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Willamette University

Illustration Requirements

The information here may reflect program requirements for future academic years. If you are a current student and would like to see the current or prior years’ requirements for this program, please see the University Catalog.

Program Overview

Our curriculum is energized by a fluid mix of traditional skills and digital tech, allowing for artists to create unique personal visions able to navigate a market that is always in flux. Our illustration major offers a variety of courses to help you build your portfolio and develop as an artist. Learn important software, techniques, and mediums to further your knowledge of illustration.

Requirements for the Illustration Major

The Illustration major requires the completion of 60 semester hours, which includes nine three-credit required courses, one three-credit Art History course, eight additional three-credit studio elective courses, and six credits of Thesis Project. This 60-credit major contributes to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.


In addition to the program requirements listed below, all BFA students must complete Foundation and General Education requirements (including six credits of Thesis Project) that contribute to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.


Program Curriculum

Required Program Courses

  • IL251 Word & Image

  • IL252 Visual Techniques

  • IL253 Painting for Illustration

  • IL254 Digital Media Strategies

  • IL255 Drawing for Illustration

  • IL351 Visual Vocabulary

  • IL354 Design & Image

  • IL450 Illustration Advanced Studio 1

  • IL451 Illustration Advanced Studio 2


Art History

  • IS213 History of Design Arts


Program Electives

  • Complete 24 additional credits from any of the following subjects:

    • Animated Arts (AA), Creative Writing (CW), Drawing (DR), Graphic Design (GD), Illustration (IL), Intermedia (IM), Painting (PA), Painting and Drawing (PADR), Photography (PH), Printmaking (PR), or Sculpture (SC).

Applied Creative Practice

Course Outline

Our program combines development of technical skill in traditional studio media and new and emerging technologies with conceptual inquiry to empower you to create visual messages capable of engaging clients and changing culture.

ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (9 cr. required)
IS101 Core Seminar 1 3
IS102 Core Seminar 2 3
IS106 Place-Based Inquiry 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP100 Introduction to Creative Citizenship 3
Studio Courses (3 cr. required)
Studio Elective 3
First-Year Seminar (1 cr. required)
FD100  **First Year Seminar 1
Studio Courses (3 cr required)
Studio Elective 3
Foundation Studio (15 cr. required)
FD101  Visual Elements: 2D 3
FD102 Visual Elements: Digital Tools 3
FD105  Drawing 1 3
FD111  3D Design 3
FD112  Time Arts 3
TOTAL 31
At the completion of First Year: 31 cr. earned to date 31

**FD100 First Year Seminar is required of all first-years with fewer than 30 transfer credits.

ID Course Title Course Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
IS213 History of Design Arts 3
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP200 Creative Project Management 3
Studio Courses (18 cr. required)
IL251 Word & Image 3
IL252  Visual Techniques 3
IL253  Painting for Illustration 3
IL255 Drawing for Illustration 3
IL254 Digital Media Strategies I 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Second Year: 61 cr. earned to date 61
ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (6 cr. required)
IL352 Cultural Marketplace 3
IL445 or ACP301 Center for Design or Applied Learning Internship 3
Studio Courses (18 required cr.)
IL351  Visual Vocabulary 3
IL354  Design & Image 3
*Studio Elective from suggested menu of courses 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Third Year: 91 cr. earned to date 91

*Studio elective suggested menu of courses:

Recommended electives: IL257 IL: Special Topics, IL258 Capsule Collection, IL259 Picture Book, IL260 Environments & Architecture, IL261 Flora & Fauna, IL262 Graphic Novel, IL263 Intro to Game Development, IL264 Character Design, IL265 Visual Development, IL266 The Moving Image, IL357 Advanced Graphic Novel, IL359 Advanced Picture Book, IL358 IL: Special Topics, IL362 Advanced Graphic Novel, GD351 Motion Graphics, GD251 Fundamentals of Interactive Media

ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (3 cr. required)
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (12 cr. required)
ACP400 Senior Seminar 3
ACP453 Thesis Critique Development
ACP499 Thesis Project 6
Studio Courses (15 required cr.)
IL450  Illustration Advanced Studio I 3
IL451  Illustration Advanced Studio II 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Fourth Year: 121 cr. earned to date 121

Willamette University

Illustration