Top Online Design Degrees

An online university with a specialized design school can offer courses in animation, graphic design, interior design, video game design, website design and more. Students who have that creative spark and are interested in carrying it through to a career may look to an online university program to attain an online degree.

A degree in design gives students an understanding of the creative development process, the technical expertise and fundamental principles needed for a successful career in design. With a design degree, students can plan for a career in website design, creative/art direction, brand identity, illustration, photography, interior design, fashion design, or media production.

Sound interesting? If you are considering a degree in design but just can’t commit to rigid class schedules then an online university program may be the right fit for you. Here are some of the best online design degrees available:

American InterContinental University

American InterContinental University’s School of Design offers an online Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Communication. In this area of study students may choose a concentration in digital design, graphic design, illustration, or web design and development to better serve their career goals.

The coursework emphasizes creative thinking and the application of cultural and contextual perspective to solving complex design problems creatively. The curriculum is industry-specific, allowing students to build on their knowledge of the design process and expand their skills. Core courses such as Design Principles: Fundamentals of Color and Art Direction are all part of the 180 credits required for graduation. A BFA degree in Visual Communication at American InterContinental University costs about $26,150.

DeVry University

DeVry University’s College of Media Arts & Technology offers an online Associates Degree in web graphic design as well as a Bachelors Degree in multimedia design and development. With the bachelors degree students can choose to specialize in graphic and multimedia design, graphics and multimedia management, web design and development or web game programming.

Coursework in these programs is focused on managing communications, mastering key software applications and understanding fundamental design principles. Eight full-time semesters are needed to complete the required 124 credit hours. Upon graduation students will have an array of digital media to build a full portfolio.

Regent University

Regent University’s School of Communication and the Arts offers a Masters Degree of Arts in Communication in Digital Media Communication and Cinema-Television. The digital media degree will teach students to analyze and create effective communication for the digital landscape, including iPhone applications, online television station management, and mobile video streaming websites. The cinema-television degree offers online specialties in critical studies and script & screenwriting and prepares students to become successful cinematic storytellers.

Coursework in both of these programs includes communications theory and ethics, leadership and creative classes. Required credit hours for graduation are between 33 and 39, and a directed project or internship in your program subject is the culminating activity for the last semester.