Question:
I am planning to go to grad school and I'm looking for a web design direction. I have several potentials, but the range of public programs seems slim. Any suggested programs or resources? (note-I'm on the east coast)
Answer:
Try looking at the requirements of universities / colleges that are recruiting professors of website design. You may find that they want fine art types (especially art schools now teaching website design) or CompuSci types (especially technical schools).
Think long and hard about that "sweet deal": 3 hours outside of each class for adequate preparation = 36 - 45 hours per week, plus classes (12 - 15 hrs), plus office hours (2 hrs per day min), plus faculty meetings (2-3 hrs per week), plus research and writing time (publish or perish). That can easily come to 60 - 70 hours per week. And you still have to grade exams and papers.
If you can combine creative fine art design and well-grounded technical knowledge of web publishing, you might find shorter hours (and a lot better pay) either with a marketing firm or your own company.
If you are serious about wanting to get a PhD so you can teach at the university level, consider strongly getting that advanced degree in adult education rather than in your area of expertise. It's not enough to know your subject matter; you have to be able to teach it as well. The best and finest practitioners in ANYTHING are not necessarily the best teachers.
