The Best Online Graphic Design and Animation Colleges

The Savannah College in Georgia offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees in over 40 areas of study. The diversity of the student body includes 12,000 pupils from all 50 states, 23 percent of whom bring international representation.

Online courses, available for the past 12 years, run on a 10-week schedule. The online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design requires a total of 180 course study hours.

Concentration classes provide detailed study in Topography, Graphic Design Media Management, and Production for Print and Digital Environments. Students are expected to develop comprehensive portfolios that will aid in networking and job placement.

Nationally-recognized faculty bring personal experience to the classroom. Professors have worked for major brands and companies including General Electric, MTV, American Express, and Walt Disney.

Since its founding in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University has grown to over 3,000 on campus students and 60,000 online students. These numbers make the school one of the fastest growing institutions for higher learning in America.

The online classes offer scheduling flexibility with the same credibility as an on campus degree. The online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design offers two concentrations: 3-D Modeling and Animation, or Web Design. Some hardware items and software programs are required to participate in the degree, including a Digital SLR Camera. Classes will cover a range of topics, including:

• desktop publishing
• digital graphic design for the web
• portfolio which provides students the opportunity to showcase their work.

The smaller class sizes allow for more personal feedback from professors and peers. Students can expect to critique and create interactive websites, advertisements, and TV commercials.

Graduation requires a total of 120 total credits completed.

The North Coast College offers the online BFA in Graphic Design degree. This degree teaches online students in these important disciplines:

• digital video production
• web design
• motion graphics
• mobile and responsive design

This school fosters the spirit of entrepreneurship with two Career Development seminars and a Career Development internship.

The degree usually takes 48 months to complete. However, online students who attend all year long can complete this degree in 36 months.

Courses include:

• Verbal Communications of Visual Concepts
• Design & Layout 1: Advertising Design
• Design Principles: Theory and Practice

Credits required: 180 total credit hours taken over 12 quarters.

California Baptist University offers over 40 online majors and concentrations, of which most can be completed in 16 months. The online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Digital Media is offered completely online. 48 credit units are required.

California Baptist University teaches from a Christian tradition, and includes focus on ethical standards within the course work. Courses include:

• Advanced Design
• Intermediate Typography
• Fundamental Web

CBU Online includes accelerated degrees at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.

Kentucky Wesleyan offers the online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design degree. Online students can complete classes at their own pace.

Access to professors through phone, text, and email make the process of getting questions answered efficiently.

Courses include:

• Art Survey
• 2D Design
• Digital Painting

The degree is 120 hours for completion: General Electives are 36 hours, Major courses are 42 hours, and General Education is 39 hours.

No application fee and no entrance exam are required.

The University of Advancing Technology is a leading online university for arts, such as gaming and animation.

The Bachelor of Arts in Game Art and Animation degree is available online. This degree focuses on animation for video game art.

Online courses include:

• Concept Art
• Figure and Character Sculpting
• Game Art and Animation Fundamentals
• Introduction to Game Art and Animation

This degree teaches 2D and 3D techniques for video games. UAT prepares graduates to work as a:

• character artist modeler
• texture artist
• character artist animator
• environment artist modeler
• environment artist animator
• mechanical mesh modeler
• mechanical mesh animator or rigger

Credits Required: 120

The University of Florida traces its origin to 1853 as a seminary in Ocala. It was consolidated with three other colleges to form the University of Florida by the state legislature in 1905. Today U of F offers over 100 online undergrad and graduate degrees.

The online Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts and Sciences offers instruction in the arts, story telling, and video game design. This degree is a mix of communication, animation, and technology, and includes instruction in 3D animation, digital storytelling, and computer illustration.

The U of F only accepts students starting in the Fall semester. As such, students all start learning at the same time, and can continue together through networks, taking the same sequence of classes.

Courses include Design and Production Studio, 3D Digital Animation Technique, and Wearable and Mobile Apps. Seniors will complete a Senior Project. Students also have access to the faculty. Graduates have worked for companies such as DreamWorks and Microsoft.

Grand Canyon University, one of the largest online colleges in the U.S., offers the online Bachelor of Arts in Digital Design: Animation degree through their College of Fine Arts and Production.

This online degree focuses on Animation in multimedia settings. Online students have the opportunity to join the Digital Design Club and foster relationships and collaborate with other students.

Students learn in these disciplines:

• motion graphics
• foundational creative and skill development
• portfolio development

Courses include:

• 2D Motion Design
• Motion Graphics
• Typography
• Motion Technologies
• Design Professionalism
• Interface Design

120 credit hours are required for graduating, with 80 credits going towards the Major credits.

Enrolling over 100,000 online students, Liberty is the world's largest Evangelical Christian University with a strong dedication to distance learning. From Certificates to Doctoral degrees, Liberty prides itself in offering a variety of degree choices both on campus and online.

The online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design provides extensive practice-based course work. This work prepares students to be competitive in the work force.

Three concentrations are available:

• Graphic Design
• 2-D Art
• 3-D Art

Ten pieces from a personal portfolio are required as evidence of interest in the degree and chosen concentration. Sample class topics include: Digital Imaging, Interactive Publication, and Gallery/Museum Fundamentals.

The Bachelor's can be continued to the Master's level with the same concentrations offered. Classes explore in more detail the topics of history, research, practice, and discourse of art and design.

Liberty offers the Master's in Studio and Digital Arts as a 60-hour graduate program.

The online Bachelor of Science in Digital Media with a focus in Digital Art is an online degree that teaches students artistic skills within various digital media contexts.

In addition to the traditional animation classes, students will also gain exposure to special effects, motion graphics, and interactive design.

The online Bachelor of Science in Digital Media with a focus in Digital Art is a good choice. In addition to the traditional animation classes, students will also gain exposure to special effects, motion graphics, and interactive design.

The accelerated option allows students to complete the degree in less than three years.

An Associate's degree in Digital Media is available offering a general introduction to the field. This degree is transferable into a bachelor's degree.

Classes will cover principles of design, digital image manipulation, recording arts foundations, and motion graphics aesthetics.

Full Sail University offers a wide variety of degrees in artistic and entertainment industries. The online Bachelor of Science in Computer Animation is an engaging and comprehensive option for students.

Classes review the basics of drawing, shading, and lighting and move to more complex principles of physics and anatomy. Students will have the opportunity to direct a professional motion capture session in Studio classes.

Through the online Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design students will receive training in 2-D design, environmental design, interactive media, and more.

Throughout all classes, students will work with professors to develop a comprehensive and competitive portfolio.

The Bachelor of Science programs require 120 credit hours to graduate. Full Sail also offers the Master of Fine Arts in Media Design as a graduate degree. Study areas focus on brand development, design strategy, and workflow.

Master's students participate in the final Design Solution project, which expects students to propose solutions to a complex media design challenge. The Master's degree requires 58 total credit hours for completion.

Rasmussen University is a network of schools dedicated to practical, hands on instruction that allows for direct application in the marketplace. A number of cutting edge programs are on-campus and online.

The online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design is 36 months in duration, and requires 90 credit hours (23 courses).

This program completion may be as little as 18 months with Flex Choice options available.

Students may choose to take a combination of faculty-led and self-paced courses which allows for more flexible scheduling and lower tuition costs. Students in this program can easily continue on to a Bachelor's degree with the same concentration.

Graduates from the Animation and Motion Graphics program have found employment with top companies such as Polaris, Apple, Staples, and the Diamond Media Group.

These focus on learning and utilizing Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and Flash, to create motion graphics, websites, and other media projects. Before graduation, students must choose between an internship or a final design project to demonstrate mastery of skills.

Rasmussen also offers an online Associate's Degree in Graphic Design: concentration in Animation and Motion Graphics.

Additionally, an Associate's degree and Bachelor's degree is offered in Graphic Design with a concentration in Web and Interactive Design.

The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design has a large diversity of programs. Drawing inspiration from the natural surroundings, the school encourages the pursuit of unique and creative ideas.

The online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design holds challenging expectations for its students. Students will learn mastery of research techniques, written and verbal presentations, and storytelling. Completing 123 credits is required for graduation. A sampling of class topics include:

• experience design
• 3-D packaging
• raster image processing
• visual sequencing
• signs and symbols
• user prototyping

Students will complete the program with the Senior Graphic Design Seminar. At the end of the seminar students will have completed a thesis project, writing portfolio, and produced marketing materials. Professors bring field experience to the classroom from companies such as Sapient, Texas Instruments, the Contemporary Art Museum in Tampa, FL, and personally-owned businesses.

Incredible opportunities for all students can be found at the Academy of Art University. This includes over 70 students and alumni artistic shows and gallery exhibitions each year. Since 2002 academic opportunities have expanded to include online instruction for the Arts.

The online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design requires 132 credits for completion.

Credits are broken down into:

• 36 Core units
• 42 Major units
• 9 elective units
• 45 Liberal Arts units

Classes provide detailed instruction in branding, typography, packaging, user experience, motion graphics, and more.

Creativity, visual literacy, innovation, and conceptual problem-solving are fostered. Professors bring a variety of their own talent and experience to the classroom.

The Executive Director, Mary Scott, has completed projects for Hitachi, Sony, Disney, Microsoft, Avon, Max Factor, and others.

Offering over 70 degrees in rapidly advancing fields, Bellevue University is growing into a leadership position in the academic arena. The online student body currently represents all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and seven international regions.

The online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design requires industry standard design software and hardware. Computer requirements include:

• Mac OS X 10.6.8 or 10.7/Windows XP or Windows 7
• camera or scanner
• current version of Adobe Creative Suite software

Major requirements consist of 42 credit hours covering a variety of course topics such as Web Design, Interactivity Basics, and Branding. Throughout the degree program students will develop a professional portfolio representing the range and diversity of skills mastered.

Faculty members have access to the Center for Online Operations, which aids in the creation of online classes. This program is taken through the College of Arts and Sciences. Students in the Graphics Design program can expect content instruction in a highly engaging, interactive, and effective environment.