What degree should I get in order to be employed as a "Graphic Designer"

[odz]

I don't know if that is the correct job title, but basically I would like to design stuff like advertisments, or maybe product packaging and other stuff like that. I looked at the college I will be going to (U of A) and didn't see any major that would fit.
Also, if there are any graphic designers here, I would appreciate your opinion on what the demand will be in the next few years in that career field.
Thanks.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: odz
I don't know if that is the correct job title, but basically I would like to design stuff like advertisments, or maybe product packaging and other stuff like that.

Artists that I knew in college actually received BFA degrees in "design", although I can't recall if illustration was a separate major or a minor.

 

[DuallyX]

Wichita State offers a degree in Graphic Design in the college of Fine Arts. I work as a graphic designer, but am majoring in communication with a minor in Graphic Design, which I understand should make me more desirable when applying for jobs.

 

[kranky]

I wish you the best of luck, but it is a very, very competitive field. I have a good friend who's very talented and has been trying for years to break into the field with no luck.

With all the cheap desktop publishing packages out there, many people decide to do things themselves that they would have needed a designer for not many years ago. The quality isn't as good, but they think it is.

For example, at the newspaper he works for they used to have a number of people who designed ads, and now they have only one.

 

[Gibson486]

I thought you only needed an associates degree for graphic designing.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
I thought you only needed an associates degree for graphic designing.

Depends on who you want to work for now, doesn't it? If you start your own company, you don't need a degree at all

 

[ThePresence]

I've worked at mumerous jobs as a graphics guy, and I have no degree in art at all. From my experience in this field, people are alot more interested in what you can do and in the talent that you have than in what degree you have. If you got the goods, dont worry about your degree, just put together an impressive portfolio and you should be allright. Again, this is only my experience.