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Graphic Design

  • Major
  • Major
  • BFA
  • BFA

Illustration Requirements

The Illustration Concentration within the Graphic Design BFA program offers students with a keen interest in image-making and visual communications an opportunity to create complex and multi-dimensional visual narratives and pursue materials, history, context, theory, technologies, and professional practice within the expanding realm of illustration.

The Concentration employs a Graphic Design lens to examine multiple analog and digital modalities of image-making such as drawing, photography, digital rendering, and collage within contexts such as pattern, ornament, and icon; and time-based, sequential, editorial, and gaming environments. Courses required for the concentration are completed in addition to satisfying the requirements for the BFA in Graphic Design. The Illustration Concentration requires a senior project in the general subject area of the concentration, as well as specific coursework outlined below.

Updated 12.6.24

In addition to fulfilling General Education requirements and other degree requirements, undergraduate students majoring in the Graphic Design Illustration concentration must complete the following requirements:

Foundation Courses: 16-17 credits

VIS 1050/ComX: 2 credits or VIS 2150/Key Class: 1 credit
VIS 1060/Foundation Drawing: 3 credits
VIS 1070/Extended Media: 3 credits
VIS 1080/Visual Language: 3 credits
VIS 1260/3-D Processes: 3 credits
VIS 1330/Lens and Time: 3 credits

Art History Courses: 12 credits

ARH 1020/History of Art Survey II: 3 credits
ARH 1021/History of Art Survey II Discussion: 1 credit
ARH —/One course in the history of art before 1800 (lower-level)
ARH 3405/Design History and Theory: 1750–Today: 4 credits or
DES 3300/History of Graphic Design Survey: 4 credits

Illustration Studio Courses: 45 credits

DES2150/Drawing as Narrative: 3 credits
DES2450/Digital Media I: 3 credits
DES2460/Digital Media II: 3 credits
DES2600/Word and Image II: 3 credits
DES2700/Illustration I: Visual Storytelling: 3 credits
DES2705/Illustration II: Style and Subject: 3 credits
DES2720/Translation Drawing: 3 credits
DES3510/Word and Image III: 3 credits
DES3700/Illustration III: Series and Sequences: 3 credits
DES3705/Illustration IV: Imagery in Action: 3 credits
DES3710/Illustration V: World Building: 3 credits
2 courses in Visual Arts Studio Elective/DES3740/Special Topics in Graphic Design: 3 credits each/6 credits total
DES4100/Community Design: 3 credits
Visual Arts Studio Elective: 3 credits

Synthesis Courses: 9

DES3500/Junior Seminar:3 credits
DES4900/Senior Project I: 3 credits
DES4991/Senior Project II: 3 credits
Total Credits: 82-83

How to Apply to the Concentration

After completing the shared Foundations (first-year) curriculum offered to all students within Art+Design, majors can apply for the Illustration concentration. In the spring semester of their first year, students may submit a portfolio of their Foundations work thus far. Faculty will evaluate each prospective applicant and inform them of their acceptance status before course registration begins.

Once accepted, students will be enrolled as a Graphic Design major with an Illustration Concentration.

Please direct questions to Hakan Topal (hakan.topal@purchase.edu), Chair of Graphic Design.