Associate's VS Bachelor's Degree for Graphic Design
A 1992 graduate from Collins College in Tempe has come to our community asking for advice.
"I have been a practicing graphic designer for the last fourteen years in Richmond, Virginia. I am at the point in my career where I would like to take the next step... to Art Director/Creative Director, but am seeing that many positions are... advertising that a Bachelor's degree is a requirement, even for positions that I believe I am completely qualified for. Certainly there is an equivalency of experience to a degree and I have received some advice that experience and technical expertise, at this point, outweighs the time and expense of returning to school. However, it is also hard to argue with furthering one's education."
Is the time and expense worth the value of a Bachelor's Degree in graphic design?
Also, "At the time I attended back in the late 80's, it was one of the best design schools in the country. Since then, it has been sold off to a larger corporation that owns many private-for profit schools. Does this school still have a good reputation in the design community?"
Posted by arizona in Community | September 20, 2006
Post a CommentComments (1)
I am not sure if this is relevant since this thread is 5 months old.
Most companies looking to have these positions filled are from people who work in the HR department and have no clue what graphic design really is or what we do. They try to look for the “Bionic Person,” The one that can do everything. So to save them time, they would take key words from our resumes and filter out people. If you have any graphic designer of yesteryear, and try to have them go through today’s application/resume process, I would have doubts if they would find work.
Experience, whether scholastic or practical, is highly valuable. If they do not value that, they do not need you. So, with all of the job postings you see, I would say apply anyway—especially if you know you can bring something to the table. Do not make not having a bachelor degree be a hurdle, when the experience is just as equal. The worse that can happen is “nothing.” If you apply and they do not call you, nothing happens, you are working where you are and life continues. If you go for an interview and do not like what they are offering, nothing happens, you are working where you are and life continues.
If you’re thinking about going back to school, I would say to not get a bachelors but get a masters. How many people would say “I see you have a masters… but you do not have a bachelors…” If they cannot value that, they really do not need you.
As far the reputation of Collins, I am not sure honestly. Have you contacted Aquent and asked any of them? They would have an answer for that.
Good luck in whatever you choose in doing.
Posted by: Edward Mathews on February 22, 2007