Options for Graphic Design Courses

[topdog98]

I have a family member who is interested in graphic design courses. Does anyone have any suggestions? Regionally accredited would be best, but he could consider other options as well. Thanks.

[bluebooger]

not the cheapest

Online Graphic Design and Digital Imaging Certificate at UMass Lowell

I haven't taken any courses from them
but I believe I have heard conflicting answers about them being accepted by the Big 3

but it seems to me like they should be regionally accredited

[alleycat]

I think that's the continuing Ed class that do not carry college credit. Some of UMass course have the option to take for college credit but they are not cheap. I recommend looking at a local community college in your area for graphic design courses. Probably cheaper.

[bluebooger]

I think that's the continuing Ed class that do not carry college credit. Some of UMass course have the option to take for college credit but they are not cheap. I recommend looking at a local community college in your area for graphic design courses. Probably cheaper.

but see, all of those courses also apply to the Associate of Science Degree in Information Technology
Online Associate of Science Degree in Information Technology (ASIT)

that's what's confusing when the Big 3 sometimes do not accept them
I think they just look and think, "oh, continuing ed -- rejected"
but its really "Division of Online AND Continuing Education"

[geissingert]

My daughter is actually going for a business degree and taking classes on the side for animation and graphics to build her portfolio.

https://alison.com/courses/Graphic-Design-1/content

https://alison.com/courses/Graphic-Design-2/content

[topdog98]

Thanks for the responses! I'll look into these.

[cookderosa]

My daughter is actually going for a business degree and taking classes on the side for animation and graphics to build her portfolio.

https://alison.com/courses/Graphic-Design-1/content

https://alison.com/courses/Graphic-Design-2/content

My 9th grade son did the alison courses too. He did their diploma in multimedia development and is about half way through their diploma in web design. Next on his wish list are some courses through Udemy, specificly related to photoshop and sony vegas. He's planning on pursuing this as a career *he's in 9th grade, so take that with a grain of salt* but we haven't found anything for credit available via distance learning and open to high school students. Once he's in 11th grade he'll be eligible for many graphic design courses at our community college (AAS option) but those won't transfer well into a 4 year option.

In short, I don't have any good advice- only to say your local community college is probably the best bet. A person could simultaneously earn a degree in art, business, or computers using distance learning and credit by exam- that could be run through one of the big 3, but making an applied profession fit into a liberal arts degree is always tricky.

[SweetSecret]

Coming from someone who right now is actually using graphic/web design as a living, I will tell you that I took 2 years of design in high school (many, many years ago) and went to an two over-priced art schools, although one of which is probably one of the best private art schools in the country. Graphic design is becoming a very open field of cheap labor, so I am not particularly prone to recommending people go into it. Your child could learn from Lynda.com (I think it may be a free trial for LinkedIn) or look into certification classes directly though the software companies themselves. Otherwise I'd say have to go for something more useful longterm, as in a business degree as Geissingert mentioned. Or the other two options are work super hard to build a portfolio and get portfolio credits from the college (I had a ton of those) towards a traditional design degree in hopes of having a degree that's "worth it", or work hard to get into a school like DigiPen where the skills will be more useful for design work in video and game design.

[cookderosa]

Coming from someone who right now is actually using graphic/web design as a living, I will tell you that I took 2 years of design in high school (many, many years ago) and went to an two over-priced art schools, although one of which is probably one of the best private art schools in the country. Graphic design is becoming a very open field of cheap labor, so I am not particularly prone to recommending people go into it. Your child could learn from Lynda.com (I think it may be a free trial for LinkedIn) or look into certification classes directly though the software companies themselves. Otherwise I'd say have to go for something more useful longterm, as in a business degree as Geissingert mentioned. Or the other two options are work super hard to build a portfolio and get portfolio credits from the college (I had a ton of those) towards a traditional design degree in hopes of having a degree that's "worth it", or work hard to get into a school like DigiPen where the skills will be more useful for design work in video and game design.

Oh! I have some questions for you then Hope this doesn't hijack the thread - it's still related to GD.
My son's interests are working with things like movie and photo creating/editing. He especially likes to make youtube videos and input special effects or make videos of a video game being played (apparently that's a popular thing) and edit them too. Do you have any thoughts about how to use that in a career?

[davewill]

Couldn't resist.