Online Design Schools & Colleges

The field of design is broad and varied, with numerous narrow specializations. Many students choose to begin their design education with a core curriculum as they prepare for their academic and professional targets. This guide can help students find online design schools to meet their individual interests and commitments. Design education comes in the form of a certificate, associate degree, baccalaureate or graduate degree.

Several design colleges provide a selected list of their degrees in a virtual format. This includes programs for certificates or associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees in subjects such as media arts, fashion marketing and graphic design. Students pursuing online design degrees take advantage of the high-tech aspects of the industry: Designers use an array of software applications to create visual communications that are often presented via electronic media.

Prospective students can turn to online design schools to avoid relocating or commuting to campus, also gaining flexible scheduling options to help them meet personal and professional obligations. Individuals currently employed in related fields can apply lessons learned in class to projects in the workplace.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

Both traditional and online design schools give students the opportunity to tailor their studies for a particular specialty, often a blend of art and technology. Associate degrees in the field could offer sufficiently intense training to launch graduates into entry-level design positions as their first jobs or as a career change. Bachelor’s degrees in design often include a core curriculum of liberal arts courses, followed by studio time for more intense study and experimentation. Many bachelor’s programs incorporate aspects of multiple creative disciplines, such as graphic design and photography. Graduate degrees offer opportunities for advanced analysis and critique as well as academic research and design projects within a specific concentration.

Several design colleges provide a selected list of their degrees in a virtual format. This includes programs for certificates or associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees in subjects such as media arts, fashion marketing and graphic design. Students pursuing online design degrees take advantage of the high-tech aspects of the industry: Designers use an array of software applications to create visual communications that are often presented via electronic media.

Prospective students can turn to online design schools to avoid relocating or commuting to campus, also gaining flexible scheduling options to help them meet personal and professional obligations. Individuals currently employed in related fields can apply lessons learned in class to projects in the workplace.

Distance learning design programs offer a flexible way for busy students to prepare for diverse roles, from game developer to corporate communications designer. In addition to the required general education courses, students take core classes such as typography, digital layout, color theory, drawing, web design and concept development to learn industry-specific skills, techniques and knowledge. Graphic design studies are well-suited to electronic delivery, and many programs are completely online. Students access lectures, assignments and other course materials using learning management systems like the Blackboard platform as well as email and even YouTube.

Online design schools allow students to choose from a variety of electives, enabling them to specialize in one or more areas. Online bachelor’s degrees in graphic design typically consist of 90 to 120 credit hours. Students enrolled full-time can generally finish the program in about four years. Graduates can explore opportunities in layout, branding, creative arts, website design, advertising, photo editing and other related areas.

Although associate degrees in design include some general education courses, the majority of the two-year program is focused on building a foundation of basic design principles. Graduates gain skills that could translate to at least entry-level work in specific areas of design. Students usually build a portfolio to showcase their training in a chosen specialty. Below are a few courses that some associate degree programs may feature:

The core curriculum within most bachelor’s degree programs includes a range of liberal arts and studio classes, building a conceptual foundation for the more specialized work ahead. Although specific courses vary by school, most programs teach basic design principles and how to apply them to industry settings, as well as researching and analyzing trends. Some of the courses below appear in bachelor’s programs across multiple majors, including industrial design, architectural design, fine arts and fashion design.

Students pursuing a master’s degree in design have either an undergraduate degree in the field or significant professional experience. The first year of a two-year program is devoted to foundational courses, helping students learn about the role and impact of design in business, artistic and social innovation, and history. Second-year coursework is geared toward development of a final thesis based on the student’s independent research and studio design work. Below are some courses that may be featured in a master’s program at an online design school:

The highest online design degree is ideal for those who are interested in a career within academics or as leaders in research and practice. Depending on the school, a PhD in design can take three to four years to earn. Programs tend to include topics such as research techniques and teaching practices, with specialization in an area of choice. Doctoral candidates are required to conduct independent study, usually in consultation with an advisor or committee, as well as deliver and defend a dissertation.

Advanced studies in design can lead to positions in academia, whether in administration or teaching. Other graduates may serve as consultants in advertising, commercial and industrial design, architecture, publishing or even public policy.

Design students prepared for one focus and career often find themselves shifting toward another completely different specialty in almost random fashion. Yet they are able to adapt quickly and call upon their basic training.

One reason design students are able to transition across specialties is because many tools used to execute a design overlap across many industries and applications. For instance, computer-aided design (CAD) software is an increasingly big part of schoolwork and professional projects and its various software products are used in design-focused industries from architecture, industrial design, and commercial product design to fashion, media, and the visual arts. As a result, designers with a strong aptitude for CAD tend to have a leg up against those with minimal CAD training. Below are just a few professions with education roots in various design specialties:

A degree in design can prepare graduates for careers in online and physical design, whether they earn a certificate, associate degree or a higher degree in the field. Curriculum includes traditional requirements as well as courses that teach the technology and elements that can lead to a lucrative career. To help you find the program that will meet your personal and professional needs, we’ve done some research on prices, class sizes, student services and programs offered to find the best colleges for design.