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.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Illustration is a 122-hour professional degree. The 81-hour major combines art foundations, the illustration sequence, upper-level art history, studio electives in other areas, and the BFA Seminar.
Required course flow
Each course below opens the next one. Arrows follow the prerequisites listed in the JSU catalog.
- 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
Illustration electives
| Course | Prerequisite |
|---|---|
| ART 326 Illustration II | ART 325 or permission of instructor |
| ART 327 Commercial Illustration | ART 234 or permission of instructor |
| ART 328 Special Topics in Illustration | ART 234 or permission of instructor |
| ART 344 Drawing Studio | ART 234 |
| ART 345 Intermediate Drawing Studio | ART 344 |
| ART 391 Watercolor | ART 134 and ART 233 |
| ART 495 Advanced Independent Study | Completion of studio emphasis and approval of department head and instructor |
Choose nine hours. 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 major
| 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
- Complete ART 111 Survey of Art I or ART 112 Survey of Art II, ART 134 Drawing I, ART 233 Design I, ART 234 Drawing II, ART 240 Design II, and ART 298 Portfolio Review.
- Take at least one course in the concentration and twelve hours of general studies.
- Hold at least a 2.50 GPA overall and a 3.00 GPA in the major.
- Pass portfolio review by the Art and Design faculty. You need a C or better in every major course.
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.
