California Web Design & Development Degrees
Getting your California web design and development degree will open many doors for a successful career in a growing industry. As more and more companies realize that the Internet is the first place customers search for them, their need for a website increases exponentially. Because of this, web designers are rarely lacking in options, and the opportunities are endless for the work environment one can pursue. Many web designers choose to work in-house, meaning they work within a company or agency and design websites for the company itself, or the clients the company supports. Other web designers choose to work as freelancers or contract employees. This option is optimal for someone looking for a very flexible work-life balance and wanting to be their own boss. Either way, the sky is the limit for most web designers. Depending on your level of experience, you can charge anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour or make anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 per year in salary with a California degree in web design.
Finding a California Web Design School
California is a mecca for schools offering education in web design and development. The ecommerce industry earned its start in Silicon Valley, so it is understandable why California would have such an abundance of web design training programs. Internet savvy students also flock to California for it's laid back atmosphere, sunny climate, and hi-tech expertise. With major companies having their start in California like Apple, Google, and eBay, it is a great location for students looking for career placement shortly after graduation. To ensure companies like this want to work with you as much as you may want to work with them, it's important to get the best availalble training.
When searching for the best web design school in California, the first thing to take into consideration is your career goals. Are you a designer hoping to take your art to the next level by learning code? Or are you someone interested in learning the intricacies of how websites work? The answers to these questions will help you determine what level of education you need. Web design degrees come in three levels: Diploma, Associates, or Bachelors. Someone seeking a Diploma in Web Design will most likely already have experience in design and want to take their experience to the next level. Diploma programs take as little as 6 months and can be done online, so that you can remain at work while adding to your resume and eventually gaining a raise in your company. Associates of Web Design programs are the most traditional for people who want to focus their time and energy on the specifics of design and developement. These programs can take about 15 months to a year and students will leave with a strong portfolio. Finally, a student seeking a Bachelors degree in web design will actually have to choose a degree in art and design, computer science, or multimedia design. Any of these areas of study will have a focus in web design, but it will not be as focused as the associates programs can be.
When choosing a California web design degree program, consider what key learnings you can take away after graduation. You will want a program that will leave you proficient in Dreamweaver, Flash, and even Adobe Photoshop. You will also want to know the different HTML languages like strict HTML, XHTML, and more. You should learn PHP, JSP, Javascript, and CSS as well. Most importantly, you will learn how to code websites so that they fall in line with W3C compliance, which will ensure that they load properly across many browsers and systems. When you graduate, you will have a strong online portfolio to show prospective clients and employers in search of a top web designer.
Once you have decided that a career in web design is right for you, browse through the California web design schools offered on this site and request FREE information from the schools of your choice.
