The B.F.A. in Illustration program is housed in the Department of Art and Design and is most suited for students who are skilled in painting and drawing and wish to pursue a career in communication arts. This rigorous program expands students' skill sets in conceptualization, visual narrative, world-building, and visual problem solving. Course sequencing prepares students for industries including publishing and pre-production development while building a professional network in both the classroom and community partners. Students will complete the program with an advanced portfolio, marketing and promotion skill sets, and a resource of networks to build a professional career as an illustrator.
Students must pass a portfolio review to enter into the program, and then complete 120 credits of coursework with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum of 2.0 major GPA. Approximately 65% of the program is based on studies in illustration, supportive courses in art and design, and studies in related art histories. The remaining coursework is dedicated to general education topics, providing students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in their chosen field of study while also experiencing a wide array of knowledge offered by the university's diverse academic community. For more information please visit Illustration (BFA).
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Program Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 16 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 3-6 | |
| Major Requirements | 86 | |
| Free Electives | 15-12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| ARFD 100 | Perceptual Drawing | 3 |
| ARFD 101 | Surface | 3 |
| ARFD 103 | Color and Light | 3 |
| ARFD 124 | Figure Drawing | 3 |
| VIST 102 | Visual Culture | 3 |
| VIST 105 | Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| or VIST 106 | Modern Visions 1400-1945 | |
| VIST 109 | Special Topics in Global Art Cultures | 3 |
| or ARTX 201 | Culture and Appearance | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| ARIL 101 | Introduction to Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | Digital Painting 1 | 3 |
| ARIL 225 | Art of the Visual Narrative | 3 |
| ARIL 261 | Character Design for Illustrators | 3 |
| ARIL 262 | Illustration and Motion | 3 |
| ARIL 264 | Digital Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 300 | Intermediate Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 311 | Illustration Studio: Cartooning | 3 |
| ARIL 312 | Products and Zines | 3 |
| ARIL 315 | Illustration Studio: Concepts | 4 |
| ARIL 323 | Text and Image | 3 |
| ARIL 350 | Professional Business Practice for Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 401 | Illustration Studio: Editorial | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | Final Project I | 4 |
| ARIL 430 | Advanced Illustration | 3 |
| VIST 282 | History of Animation and Illustration | 3 |
| VIST 306 | Critical Design Studies | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Complete four courses from the following:. Please note, some courses may have prerequisites. | 12 | |
| Painting | ||
| Photography | ||
| Art and Games | ||
| Fashion Illustration | ||
| Introduction to Innovation and 3D Printing | ||
| Preparing to Pitch and Launch Your Startup | ||
| Design Visualization I - Concept Sketching | ||
| Anatomical Drawing for Product Designers | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience I | ||
| Total Credits | 86 | |
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | ||
| Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
or VIST 106 | Modern Visions 1400-1945 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| G. Computer Science | ||
| Digital Painting 1 (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | ||
| Based on placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in one language. | 3-6 | |
| World Cultures | ||
| Special Topics in Global Art Cultures (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
or ARTX 201 | Culture and Appearance | |
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | World Language II | 3 |
| World Language I | 3 | ARFD 100 | 3 |
| ARFD 101 | 3 | ARIL 101 | 3 |
| ARFD 103 | 3 | VIST 105 or 106 | 3 |
| VIST 102 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History | 3 |
| ARFD 124 | 3 | ARIL 261 | 3 |
| ARIL 225 | 3 | ARIL 262 | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | 3 | ARIL 264 | 3 |
| VIST 109 or ARTX 201 | 3 | VIST 282 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARIL 300 | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 |
| ARIL 311 | 3 | ARIL 315 | 4 |
| ARIL 312 | 3 | VIST 306 | 3 |
| ARIL 323 | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARIL 350 | 3 | ARIL 422 | 4 |
| ARIL 401 | 3 | ARIL 430 | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||