Can I Get a Master’s in Web Design and Development Online?

Master’s in Web Design and Development Online

As e-commerce continues to grow, web design and development are one of the fastest-growing careers, making many wonder if they can earn a master’s in web design and development online. The good news for these aspiring artists is that there are many schools and colleges that offer online master’s in web design and development programs. These programs allow students to earn their degree at their own pace while continuing to meet family or work obligations. Here is some information on web design and development online programs.

What is Web Design and Development?

Web design and development is a field that involves the creation and operation of a website. Every website on the World Wide Web was created by a web designer and/or a web developer. The web designer is the artist who uses programming codes and languages to create designs people see when they go to a website. This may include pictures, graphics, fonts, logos and similar items.

The web developer is the talent behind putting these items together into a functional webpage and ensuring it functions correctly and is updated regularly. Web designers and web developers are usually two separate individuals, but they generally collaborate their work. In some cases, one individual may act as both web designer and web developer.

What About Accreditation?

With so many colleges offering online web design and development programs through distance learning, it may be difficult choosing the right college. At the same time, it can also be easy to choose a college just by choosing the least expensive. This can be a mistake if the college is not accredited. Whether it’s an online or brick-and-mortar college, accreditation is extremely important because it guarantees that the program meets state and national standards.

When web designer and developer graduates hit the job market, they could be facing some stiff competition, and many employees actually look at the school where the student got their master’s degree. Students should always make sure their program is accredited. Accreditation information can be found on the school’s website.

What are Online Web Design and Development Programs Like?

Online colleges are very similar to traditional on-campus colleges with the main difference being that the student can learn at home as opposed to driving to school every day. Many of the online colleges are highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Depending on the school, the applicant may be required to have a bachelor’s degree and may be required to meet the same admission requirements, such as letters of recommendation or a specific GPA. Many of the courses are taught by the same professors that teach on campus.

Courses may be synchronous or asynchronous, which means they may be 100% online or online in real-live time. Students can log into the school’s site at their own convenience. Some online programs will require students to complete a capstone project where they complete an internship at an approved location dealing with web design and development. Tuition for online programs may be similar to on-campus programs if the school charges a per-credit rate. However, online students can save money because they don’t have travel or lodging costs typical of on-campus programs.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that web developers should see an employment growth of 13% between 2018 and 2028, resulting in almost 21,000 new web developer jobs. Students who choose to earn a master’s degree in web design and development will be in excellent positions to work at high-level positions in a variety of businesses.

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