Online Graphic Design Courses

Graphic Design is that branch of study that deals with the creation of a visual means, through which anything can be communicated, and hence advertised to the consumers, be it a material object, or other services.

Through technical and symbolic means, this art is conveyed into a visual form, and in modern times has gained so much progress that many students want to be a part of the field.

Many online education providers have become acquainted with this rising demand of Graphic Design and hence many courses have been introduced for online learning.

Now you can sit at home, and study about the technicalities, creativity and production of such forms of visual means.

Universities Offering Online Graphic Design Courses:

1. AUI Online

The degree offered is Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (BFA) with concentration in Graphic Design. The core course includes subjects like art direction, typography design I, design principles, business practices in visual communication and drawing concepts. The concentration courses encompass typography design II, typography III, and advance graphic design I & II. This US University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. 

2. Lincoln College Online

This US online university is accredited by Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). The course curriculum includes 12 core topics and 5 general education programs along with an additional course. The topics covered are Fundamentals of Design; Digital Illustration; Multimedia Design; Web Design; Design Capstone; Elements of Design; Branding and Advertising; Digital Imaging; Digital Portfolio and Career Development; Art History; Advanced Multimedia Design; and Design for Print.  

3. Stevens-Henager Online

Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). The degree offered is Associate of Science in Graphic Design. The course curriculum includes topics like Photoshop; layout design; Web Design; Typography; information design; and Communication Arts.   

4. International Academy of Design & Technology

The degrees offered are at Associate’s and Bachelor’s level. Some of the courses covered in the Associate of Science in Graphic Design degree are digital illustration; digital imaging; color theory; digital layout; visual composition; typography; and digital prepress. In Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design the subjects mainly covered are design fundamental; advanced digital imaging; digital layout; and history and theory of design.  The accreditation is granted by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.  

5. Art Institute Online

The institute offers both associate and bachelor program in the field of graphic design. Some of the course curriculum in the associate program is fundamental of design; typography; color theory; life drawing; and digital illustration. The bachelor’s program includes subjects like missed media; digital image manipulation and design principle. The Art Institute Online is a division of Art Institute of Pittsburgh. It is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education.

6. Stratford Career Institute

The institute is a member of the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education, the United States Distance Learning Association, and the International Council for Open and Distance Education. The degree program is Diploma in Desktop Publishing and Design. The program consists of topics like Black-and-White and Color Layouts; Layout and Alignment Terminology; Images in Visual Presentations; Design Tools and Technology; Grid Construction and Use; and Photographs and Images. 

7. University of Phoenix

Online Graphic Design Courses of this University is accredited by Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Bachelor of Science in Information Technology - Concentration in Multimedia and Visual Communication provides an in-depth knowledge on various aspects of multimedia. The program is not only restricted to the graphical issues but also encompasses subject areas like digital image and website design, that would provide the students an edge over the other students. The course curriculum focuses on areas like web design; image editing; database concepts; and XML.  

8. DeVry University

The university offers two degree programs. They are Associate and Bachelor. The associate degree program is Associate of Applied Science in Web Graphic Design. The bachelor degree is Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Design and Development with specialization in web game programming; graphic and multimedia design; web design and development; graphics and multimedia management. 

9. Westwood College - Online Campus

The College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools or the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The course includes issue like print production; digital layout; fundamentals of web design; and audio-video. 

These popular colleges and Universities are offering various courses, degrees and programs in the field of Graphic Design online, through which you can brighten your prospects and knowledge about it. Take a look.

Various Online Graphic Design Courses :

Course Structure / Contents :

These are some of the popular courses and programs, which are available online, and which award the students with subsequent degrees and certificates in the field of Graphic Design. The courses vary in their duration, and hence in their course structure as well, but there are few things that are common and are a part of the root learning of this course, these are,

The areas of Graphic Design to be learned through these courses are:

• 3D Animation
• Advertising Design
• Web Design
• Computer Graphics
• Image Editing
• Digital Illustration
• Photoshop
• Advanced Game Characters
• Character Animation, Design, Rigging
• Typography
• Digital Photography
• Color, Theme, Portfolio of layout
• History of Art
• Humanities Streams
• Communications

Together all these areas, enable a student to choose the area of his preference and make a mark for him or herself in that particular specialization. There are many job opportunities these days, in this field, as everything is getting technical, and thereby involving Graphic Development.

Career Prospects after Online Graphic Design Courses :

• Graphic Designers
• Animation Designers
• Fashion Designers
• Web Designers
• Creative Director
• Art Director
• Art Production Manager
• Logo Designer
• Visual Journalist
• Illustrator
• Layout Artist

Sectors with Job opportunities after Online Graphic Design Courses :

• Web Designing Firms
• Media Houses
• Advertising Agencies
• Newspapers and Magazines
• Animation Firms.

Last updated : Nov 29, 2011.