |
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The online associates degrees at Everest University can be completed in under 2 years, making this a great way for students to quickly works towards their life goals. An associates degree can give you a jump-start on your career and open opportunities around every corner. Many of the programs help students pursue positions in ever-growing fields. Read full school profile » |
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Virginia College offers a wide range of accredited associates programs. VC takes several steps in helping students pays for college by offering financial aid to those who qualify, including textbooks in the tuition cost, and providing online programs that can be completed under two (2) years, giving students a quick way to jump start their careers. Read full school profile » |
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DeVry University is a highly-regarded leader in education with campuses across the nation and several online degrees available. DeVry focuses on providing degrees centered in the technology industry or fields that require a broad understanding and need for technical skills. DeVry has several highly popular degrees like Accounting, Web Graphic Design, Health IT, and Network Systems Administration. Read full school profile » |
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Strayer University has over the last decade become one of the most respected schools offering accredited online associate degrees. Their strong reputation among employers, broad course offerings, and over one hundred years in education make them consistently a top choice for students. Strayer has over 85 campuses and 60,000 students currently attending online or at one of its campuses. Read full school profile » |
