| Graphic design is probably as old as man himself; the | | | | higher lifetime earnings than those with associate |
| cave writings in Lascaux, France are 15,000 (or more) | | | | degrees. The more education you have, the more |
| year old graphic designs. Illuminated manuscripts from | | | | money you are likely to earn. |
| the Medieval Period are graphic designs. Anything that | | | | Professional status: Unfairly and unfortunately, there is |
| uses pictures and symbols to communicate something | | | | a negative stigma attached to having "only" an |
| is a graphic design. | | | | associate degree. Some employers believe that the |
| In the last half of the twentieth century, graphic design | | | | best and brightest, most talented and smartest will |
| moved from the drafting table to the computer. During | | | | attend a four year school and that if you didn't you are |
| this time of transition, computer skills were more | | | | "less" than the best. It's not an accurate evaluation and |
| important than design skills. Computerized graphic | | | | it's not fair, but it is reality. If you have an associate |
| design programs were complicated and difficult for | | | | degree and you are competing head-to-head with |
| most people to use. If you were computer savvy, you | | | | someone with a bachelor's degree, there's a good |
| could learn enough about design to find employment | | | | chance the job or project will go to the other guy. All |
| as a graphic designer without post-secondary | | | | other things being equal, education wins every time. |
| education. | | | | An associate degree program is usually focused and |
| That's no longer true. In the 21st century, most people | | | | concentrates on skill acquisition, rather than developing |
| have some computer skills and graphic design | | | | a broad educational base. You can graduate with an |
| programs are easier to use. The pendulum is swinging | | | | associate degree and be a very good, very skilled, |
| back toward the artistic expression of graphic design | | | | very talented graphic artist-but you do not have the |
| and it's very difficult to get a job as a graphic artist | | | | scope of education that someone with a bachelor's |
| without at least some college education at a qualified | | | | degree does. All of those core educational courses in |
| graphic design school. | | | | a bachelor's program are designed to broaden your |
| There are many types of graphic design educational | | | | mind and help you develop personally as well as |
| programs available-certificate programs, associate | | | | professionally. |
| degree programs, bachelor's degree programs and | | | | Perhaps most importantly, a bachelor's degree in |
| graduate programs. All of these programs have their | | | | graphic design gives you better tools for |
| pros and cons. The one that's best for you is the one | | | | communicating with other professionals. Graphic design |
| that will enable you to meet your career goals. This | | | | is all about communication, and being able to "speak |
| article will compare several features of associate and | | | | the language" of other professional people is a distinct |
| bachelor's degree programs in order to help you | | | | advantage. |
| choose the best program for you. | | | | Other things to consider: |
| Cost: An associate degree program costs less than a | | | | You could choose a career path that begins with an |
| bachelor's degree program. Partly, that is because you | | | | associate degree, planning to get a bachelor's degree |
| are paying for fewer years of education. | | | | later. There are some good reasons to do this: |
| If you get your associate degree at a community | | | | It costs less-if you plan right. |
| college, the cost per credit will be lower than at any | | | | You can establish yourself in your career quickly, and |
| four-year college or university. (That may not be true | | | | get your bachelor's degree before you're ready for |
| of an associate degree program from a career or | | | | more advanced positions. |
| technical college.) | | | | If you do plan to get a bachelor's degree later in your |
| There are other less obvious cost advantages to an | | | | career, make sure that your associate degree classes |
| associate degree program, too. You can usually find | | | | will transfer to a four-year school. Some programs are |
| one close to where you live, so you don't have | | | | not transferable and some others may only be partially |
| relocation or campus housing expenses. Two years | | | | transferable. You don't want to put the time and |
| less education also means two years less book and | | | | money into getting an associate degree and then have |
| other fees. And it means two years less lost work | | | | to start all over at the beginning when you are ready |
| time. | | | | to pursue your bachelor's degree. |
| Career path: You'll begin your career faster with an | | | | Whether you choose an associate degree or a |
| associate degree, and you'll probably qualify for the | | | | bachelor's degree program, you'll enter an exciting, |
| same jobs that a bachelor's degree graduate qualifies | | | | challenging profession that is continuing to evolve as |
| for. | | | | new technologies become available. Graphic design is |
| There will probably come a time, however, when an | | | | increasingly a part of our visually focused world, and |
| associate degree graduate hits a career dead end; a | | | | as a result graphic artists are increasingly in demand. |
| point where you cannot advance any further without | | | | As a graphic designer you can work in almost any |
| getting more education. Advanced professional | | | | industry or you can develop your own business. Look |
| positions and positions in management and education | | | | at your career goals and at your personal situation and |
| are usually closed to associate degree graduates. | | | | choose the program that will help you get where you |
| Because they can advance further in their careers, | | | | want to be, that will help you achieve your professional |
| bachelor's degree graphic designers usually have | | | | goals. |