The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration prepares the student for a position in the communications industry using the skills and concepts relative to illustration within the context of liberal education. To prepare students for this career, the program will train the student not only in the skill of illustration, but also in the broader technical and conceptual issues relating to creating art and communicating ideas.

The BFA is rooted in the foundation program from which the student gains the knowledge of materials, techniques, and specialized vocabulary of visual arts. After acquiring a basic understanding of concepts and technical skills in their sophomore year, the student advances to the upper levels of the program. In all advanced junior- and senior-level classes, students develop visuals, referred to as portfolio pieces. Both in concept and skillful execution, the expectation is professional-quality work.

The BFA in Illustration will provide the student with the experience required to forge a relationship in which ideas and practices converge. Students are encouraged to create and explore the use of image, time, text, and sound, and apply it to related disciplines. The program challenges the traditional definition of illustration and creates a new analytical, societal, cultural, and aesthetic practice.

At the senior level, the student’s work and knowledge culminate in the program’s capstone courses and Professional Portfolio Development, a course that discusses interviewing skills, current employment trends, and the creation of a final portfolio for job interviews. After completion of the program, the student will have the knowledge and the skill needed to pursue a career in the communications industry.

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