BFA in Illustration

What makes Illustration at UArts special?

• U.S. News & World Report rates UArts Illustration one of the top three schools for illustration in the country.
• Illustration majors consistently place in the national Society of Illustrators Annual Student Competition and other competitions.
• The rich diversity of art forms on our campus will enhance and compliment your work.

Are faculty professional illustrators?
Yes. Faculty are successful, award-winning illustration industry professionals.

What galleries are available?
The Richard C. von Hess Illustration Gallery, located in the department, brings the best contemporary illustrators and their work to campus for exhibitions, lectures and workshops.

How will I be prepared for a career in illustration?

• Small class sizes encourage close relationships with faculty mentors.
• Students are exposed to curriculum, guest lectures and artist forums on the business of art.
• Student work is professionally published as posters in the Communication Workshop course and as a senior portfolio collection distributed to the industry in the annual University of the Arts Illustration Portfolio.
• Students work on class assignments for real clients that are professionally printed, as well as enter major national competitions.
• Students and their work are showcased in departmental events like the William H. Ely Illustration Exhibition and the UArts Illustration Portfolio Day in NYC.

Would I recognize the work of any UArts Illustration alumni?
Alumni of the Illustration program work for Time, The New Yorker and Newsweek and at Random House and Penguin Publishing. Famous alumni include:

• Stan, Jan and Michael Berenstain: creators of the Berenstain Bears children’s books
• Charles Santore: recipient of the Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators for his life's work
• Jerry Pinkney: recipient of two Caldecott honors and three Coretta Scott King Awards for best children's book of the year
• Richard Amsel: noted for his movie poster illustration including the artwork for "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

What's the curriculum like?
Illustration department courses have been recognized for excellence both by the graphic arts industry and in design education (for examples, see the books The Education of an Illustrator and Teaching Illustration). The program is contemporary and traditional, comprehensive, relevant, individualized, demanding, recognized, professional. Students studying for a bachelor's degree in Illustration at the University of the Arts will be exposed to every aspect of the art of illustration. Students choose from three tracks that begin their junior years:

• Traditional Illustration
• Design Illustration
• Digital Illustration

How can I learn more about Illustration?
Learn more about Illustration.