The World Wide Web Consortium:
Web Design and Development Standards

The W3C is the international organization that develops the standards that web designers and developers follow to ensure a universal experience for Internet users across different platforms, computers and continents. The Consortium is comprised of over 350 member organizations from around the world, as well as a full-time staff. They all work together to outline standards for computer languages, designs, applications, architecture, data, practices, browsers and now even web devices, such as cell phones and PDAs.

As a web designer, part of your job is to stay current on W3C specifications and guidelines. The best way to stay on the cutting edge of web standards is to start off right by getting a web design and development degree. Your computer education will give you an overall understanding of the Internet and its uses in our ever-changing technological and social landscapes—the very concepts that drive the W3C. It will then dive into the specifics of W3C compliance, teaching you the "best practices" of web design and development from the ground up.

Each of the classes you take for your online bachelor's degree in web design will include elements of W3C principles, so when you graduate, you'll be at the very heart of the industry, offering design and coding elements that work best with current technology for users around the world. After completing your degree in web design and development, staying current will come down to membership in web design organizations, reading W3C publications and using W3C compliance software to test your products.

_{Sources: World Wide Web Consortium}