Illustration

The short version

Drawing and painting plus digital image-making, all aimed at visual storytelling.
A 122-hour BFA. Start with ART 325 Introduction to Illustration, which opens after ART 234 Drawing II.

Illustration combines traditional drawing and painting with digital image-making. The focus is visual storytelling: coming up with an idea, solving it as an image, and building a portfolio ready for professional work.

Required course flowWhat opens what, from freshman year to the BFA Seminar

Each course below opens the next one. Arrows follow the prerequisites listed in the JSU catalog.

START HERE · FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARSArt foundations

ART 134 Drawing I
ART 233 Design I
ART 234 Drawing II
ART 240 Design II
ART 111 Survey of Art I and ART 112 Survey of Art II
ART 335 Figure Drawing
ART 341 Digital Literacy for Artists/Designers or ART 302 Introduction to Graphic Design

After ART 234ART 325 Introduction to IllustrationPrerequisite: ART 234.

Fall of sophomore yearART 298 Portfolio ReviewZero credit hours, pass/fail, offered each fall. Take it once you have finished Drawing I and II (ART 134, 234), Design I and II (ART 233, 240), and ART 111 or 112, and while you’re taking ART 325. Passing it gets you into the BFA program and is required before any 400-level studio.

After ART 234ART 339 Digital IllustrationPrerequisite: ART 234 and permission of instructor.

After ART 325 or ART 339ART 445 Advanced Drawing and IllustrationPrerequisite: any one of ART 325, ART 338 Special Topics in Drawing, ART 339 Digital Illustration, ART 344 Drawing Studio, or ART 345 Intermediate Drawing Studio, or permission of instructor.

After ART 134 and ART 233ART 391 WatercolorPrerequisite: ART 134 and ART 233.

After ART 234ART 327 Commercial IllustrationPrerequisite: ART 234 or permission of instructor.

Any time after Portfolio ReviewIllustration electivesFrom the list below. ART 326 Illustration II is strongly recommended.

SENIOR YEARART 488 BFA SeminarRequires acceptance into the BFA program and senior standing. Includes portfolio presentation, the BFA exhibition, and a senior paper.

Illustration electivesWhich courses count, and their prerequisites

Course	Prerequisite
ART 326 Illustration II (strongly recommended)	ART 325 Introduction to Illustration or permission of instructor
ART 328 Special Topics in Illustration	ART 234 Drawing II or permission of instructor
ART 344 Drawing Studio	ART 234 Drawing II
ART 345 Intermediate Drawing Studio	ART 344 Drawing Studio
ART 495 Advanced Independent Study	Completion of studio emphasis and approval of department head and instructor

The department also recommends that Illustration students take ART 302 Introduction to Graphic Design, ART 342 Graphic Design I, and ART 343 Graphic Design II as studio electives.

The rest of the majorArt history, studio electives and the hours breakdown

Requirement	Hours
Art foundation core courses	24
Illustration concentration	18
Upper division art history: three courses from the approved list	9
Upper division studio electives: nine courses in at least two other studio areas	27
ART 488 BFA Seminar	3
Major total	81
Jax MIX general education	41
Degree total	122

Getting into the BFA program

Pass Portfolio Review in the fall of your sophomore year, with at least a 2.50 GPA overall and a 3.00 in the major. You also need a C or better in every major course. Foundations covers what to take first.

Source: JSU Catalog 2026-2027, Illustration (Bachelor of Fine Arts). Meet with your advisor every semester, and check the catalog year that applies to you.