Web and Digital Communication
Does your student admire different websites and blogs and remark on the design? Or express the different ways they could improve their favorite websites? Then a career in web and digital communication might be a great fit!
Web developers design and produce websites that are both visually appealing and effective communication tools. Some are freelancers, working for a variety of clients in business, nonprofits, and the arts, while others work for companies large enough to employ full-time web developers. No matter where they work, developers need to be team players who collaborate with clients, graphic designers, and content writers to effectively convey the organization’s message and brand. They must have technical knowledge of web development and usability, and how to optimize website performance.
At Stride Career Prep, we integrate project-based learning into the curriculum, so that classwork mirrors what you’ll be doing in the workplace. With project-based learning, there’s little to memorize and repeat. Instead, students are given a real-life problem to solve and work with a team to come up with a creative solution. As an example of a project, they are asked to produce T-shirt designs, posters, flyers, and social media graphics for an Earth Day festival. They’ll also learn the technological tools today’s designers need, including Adobe Illustrator.
Upon graduation they will have a portfolio of work they can use to secure a job as a web developer—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees. The tuition-free program includes exam prep for the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)–Web Authoring Using Adobe Dreamweaver and ACA– Graphic Design and Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator certification exams, two highly regarded industry credentials. We also jumpstart students’ job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo—the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they can connect virtually to design professionals through Nepris.*
Our Web and Digital Communications Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes students take as a part of the Digital Communication Pathway, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Great News
Stride Career Prep programs with the Digital Communication Pathway are available in our tuition-free Stride K12-powered, fully accredited, public online schools in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Don’t see your state? Check out the tuition-based option here in Web and Digital Communication! There is also a tuition-free option in the related pathway of Digital Design.
Occupational Spotlight
Web Developer
Web developers design and create websites. This typically involves meeting with the client to understand their goals for the site, working with the client and sometimes a team of writers and graphic designers to create content for the site They then write code to turn that content into a user-friendly website, creating the web page navigation and structure. They also integrate applications (such as payment processing platforms) into the site, and work to minimize webpage load times and maximize the number of visitors who can access the site at any one time.
2020 Median Starting Starting Salary1
$43,947
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
673,000
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
8% (Much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Associate’s degree or commensurate portfolio of work
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers work with clients to create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They often determine the layout and develop the graphics for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and reports. While the profession is overall declining, graphic designers with strong computer skills will continue to be in demand.
2020 Median Starting Starting Salary1
$43,947
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
673,000
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
8% (Much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to get a job as a web developer?
While most web developers have at least an associate’s degree, you do not absolutely need a degree to work as a web developer. Most important is a portfolio of work that clearly demonstrates your skill developing and launching visually stunning, highly functional websites that serve the website owners’ needs and communicate their brand.
A high-quality portfolio with lots of examples to demonstrate a great fit to an employer gives you a better chance to be hired. Many employers require you to be proficient with website software such as Illustrator and Dreamweaver.
That’s why we help our students develop a portfolio and prepare them to take certification exams in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Dreamweaver!
What classes should you take in high school to become a web developer?
Classes in Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and other relevant software are essential. Creating a portfolio of work is also paramount, and if you can create work for actual employers or non-profits, that is even better! You can seek out opportunities, paid or unpaid, to create or update websites for small non-profits, small businesses, or even student clubs or organizations.
Our Web and Digital Communication Pathway provides excellent preparation for a career in web development. Students take courses in digital arts, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Dreamweaver. We also provide test prep for the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)—Web Authoring Using Adobe Dreamweaver certification exam and the ACA—Graphic Design and Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator certification exam, two highly regarded industry credentials.
Our unique project-based learning curriculum focuses on helping students create a portfolio of work to showcase their skills to employers.
Membership to Business Professionals of America (BPA), the leading CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business, including web development, is included in our tuition-free program.* BPA is a terrific organization for networking, résumé building (through its many competitions), and skills development. BPA’s Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP) allow students to develop and demonstrate their graphic design and other problem-solving skills at regional, state and national conferences, including specific competitions dedicated to website design, computer animation, and digital communication. BPA also offers students the ability to assume leadership positions and compete for scholarships.
What is the difference between the Web and Digital Communications Pathway and the Digital Design Pathway?
Our Web and Digital Communication Pathway teaches designing and producing websites using programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Dreamweaver. In this pathway, students learn to leverage technology platforms as a visually stunning, effective communication tool.
The Digital Design pathway focuses on the creative aspects of creating high-quality impactful graphics that can be used in a variety of settings, including on the web. In this pathway, students become more proficient in Photoshop and InDesign.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear How Stride Career Prep Can Work for Your Teen
Thinking this might be a good fit for your student and interested in learning more from current Stride Career Prep students, families, and teachers? Submit questions to people that experience our program firsthand and get direct answers!
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
2Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
