Should a new web designer focus strictly on using HTML and then learn/apply CSS afterwards (to allow them to create pages sooner, prevent information overload) or should they learn in at the same time seeing as the two go hand-in-hand?

Ryan,

CSS has been integrated into most HTML books by now -- any of the books you should be using to learn from should teach CSS simultaneously. CSS is so integral to the way that layout and style are done now. If you don't learn it as you go, you're going to develop bad habits to compensate for what CSS is not doing for you -- and they will be difficult to break.

Coming soon.... the CSS Network. Contact your cable or satellite provider.

CSS and XHTML are the way of the ever changing future. So im finding out.

You should learn CSS as you go. It has worked for me.