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).
Degree Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SEEDS General Education Requirements | 21-24 | |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| Major Requirements | 80 | |
| Free Electives | 18-15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core | ||
| ARFD 100 | Perceptual Drawing | 3 |
| ARFD 101 | Surface | 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 | |
| ARIL 101 | Introduction to Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 103 | Acrylic Painting for Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | Digital Painting 1 | 3 |
| ARIL 223 | World-building for Fantasy Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 261 | Character Design | 3 |
| VIST 282 | History of Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 300 | Digital Painting 2 | 3 |
| VIST 306 | Critical Design Studies | 3 |
| ARIL 315 | Mixed Media Concepts | 4 |
| ARIL 323 | Text and Image | 3 |
| COED 401 | Cooperative Education Experience I | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | Thesis Project | 4 |
| ARIL 430 | Advanced Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 450 | Professional Practice in Illustration | 3 |
| Major Elective Track | ||
| Complete one track. See lists below. | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 80 | |
Major Elective Tracks
Pre-Production Design Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARIL 203 | Watercolor for Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 262 | Illustration and Motion 1 | 3 |
| ARST 309 | Art and Games | 3 |
| or ARGS 260 | Special Topics in Art and Design | |
| ARIL 364 | Visual Development | 3 |
| ARIL 370 | Illustration and Motion 2 | 3 |
| ARIL 402 | Illustrating for Community Partners | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Publishing Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARIL 203 | Watercolor for Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 205 | Pen and Ink for Illustration | 3 |
| ARST 303 | Creating Graphic Novels | 3 |
| or ARIL 312 | Products and Zines for Conventions | |
| ARIL 311 | Comics | 3 |
| ARIL 314 | Children's Book | 3 |
| ARIL 401 | Editorial Illustration | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Interdisciplinary Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARIL 203 | Watercolor for Illustration | 3 |
| or ARIL 205 | Pen and Ink for Illustration | |
| ARIL 253 | The Art of Caricature | 3 |
| or ARIL 262 | Illustration and Motion 1 | |
| ARIL 401 | Editorial Illustration | 3 |
| or ARIL 402 | Illustrating for Community Partners | |
| Complete three courses: | 9 | |
| Comics | ||
| Children's Book | ||
| Art Licensing | ||
| Visual Development | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
New Student Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100. | ||
| Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor. | 1 | |
| Pathways to Success | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Chemistry | ||
| First Year Seminar | ||
| Adult Academic Success Seminar | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | ||
| Pathways to Adult Learning | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | ||
| Introduction to Nursing | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law | ||
SEEDS General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| Effective Writing I | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing I course. | 3 | |
| Effective Writing II | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing II course. | 3 | |
| Interactive Communication | ||
| Complete one Interactive Communication course. | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Complete one Quantitative Reasoning course. | 3 | |
| Political and Civic Life | ||
| Complete one Political and Civic Life course. | 3 | |
| World Language | ||
| Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level. | 3-6 | |
| Exploration | ||
| Complete one course from four different Exploration categories | 3 | |
| Analyzing Cultures and Societies | ||
| Fulfilled by VIST 109 or ARTX 201 in the major. | ||
| Creative Expression | ||
| Fulfilled by ARFD 100 in the major. | ||
| Ethical Inquiry | ||
| Historical Thinking | ||
| Literary and Artistic Analysis | ||
| Fulfilled by VIST 106 or VIST 106 in the major. | ||
| Scientific Reasoning | ||
| Total Credits | 21-24 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.
Pre-Production Design Track
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | SEEDS: Effective Writing II | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | VIST 102 | 3 |
| SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | ARFD 124 | 3 |
| ARFD 100 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Creative Expression) | 3 | ARIL 101 | 3 |
| ARFD 101 | 3 | ARIL 103 | 3 |
| VIST 105 or 106 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Literary and Artistic Analysis) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: World Language I | 3 | SEEDS: World Language II | 3 |
| VIST 109 or ARTX 201 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Analyzing Cultures and Societies) | 3 | VIST 282 | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | 3 | ARIL 300 | 3 |
| ARIL 262 | 3 | ARIL 261 | 3 |
| ARIL 203 or 205 | 3 | ARIL 223 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Interactive Communication | 3 | ARST 309 or ARGS 260 | 3 |
| VIST 306 | 3 | ARIL 315 | 4 |
| ARIL 364 | 3 | ARIL 323 | 3 |
| ARIL 370 | 3 | COED 401 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Exploration | 3 | SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | 4 | ARIL 402 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ARIL 430 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ARIL 450 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Publishing Track
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | SEEDS: Effective Writing II | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | VIST 102 | 3 |
| SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | ARFD 124 | 3 |
| ARFD 100 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Creative Expression) | 3 | ARIL 101 | 3 |
| ARFD 101 | 3 | ARIL 103 | 3 |
| VIST 105 or 106 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Literary and Artistic Analysis) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: World Language I | 3 | SEEDS: World Language II | 3 |
| VIST 282 | 3 | VIST 109 or ARTX 201 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Analyzing Cultures and Societies) | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | 3 | ARIL 300 | 3 |
| ARIL 223 | 3 | ARIL 203 | 3 |
| ARIL 205 | 3 | ARIL 261 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Interactive Communication | 3 | ARIL 311 | 3 |
| VIST 306 | 3 | ARIL 314 | 3 |
| ARST 303 or ARIL 312 | 3 | ARIL 315 | 4 |
| ARIL 323 | 3 | COED 401 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Exploration | 3 | SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | 4 | ARIL 401 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ARIL 430 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ARIL 450 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Interdisciplinary Track
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | SEEDS: Effective Writing II | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | VIST 102 | 3 |
| SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | ARFD 124 | 3 |
| ARFD 100 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Creative Expression) | 3 | ARIL 101 | 3 |
| ARFD 101 | 3 | ARIL 103 | 3 |
| VIST 105 or 106 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Literary and Artistic Analysis) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: World Language I | 3 | SEEDS: World Language II | 3 |
| VIST 109 or ARTX 201 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Analyzing Cultures and Societies) | 3 | VIST 282 | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | 3 | ARIL 300 | 3 |
| ARIL 262 | 3 | ARIL 261 | 3 |
| ARIL 203 or 205 | 3 | ARIL 223 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Interactive Communication | 3 | ARST 309 or ARGS 260 | 3 |
| VIST 306 | 3 | ARIL 315 | 4 |
| ARIL 364 | 3 | ARIL 323 | 3 |
| ARIL 370 | 3 | COED 401 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Exploration | 3 | SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | 4 | ARIL 402 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ARIL 430 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ARIL 450 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||