I have a traditional Art BA but am taking GD to learn digital skills. Have completed Illustrator (LOVE) & Photoshop (meh) and am waiting for Indesign, which should have shipped early last week but hasn't. Ahem! Will call after the holiday.
Currently design ads for natural beef company with just Photoshop, and trying to convince them we need the Adobe "Trinity".
Anyone else taking GD, and why?
I have considered graphic design as a degree, is the course really easy to use. Is there software lessons?
The software lessons cover Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop (2 of these) & InDesign, in which you basically work through the student manual published by Adobe. Each software course comes with an extra CD with sample files you use to practice the skills. The degree includes a couple more software classes, including Web stuff. I definitely feel like I've got comprehensive working knowledge of the two programs I've studied so far.
The non-software classes are like Cliffs Notes versions of the theory courses I took 10 years ago in a traditional 4 year college, but I don't feel they skipped anything important. The tests fail to cover the material adequately, in my opinion, but, if you study seriously, you will know the material, no matter what the test asks you for.
Overall I'm very pleased, and I'm probably going to upgrade to the degree too. Hope this helps with your decision.