Hello everyone,
I'm a new here and seeking some advice regarding courses offered
by Penn Foster. I have a strong interest in Computer Art / Graphic
Design & I see that PF offers the following: Computer Graphic
Artist (Career Diploma), Graphic Design, (1-Year Certificate) &
Graphic Design (Associates Degree).

After looking over the courses I'm leaning towards Graphic Design
(1-Year Certificate) since the software included looks promising.
Since I have no experience in the field (but have theoretical
knowledge) would this be a good choice?
Any thoughts/advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers all,
Douglas

I would think graphic design would be a good first step.  Maybe Steve will jump in here and comment.

Hi Douglas, and welcome!

You say that the software looks promising.  What applications do they cover?

Also, if you finish the one year certificate and decide you want to go on for the Associate's degree, will all the courses you've completed apply toward it?

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Hello,

Thanks for the welcome! The course contains the following software:Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, & Adobe InDesign CS3. Though not the latest versions of each, all are programs that are widely used and IMO make the cost of the course very attractive considering what the software alone would cost.

Regarding transferability of the course towards their Graphic Design Associates Degree, that is something I will need to check into. Once again many thanks for the welcome and food for thought.

 Cheers,Douglas
 

 

 

Do you get licenses for the software included with the program or are you expected to get it separately?

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Steve,

That's something else I need to ask Penn Foster about. Good point!

Cheers,

Douglas 

I would hope at the very least you get some special student edition or something.

Hi all,

I checked with the school and the software discussed is the full versions ( not the academic ones) with the applicable licenses. They do not allow any credit from the Graphics Design, 1-Year Certificate to be used towards the Graphic Design Associates Degree. I'll keep everyone updated on what I decide and many thanks for the kind advice & thoughts.

Cheers, Douglas
 

So the software is included in the price of the certificate?  How much is the certificate?  Around $1K right?

The price of the Graphics Design, 1-Year Certificate is around $2,000 which isn't bad at all considering the core cost of the software included. I'm leaning somewhat towards the Graphic Design Associates Degree but I have time to make my final decision.

 
Cheers, Douglas
 

If that includes books and software I'd say that's a heck of a deal.

The Penn Foster program is well worth the deal  and the price  of the software .I have looked at the possbility  and it is one of the cheapest around .

irelandforever:

The Penn Foster program is well worth the deal  and the price  of the software .I have looked at the possbility  and it is one of the cheapest around .

Especially with the software, that's not bad at all!  I think I'd go with the Associate's rather than the certificate, since the cert credits don't apply to the degree (which I actually find really weird).

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress