The common trait shared by all those who call themselves designers is their creativity. Beyond that, the skills required to work in the field vary as widely as the jobs do. Falling under the umbrella of design are careers such as graphic design, interior design, floral design, web design, game design, textile design, and fashion design. And while the expertise needed to create eveningwear is clearly different from that required to create a brochure, it's the creating part that ties the field together.

Quite a few schools now offer online design programs. One of the biggest is the Art Institute. With campuses in metropolitan areas around the country, the school has also added online programming to cater to the needs of even more students.

Students can earn a bachelor's degree in game art and design, graphic design, interior design, interactive media design, an associate's degree in graphic design and interactive media design, or a diploma in digital design or web design.

Those enrolled in any of the design programs are expected to log in for class at least five days a week for about 12 hours a week.

To further enhance the online learning experience, the school also recently announced it will soon feature lectures by podcast.

“Many of our students are working professionals and podcasting provides a number of benefits, such as the ability to download audio lectures to an iPod or MP3 player, to enhance the classroom experience and allow students to study on their own time from virtually any location,” said Erin Waltman, the Art Institute Online's Business Analyst for Classroom Technology.

Also offering online design courses is Sessions, which specializes in online graphic and web design education.

In addition, Westwood College offers an associate's program in graphic design and multimedia and bachelor's degrees in areas of study such as game art and design, game software development, interior design, visual communications, and web design and multimedia.

Also offering degrees online in various design specialties are American Intercontinental University, Ashford University, Baker College, Colorado State University, Florida Metropolitan University, and Capella University.

For students interested in pursuing interior design, Rhodec International offers online programs.

The curriculum at any of these schools largely depends on the student's chosen area of concentration. Most designers-in-training will have to take art classes, as well as computer training courses to learn to use programs such as CADD (Computer Assisted Design and Drafting) or Adobe Illustrator.

“Knowing how to use the software is crucial,” said Pittsburgh-based graphic designer Scott Dziura.

However, technical know-how will only get you so far. Creativity, he adds – yes, there's that word again – is also a must. And so is a worthy portfolio.

“That's essentially it for us,” Dziura said of a designer's portfolio. “That's going to get you the job.”

It's also a good idea to find a program that encourages regular interaction with instructors and other students, as the ability to brainstorm and handle criticism is important in any field of design.

Most schools offer online students payment plans. Tuition fees depend largely on the institution and the type of program in which the student is enrolled. Westwood, for example, charges full-time students $206-$326 per credit hour, while the University of Phoenix bills undergraduates $475 a credit hour. Rhodec, meanwhile, charges a flat fee of $2,895 for its diploma course.

The employment outlook for designers is good. The fact that there are so many different positions that fall into the category of design certainly helps.

The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics - Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nearly ½ million people were employed in graphic design careers in 2000. And graphic design opportunities are expected to grow by more than 15.2% by 2014, BLS projections show, making it one of the fastest growing professions in the country.

The demand for interior designers is also expected to grow about 15.5% by 2014, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Also predicted to grow is the field of floral design, while fashion design is expected to grow more slowly than average.

However, the common theme for all of the design careers is that there will be much competition.

The design industry is large and expanding. As a result, many people have been and continue to be attracted to the diverse field. A degree from a respected school and a killer portfolio are needed to stand out in the crowd.