AS or BS is fine. I'm finally getting into a position where I can put myself back into school, and this was the original goal of what I want to do, but I need to be sure I am on the right track and that I don't throw any more time or money. I just want to know if its better or easier, or both, to do this sort of thing from a normal college/uni or go the technical route. I don't really know what the differences are other than the names on the diplomas. Is there any course differences? What kind of courses did you have to take?

I'm looking this stuff up online too but would like some human feedback. Not just lists on random school pages.

Edit : Umm, I'm not answering any of your questions in the following rent, but I'll leave it. XD

If you were in Quebec, I would say Graphic Design in general is a definite bad move. There are just simply to many of us, and sadly, and unless you are able to make yourself known as a 'must have' employee, you're likely to get stuck with crap jobs, with crap pay (scanner, tracing logos, etc.)

I don't know how it is elsewhere, but that is very much the reality here in Quebec. I was lucky enough to take part in a professional, provincial competition in graphic design, finished 5th and was offered a handful of job. 4 years later, I have probably one of the highest pays for someone in my position, and experience in the region. Out of 32 students who attended the classes the same year as I (2 different classes), 8 students have found jobs in the field while most of the others have given up and moved on to other careers.

ONLY LOSERS WERE IN QUEBEC

Then you must native from here!

Jackassphonepenisman!

It's not really a huge in-demand job, but there are good places in it. Just depends how good you are, how much you're willing to go after it, and how lucky you get in terms of being in the right place at the right time. Sounds like you may have been in the right place at the right time. I'm mainly looking for course/college info about what sorts of things you had to take. The local college near where I live is not looking promising in giving me any classes other than basics in english/history/math. I really don't want to have to move yet, my current job is pretty ideal for a student.

The graphics design program at my school is called Digital Media Design and gets you an engineering degree (BSE or BAS) because it's a Computer Science / Fine Arts hybrid. These are the listed requirements:

• 6 Mathematics courses
• 4 Natural Science courses
• 12 Computer Science and Engineering courses
• 9 Communications and Fine Arts courses
• 7 Social Science & Humanities courses
• 2 Free Electives

This particular program encourages you take Marketing classes as well, as Marketing is one area where graphical design is always needed.

I'm currently not in this program but am looking to switch into it (I'm currently doing a business degree & and an engineering degree and I hate straight-up compsci and I like marketing / am probably doing it on the business side and I like artsy stuff so it seems like a no-brainer), so I don't have any detailed anecdotes for you

I have a friend who is a few years older than me about to finish up his degree in Digital Media Design... from what he says, its not the same as Graphic Design. Digital media covers a wide area, but then maybe that's what the industry is shifting towards, merging the two jobs into one to be more efficient. I guess that would put me in a better position later on anyways, job-wise.

Won't your success in getting a graphic design job depend more on your portfolio than the individual classes you took?

Just what I was thinking.

Depends more on who you know than anything else, just like every other job.

Well yeah a portfolio is important, but the degree is the glue on the back of the seal. I just am trying to figure out what classes I need for the degree specifically. Don't tell me to talk to a counselor. I've talked to too many and they always say the same stupid crap. They ignore my questions and send me the same direction as everyone else that goes in there. At least that has been my experience with THREE different counselors. (This isn't to say any of them were at 'great' colleges/universities. Just Community Crap.)

What kind of art do you do, KOP?

I like to do 2d stuff the best, I used to do a lot of web design stuff. I haven't done flash in so long I'm probably back to basics. I'd really like to land a job somewhere designing advertisements or logos. I'm even considering going after the design position here at the company I work for in the future.

That was my experience with counselors as well when I was in college. I think I went twice and each time I left wanting the last 30 minutes of my life back. Completely pointless in this day and age, IMO.

I don't plan on seeing my advisor until the day before I need to so I can get my diploma. Most schools basically have a system where it prints out a sheet now that tells you EXACTLY what you need to take, making an advisor essentially pointless other than for declaring your major officially.

KOP, i have a few friends in the field actually (both university and small time tech college), so I'll ask around and get back hopefully

Thanks a bunch! That's really what I need is just a printout that says "Take these classes, get this degree!" Because I can't go full time, I would like to be able to keep track of what I am doing so I can physically see my progress being made on a checklist. That's about the only way I can manage to push on without it seeming fruitless.