Illustration
About the B.F.A. in Illustration
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. 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.
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Art + Design Website
For Orientation
If you are attending New Student Orientation as a freshman you do not need to bring a portfolio. We do not evaluate non-college level work for incoming freshman. All AP credits will be evaluated by the Office of Degree Evaluation and do not require a portfolio review.
Students who are attempting to transfer credits for upper-level classes in any of the disciplines below should plan to bring a portfolio, as well as syllabi and course descriptions for those transfer classes. In addition, you may want to bring an additional copy of your transcript.
- Graphic Design
- Advertising Art Direction
- Illustration
- Interior Architecture
- Fine Art
- Product Design
Students who are attempting to transfer credits for upper-level classes in Art History should plan to bring course descriptions and syllabi for those courses.
2nd BA students who took art and design classes as part of their undergraduate degree should bring a copy of their transcripts along with a portfolio of their work.
We regret that we are unable to register any student for upper-level classes without an in-person portfolio review.
More Information on Transfer Policies
Recommended First-Semester Classes
We recommend you try and take 2-3 of the following classes in your first semester as an Illustration major:
- 22-1102 History of Art II: Renaissance to Modern or 22-1105 Introduction to Visual Culture
- 22-1220 Fundamentals of 2D Design OR 22-1230 Fundamentals of 3D Design
- 22-1210 Drawing I
- 23-1111 Foundations of Photography
