Graphic Design
Associate's Degree
Next start date
January 02, 2019
Finish in as few as
18 months1
Learning options
- Online
- Campus Support and Resources
- Field Experience
- Flex Choice®
With an online Graphic Design degree, not only can you pursue a career that utilizes your creativity, but you will also be able to use your talent and passion for design in a variety of opportunities. Instructed by industry experts, our online Graphic Design courses reflect the most up-to-date skills, technologies and competencies of the design field. When you want to advance even further in your education, our laddered curriculum also helps you smoothly transfer your credits from an Associate’s degree to a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. This online Graphic Design program is available with Flex Choice®, which allows you to combine traditional online coursework and self-directed assessments—a more affordable way to receive credit for what you already know.
Students have the choice of two specializations—Animation and Motion Graphics or Web and Interactive Design—to enhance their skills in a particular area of interest. The Animation and Motion Graphics specialization explores intermediate theories from both multimedia design and traditional art, as well as 3D modeling, animation, motion graphics and rendering. Specializing in Web and Interactive Design gives you fundamental knowledge about a wide range of design tactics, including interactive design, website design, mobile website design and user experience in order to build engaging websites and dynamic databases.
Request More Information About This Associate's Degree- Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term. ↩
- Rasmussen College will reimburse you any out-of-pocket costs of the application fee for each first attempt of up to three designated industry certification exams for which you qualify. Should you need to take an exam more than once to receive a passing grade score, you will be responsible for all subsequent exam application fees. Rasmussen College will provide practice exams and materials when available. ↩
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed May 30, 2018] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Employment conditions in your area may vary. ↩
What Will I Be Prepared to Do When I’m Done?
Advance Your Education
Rasmussen College’s laddered curriculum allows you to easily transfer your Associate’s degree credits toward a Bachelor’s degree.
Pursue Industry Certifications
To enhance your resume even further, our graphic animation courses and web design courses online prepare you to take the Adobe Certified Associate: Visual Communication certification exam in Adobe Photoshop, with an opportunity to obtain two certifications at no additional cost.2
Pursue Potential Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth potential by year 2026 for multimedia artists and animators is 10%.3 A Graphic Design degree from Rasmussen College can help set you up for success in this growing field.
Take the Next Step—Talk to Us!
What Skills Will I Gain?
Adobe® Creative Cloud
Understand and be familiar with the latest version of Adobe Creative Cloud and other industry-standard tools to design and build engaging user-friendly results.
Versatile Media Formatting
Create and combine multiple forms of media to generate projects involving graphic, video and audio assets.
Intermediate Theories of Design
Animation and Motion Graphics Specialization
Recognize intermediate theories of design, motion graphics, animation and portfolio development.
Website Development
Web and Interactive Design Specialization
Know intermediate theories of visual and interactive design, website design and portfolio development.
What Types of Classes Will I Take?
- GRA 1057C
- Online
- 3 Credits
- Animation and Motion Graphics Specialization
- GRA 1461C
- Online
- 3 Credits
- Web and Interactive Design Specialization
- GRA 1377C
- Online
- 3 Credits
Design Foundations
Teaches the foundational principles and elements of art and design and explores them through digital design. Theory of each principle and element will be supported by hands-on exercises in which students will apply what they have learned.
3D Animation
Building upon knowledge of 3D modeling and rendering and 3D animation from earlier coursework. Focuses on advancing 3D animation skills, techniques and proficiencies towards creating an animated digital short film. Emphasizes on refining application of the 12 animation principles, life-like animation, forward and inverse kinematics, scene staging and camera work.
User Experience Design
Expands on students’ knowledge of interactive design learned in earlier course work, exploring interactive design from the perspective of user experience. Metaphors for graphic interfaces and icon design are studied through industry product examples, student practice exercises and projects.
28 Courses to Complete
91 Credit Hours
What Should I Know Before I Enroll?
Entrance Requirements
Entrance requirements at the Rasmussen College School of Design vary depending on the program. We do not require enrolling students to submit standardized test scores; however, every entrant must have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Transfer Student
We believe in giving credit where it’s due. Talk to a program manager today or explore our Transfer Policy page to review our seamless credit policies designed to maximize credits, potentially save money and expedite graduation.
Help Paying for College
Higher education should be a manageable investment. Talk to a program manager and learn how these programs can make it more affordable with Flex Choice® learning options, loans and grants, scholarship opportunities and corporate and military discounts.
Where Will I Take These Classes?
At Rasmussen College, we want our courses to be available for your schedule; not the other way around. Many of our programs are available on campus or online. Select programs are available for enrollment through a specific campus, but students complete the courses online and are able to utilize online and on-campus support and resources.
- Online
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Florida
Florida Campuses
New Port Richey/West Pasco Campus
8661 Citizens Drive
Suite 300
New Port Richey, FL 34654 -
Illinois*
Illinois Campuses*
*This program is not available at Illinois campuses, but is available online through Rasmussen College Online.
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Kansas
Kansas Campuses
Kansas City/Overland Park Campus
11600 College Boulevard
Suite 100
Overland Park, KS 66210 -
Minnesota
Minnesota Campuses
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North Dakota
North Dakota Campuses
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin Campuses
