Get info about Longwood University graphic design major, registering for open degree programs, and taking practice exams for free online. Which college degrees give you the best chances of finding employment after graduation? Some students select a major because they hope it will be valuable in the workplace. Other students choose their major simply because they enjoy the subject material. Good graphic design stems from an understanding of page design, like you see in a magazine. If you break down the elements that make up website design, such as color palettes and mobile graphics, you'll end up with commercial art that works well. Page layout and images can be restricted at first, then expanded as your Photoshop skill-set grows. Your sitemap should list all pages on your site, allowing search engines to spider your pages. Some of the design skills for making websites do not change much over time, but other critical areas such as market research and search engine optimization, are constantly evolving as new design tools become available.
Success is governed by several factors, including visitor traffic and sales conversions. How many visitors can you attract via organic search engine results, and what percent of them will take action once on your site? Not only can you practice making your own websites, but you may find part-time employment designing websites for small businesses. Pursing a graphic design major will develop your spatial ability, and may give you an edge in job recruiting after graduation. Check with the design department for major requirements. Because a strong portfolio is often the deciding factor among potential job candidates, students interested in graphic design should take basic courses in studio art, video editing, 3D animation, commercial art, and
website design.
Online Courses - MOOCs
There are about 7,000 accredited schools in the USA, which collectively enroll 15 million students, and award two million bachelors degrees every year. If you remain true to your career interests, not just going after salary, your overall job earnings will increase as you gain experience. However, if your focus is more on salary alone, there's a higher risk that you'll suffer early signs of burnout, and be forced to change careers later on.
Technical
training programs are a low-cost alternative to attending a regular four-year university, and you can earn good money as a highly-skilled, technical specialist. By taking some of your required degree courses online, you may be able to graduate a semester early, thus saving money on tuition. If you're currently employed, you can take online courses in your free time to advance your career. Massive Open Online Courses are known as MOOCs, utilizing cloud-based software, interactive platforms such as Blackboard, and mobile apps.
An
online degree may be just as marketable as a college degree that was earned on campus. Udemy online learning is a new startup with backing from the founders of Groupon. Similarly, Khan Academy now offers over 4,000 micro-lectures served through YouTube. Then, there's Coursera, a competing software platform, with millions of enrolled students from around the world. Recently, MIT announced that their open courseware platform (OCW) will be available to students and instructors at no cost.