The Computer Information Systems discipline at Oakland Community College has many different opportunities available for students who are interested in designing Websites for a living. This certificate emphasizes front-end Web design skills, which is an excellent skill set to possess in a demanding market.
The CIS discipline offers the courses needed to establish a solid set of core Web design skills.
Our discipline serves several different groups of people, with various backgrounds and goals. Some common groups that we serve are those:
Web designers work with clients to clarify needs for Websites, and work on designing the functional and non-functional aspects of the site. Good Web designers are those that have an eye for detail and understand how users interact with Web-based software. In addition to general Web page layout and design, other areas of application include digital marketing, design for print production, and creative art. Web designers are expected to have a solid understanding of HTML5 and related technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and typically a JavaScript library such as jQuery) as well as skills with visual editing tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Annual salaries typically range from $60,000 to $85,000 for Web designers with 1 to 5 years of experience and $85,000 to over $100,000 for more than 5 years of experience. Also of note, Web design jobs are highly resistant to automation due to the fact that the design process requires creative artistic skills that are very difficult to replace with software.
If you are looking for a fulfilling and often lucrative career, Web design is a great choice.
Job statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| John P. Baugh, Ph.D. CIS Department Faculty Orchard Ridge Campus Phone 248.522.3583 |