Summary
The “Illustration” page in the College for Creative Studies 2026–2027 Academic Catalog outlines the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration as a standard 4-year, full-time pathway totaling about 120–122 credits (with a listed minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0). It provides a semester-by-semester credit plan (16 credits in the first fall term, then 15 credits per subsequent semester) that includes first-year foundations like Drawing I and II, 2D design principles, digital techniques, figure illustration, and composition, followed by progressively more advanced illustration studios and courses such as figure illustration II, anatomical figure illustration, introduction to digital illustration, junior studios A/B, and upper-level portfolio-focused work like Beyond the Portfolio and Illustration Studio A/B. The page also summarizes broader program structure—covering first-year experience (with a waiver for eligible transfer students), required foundation credits, general education requirements (including core composition and approved humanities/science/art-history/visual-culture options), a major component totaling 57 credits, and additional open/general education electives—along with footnotes explaining course placement, waiver details, and how the major sequence may affect time to degree completion.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Catalog Year 26/27
Standard 4 Year Pathway (full-time status)
Total Credits 120-122
First Year
Second Year
Third Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DIL-206 Creative Composition | 3 |
| DIL-247 Figure Illustration II | 3 |
| WRT-102 Composition II (CR) | 3 |
| Choose one course: AHV-203 Global Art History I (MR) AHV-204 Global Art History II (MR) | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
Fourth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DIL-231 Painting & Image Making for Illustration | 3 |
| DIL-246 Anatomical Figure Illustration | 3 |
| DIL-261 Introduction to Digital Illustration | 3 |
| AHV-206 History of American Illustration (MR) | 3 |
| Humanities: Choose from approved list (CE) | 3 |
Third Year
Fifth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DIL-340 Junior Studio A | 3 |
| Illustration Major Elective | 3 |
| Illustration Major Elective | 3 |
| LIT-239 Survey of World Literature (MR) | 3 |
| Humanities: Choose from approved list (CE) | 3 |
Sixth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DIL-342 Junior Studio B | 3 |
| Illustration Major Elective | 3 |
| Science Elective 200-400 level (CE) | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
Fourth Year
Seventh Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DIL-406 Structural Figure Illustration | 3 |
| DIL-408 Future Illustration Media | 3 |
| DIL-458 Beyond the Portfolio | 3 |
| DIL-483 Illustration Studio A | 3 |
| AHV 200-400 Art History & Visual Culture Course (CE) | 3 |
Eighth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DIL-484 Illustration Studio B | 3 |
| Illustration Major Elective | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
Additional ”Program & Credit Requirement Details” attached; includes ”approved course lists” and ”recommended courses (RC)” for any requirements with noted selections. Enrolled students should view Self-Service (My Progress/Plan & Schedule) for complete program information; see catalog for additional course details and descriptions.
This plan is provided for use as a guide only and is based on full-time status with successful completion of credits outlined per semester. Degree Timelines and requirements may vary based on actual program, credits completed per semester and/or catalog year. Students are responsible for confirming completion of all requirements before graduating (use program/student resources to support degree progression). Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0 required.
Program & Credit Requirement Details
| Degree Requirements | Total credits required | Requirement Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience | 1.0 | SLP-007 is waived for eligible transfer students with 12.0 (or more) college. |
| Foundations | 15.0 | Required for all majors. Successfully complete listed DFN Foundation courses for enrolled major; requirements may vary per major. |
| General Education | 42.0 | Liberal Arts courses required for all undergraduate majors; total credits may vary per program. |
| General Education Undergrad CORE Requirements (CR) | 12.0 | Successfully complete WRT & AHV core general education prerequisites requirements (Composition pathways may vary based on completed assessments, test scores or transfer credits). |
| General Education MAJOR Requirements (MJ) | 6.0 | Successfully complete major specific Liberal Arts. Requirements vary per major. |
| General Education Undergrad CORE Electives (CE) | 9.0 | Successfully complete core general education electives required for all UG majors (Science, Humanities, Art History & Visual Culture) as outlined on 4 year pathway/degree requirements: |
| 3.0 cr. Science: Successfully complete one course from the SCI subject; 200-400 level | ||
| 3.0 cr. Humanities Option: Successfully complete one of the following approved courses: LIT 239, LIT 203, DHS 201, DSS 215, DSS 240 or DPL 201 | ||
| 3.0 cr. Art History & Visual Culture: Successfully complete course from AHV subject, 200-400 level | ||
| General Education Electives | 15.0 | Successfully complete any non-required 200-400 level Liberal Arts course from subject codes: AHV, BUS, DHS, DPL, DSS, SCI, WRT, LIT (Total Gen.Ed Elective credits vary per major). (RC) Recommended course towards General Education Elective credits: BUS 213 Business Practices |
| Major § | 57.0 | Studio and/or lecture courses specific to major focus. |
| Major Courses § | 45.0 | Successfully complete listed DIL courses in 4 year plan, by recommended sequence (based on prerequisites). |
| Major Electives | 12.0 | Major electives are not required for this program. |
| Open Electives | 6.0 | Successfully complete 100-400 level courses from any Undergraduate subject (Studio or Lecture). |
| Total Program Credits | 121.0 | Total credits required 120 – 122 ‡ |
| Undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts program, GPA minimum requirement = 2.0 | ||
Footnotes
* ELS 101 Composition I for Multilingual Students 4.0 cr.
† WRT 101/102 Self Placement Survey available.
‡ Based on SLP 007 (1.0 cr.) and ELS 101 (4.0 cr.)§ Remaining Major course sequence impacts timeline to degree completion.