It seems inevitable that industries are growing increasingly virtual. Grad School Hub's 5 Best Online Master's Degrees in Web Design fittingly build virtual skills in virtual classrooms.
Online degree programs have the advantage of convenience, flexibility, and – typically – affordability. When it comes to programs in web-based fields, they have the added advantage of training students through a web-based medium. Web Design programs build graduates' skills in designing websites, applications, and other media. A Master's Degree in Web Design can build upon graduates' existing computer skills as well as building new, specialized ones. The programs listed cover corners of the cyber world from databases and coding to e-commerce and virtual reality. With innovation and interactive tools, these programs prepare graduates to design the world's wired future.
Individuals with master's degrees in Web Design can apply their advanced skills as web developers. Web developers bring websites to life, from the artistic design stages to assess the technical aspects such as speed and traffic. Because many modern industries use websites or applications, web developers may work in a variety of work environments, from advertising to consulting. The field is experiencing a 15 percent growth rate, which is much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The site's most recent report found web developers' median annual pay to be $67,990. Demand for experts in the field is likely to grow due to the growing popularity of e-commerce and mobile devices.
Methodology
The staff of Grad School Hub has compiled the following 5 Best Online Master's Degrees in Nutrition for the 2019-20 academic school year based on public data released from educational, commercial, and government databases. Data contributed from sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Department of Labor plays a significant role in how graduate degree programs are ranked because institutional transparency is essential for deciding which career path is right for you. Based on this data, GSH organizes information into five weighted categories, which are:
- Alumni Feedback: 20%
- Continued Enrollment: 20%
- Degree Selectivity: 10%
- Graduate Expenses: 25%
- Projected Annual Salary: 25%
A more comprehensive evaluation of how each category is determined and scored is accessible through our Ranking Methodology page.
Here are the 5 Best Online Master's Degrees in Web Design for 2019 – 2020!
#5 – Southern New Hampshire University
Master of Science in Information Technology with Web Development
Manchester and Hooksett, NH
Website
SNHU is ranked the No. 1 Most Innovative School in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. (SNHU/Facebook)
Southern New Hampshire University provides a Web Development concentration within the Master of Science in Information Technology program. The program is offered fully online, with round-the-clock access. The concentrated program builds skills in developing websites, web applications, and methods for building website traffic. It also covers web analytics, e-commerce, and more. The MSIT can be achieved in as few as 15 months. The university is a Cyber Security Center of Excellence.
The university was founded in 1932 as a business education institution. Its original name was the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science. Today, SNHU is one of the fastest-growing universities in the United States. The private university is based between Manchester and Hooksett, NH. It also has satellite campuses in Salem, NH, and Brunswick, ME. Most students are enrolled in an online capacity.
Graduate Tuition/Fees: $34,984
#4 – Fort Hays State University
Master of Professional Studies in Web Development
Hays, KS
Website
FHSU's Forsyth Library houses a large collection of materials about the American West, on topics including Native Americans, cowboys, and frontier life. (FHSU/Facebook)
Fort Hays State University awards a Master of Professional Studies in Web Development. The program's courses are offered both online and through the university's Virtual College. The curriculum includes three core courses: Advanced Web Development, Proseminar in Informatics, and Research Methods in Informatics. Major courses include Introduction to Web-Enabled Databases and Web Scripting Languages. Students can choose from elective offerings such as Law of Cyberspace, Interactive Systems Design, and Intensive Web Development. MPSWD students can also partake in an Information Networking internship. All students must culminate the program with a capstone project.
FHSU was established in 1902 as the Western Kansas Normal School. Its campus, located in Hays, KS, is a former frontier military outpost. The campus was flooded by the Great Flood of 1851, leading to a midnight evacuation. Today, a stream called Big Creek winds through the campus, which is home to more than 40 limestone-faced buildings. The public university is governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.
Graduate Tuition/Fees: $11,993
#3 – University of Denver
Master of Science in Information & Communications Technology with Web Design & Development
Denver, CO
Website
DU is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain Region. (University of Denver/Facebook)
The University of Denver awards a Master of Science in Information and Communications with a concentration in Web Design and Development concentration. The curriculum is comprised of four core courses in Information and Communications Technology, four in the Web Design and Development concentration, and four electives. Core courses include ICT Business Foundations, ICT Technical Foundations, and Enterprise Architecture. Concentration courses include Website Design and Management and Usability Design for Websites. All students must complete a capstone project and accompanying seminar. The university designed its MSI to be achieved in 24 months.
Founded in 1864 by the Methodists, DU is now a nonsectarian university. The private research university is located five miles south of downtown Denver, CO, in the University Neighborhood. Its campus is a designated arboretum with several historic buildings. The oldest is University Hall, which was built in the Richardson Romanesque style. The historic Chamberlin Observatory is located just a few blocks away. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is among DU alumni. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University at No. 96 in the nation and No. 58 for best value.
Graduate Tuition/Fees: $32,940
#2 – Boston University
Master of Science in Computer Information Systems with Web Application Development
Boston, MA
Website
The main BU campus is situated along the Charles River. (Cmcnicoll/CC)
Boston University offers a concentration in Web Application Development within its Master of Science in Computer Information Systems. The concentrated program covers the client side and the server side of web application development. Students work with cutting-edge technologies to build web applications for desktop and mobile. Students can expect to interact with databases and coding languages. The curriculum includes core courses in Business Data Communication and Networks and Database Design and Implementation for Business. Concentration requirements include Rich Internet Application Development and Introduction to Probability and Statistics. The degree can be completed in 18 to 24 months.
BU first took root in the Newbury Biblical Institute in Newbury, VT in 1839. Thirty years later, it was chartered with the name Boston University. Despite its historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church, the university is nonsectarian. Now a private university in Boston, MA, BU is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is also categorized in the highest tier of research universities by the Carnegie Foundation. Notably, Alexander Graham Bell – then a professor at the university – invented the telephone in a BU lab. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University at No. 42 for the nation and No. 28 for innovation.
Graduate Tuition/Fees: $31,539
#1 – Harvard University
Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies with Digital Media Design
Cambridge, MA
Website
Harvard's main campus in Cambridge, MA, is centered on Harvard Yard and situated near the Charles River. (Creative Commons)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Harvard University is home to Grad School Hub's #1 online master's in Web Design. Harvard awards a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies in the Digital Media Design field. The MLA is provided through a hybrid format, requiring students to take at least one course on campus. Weekend on-campus course options are available. The program details both the artistic and technical aspects of effective digital media. Prior to admission, students must complete two stipulated online degree courses. Admitted students then go on to work through the 12-course curriculum. Students must take courses in the following areas: animation, film, or virtual reality; computational design; instructional design; and web design and application development. The program is completed through a capstone project, where Harvard students present an original digital media prototype. Harvard Extension School prioritizes affordability: This degree program is the second most affordable on this list.
Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The private Ivy League university is widely considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world. As a research university, Harvard was one of the founding members of the Association of American Universities. Harvard also has the greatest endowment of any scholarly institution. The Harvard Library, comprised of 79 individual libraries, is the largest academic library system in the world. Eight U.S. presidents are among Harvard alumni. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University at No. 2 for, both, National Universities and Best Value Schools.