Art Degrees Online

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (BFA) with a concentration in Illustration

Illustrators, along with other professional artists, can expect continued growth in employment opportunities according to the U.S. Department of Labor. But competition for positions will remain keen, with employers selecting only the most qualified and talented candidates. Although not required for some positions, a college degree in fine arts can help ensure success in securing employment in this highly competitive field.

The Visual Communication program at AIU is designed to educate and develop artistic and imaginative students for a wide range of careers in the fields of art and design. The program emphasizes the development of the thinking process and the ability to solve design problems creatively. Students can learn the principles, practical applications, technologies, and methodologies used in solving complex design problems in a creative and unique manner.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Communication includes a career-relevant concentration in Illustration that allows students to focus their studies and prepare for a career in this field. Students in this program will be exposed to a range of topics, including figure drawing and painting, narrative illustration, 2D animation, 3D illustration, and computer illustration.
Career Opportunities

The BFA in Visual Communication with a concentration in Illustration can help prepare students who are interested in developing or advancing a career* as a/an:
Art Director
Art Editor
Illustrator
Animator
Practicing Fine Artist

* Additional experience may be required for some positions.
Challenging, Relevant Coursework

The BFA in Visual Communication features industry-relevant coursework taught by faculty members with experience in their respective field. Key topics addressed in this degree program include the history of visual communication; illustration (several levels), graphic design, for print- and screen-based applications; web design and multimedia; fine art and animation; and various aspects of photography.
Upon completion of the program, the student should be able to:
Demonstrate broad knowledge of their chosen specialty area and its relevance within the wider context of Visual Communication, in a business environment.
Understand the cultural, aesthetic, historical and theoretical issues relevant to the studied specialization and to the students’ desired areas of work or postgraduate study.
Demonstrate knowledge of the wide range of organizations that use the services of artists and designers, towards their business objectives.
Employ their knowledge of a range of experimental and speculative strategies with which to test and develop ideas and push beyond the usual towards original innovative design solutions.
Demonstrate knowledge of the range of contemporary media and appropriate technical skills from which to select towards design solutions.
Demonstrate ownership of and responsibility for a self-directed professionally executed portfolio of work.

Whether working as an applied or fine artist, the successful photographer is one who can find the most appropriate blend of a developed aesthetic and the science and technology of image-making to produce a legible personal statement. The Photography Program at Marywood offers a strong foundation in the technical skills required of the photographer. Traditional media are stressed, while developments in digital imaging are embraced. Fluency in the medium is enriched and expanded by the study of aesthetics and art/photographic history, as well as through class discussions and critiques, which emphasize the development of the voice of the individual as artist. The relationship of photography to other disciplines, such as illustration and graphic design, is explored in projects involving both areas of study. Marywood’s flexible program is designed to meet the individual needs of the aspiring photographic professional.