Illustration Major (M)

At Concordia University Wisconsin, the Illustration Major is dedicated to cultivating a community of innovative creators who are passionate about conveying powerful messages through visual artistry. We are committed to excellence in education, upholding Lutheran values of integrity, service, and respect in every facet of our curriculum. Our program is designed to inspire students to explore the world of technology and illustration, fostering a space where they understand that their creativity is ultimately more meaningful when aligned with purpose. Our state-of-the-art facilities provide a canvas for students to harness their skills in drawing, multimedia, animation and digital imaging, ensuring they are proficient with the latest tools and techniques in the industry. As we guide our students through a rigorous, thought-provoking journey of artistic and personal growth, we also emphasize the importance of ethical responsibility and the impact of illustration in society. We strive to equip our graduates with a robust portfolio that not only showcases their technical proficiency but also reflects their understanding of illustration as a tool for positive change. Our mission is to empower each student to become a visionary Christian leader, ready to contribute to the world with faith-rooted confidence and creative excellence.

Our top-notch facilities act as a creative playground, enabling students to refine their skills across diverse art mediums, while staying abreast of the industry's evolving tools and techniques. Our educational journey is not just about artistic skill-building; it also delves into the ethical dimensions of art, highlighting the role and responsibilities of artists making visual images in society.

We're dedicated to preparing our students for the real world, ensuring they leave with a comprehensive portfolio that demonstrates their technical expertise and a deep understanding of art as a catalyst for positive change. Our ultimate goal is to nurture each student into becoming a visionary Christian leader, equipped to make meaningful contributions to the world with a blend of faith-driven confidence and artistic brilliance.

The Illustration major consists of 60 credit hours of course work, 12-15 of which are completed through a cooperative program with the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). To enroll in MIAD courses, students must have a 3.0 minimum GPA in all prior course work in the major. MIAD is just a 25-minute drive from our Mequon Campus and offers the very latest in illustration technologies. A student Mac lab is available on the Concordia University campus for students completing course work at MIAD. In addition to the 45-credit Liberal Arts core requirements and required courses listed , all Illustration majors are encouraged to complete a minor. An Animation, small business or marketing  minor is strongly recommended to help students develop the skills they will need to channel their talents into a successful career. Required Macbook Pro (not a Macbook Air) 8GB Unified memory (Apple Education Store) + (Apple Care).

For specific information about MIAD courses please visit the MIAD website at www.miad.edu.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • Describe and understand the relationships that exist between the visual arts and the Christian faith.
  • Describe image making as the embodiment of an innate God-given feature of the human condition; and will assess critical life issues using research from multiple sources to incorporate a balanced global perspective.
  • Critical Thinking/Creative Problem Solving: The creative process required for art-making is one that emphasizes critical thinking and creative problem solving.
  • Use data for creative inspiration, to inform artistic decisions, and/or in the creation of data-driven art doing so in a manner that is efficient, accurate, and insightful.
  • Apply appropriate historical knowledge in the creation, description and analysis of works of visual art. Art and design are viewed as technical, spiritual/philosophical, and social endeavors.
  • Analyze complex questions within challenging visual problems and compare and contrast multiple alternatives.
  • Demonstrate professional visual, oral and written communication to present their work and communicate to clients.
     
     

Curriculum

Core Requirements45
Major Requirements
Concordia Required Courses42
MIAD Required Courses12
Major Electives 6
Additional Electives15
Minor: Recommended (18 Credits Minimum)
Total Hours120

Major Requirements

Required Courses (Concordia Campus)
ART 1020Digital Imaging Fundamentals3
ART 15002-Dimensional Design3
or ART 1550 Color Theory Application
ART 1510Observational Drawing3
ART 2200Art History Comprehensive3
ART 2540Mixed Media Drawing3
ART 2550Typography I3
ART 2560Painting3
ART 3500Figure Drawing (or IL 214 Figure Drawing for Illustrators - MIAD course)3
ART 4800Senior Portfolio/Exhibition3
GD 1500Digital Vector Design3
GD 1510Digital Raster Design3
GD 3000Pixel Motion3
GD 3500Advanced Pixel Motion3
GD 4800Design Outlook3
Major Electives CUW or MIAD6
Ceramic Fundamentals
Glass Fundamentals
Creative Workshop: 2D Art
Interior Space Production
Ceramics: Throwing on the Wheel
History of Design
History of Photography
Digital Imaging: Movement
Digital Imaging: Product Photography
Art Study Abroad
Creative Pixel Studio
Web Design Solutions
Required Courses (MIAD Campus)
IL 210Illustration I3
IL 211Illustration II3
IL 212Illustration Media3
IL 214
Figure Drawing - or ART 3500 Figure Drawing at CUW
IL310Illustration III3
Total Hours60
Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Hours
GD 1500 Digital Vector Design 3
ART 1500
2-Dimensional Design
or Color Theory Application
3
ART 1510 Observational Drawing 3
ENG 1040 Introduction to Writing 3
REL 1000 The Bible 3
HHP 1100 Stewardship of the Body 1
 Hours16
Semester 2
CCE 1010 Christian Citizen 3
GD 1510 Digital Raster Design 3
ART 2540 Mixed Media Drawing 3
REL 1100 Christian Faith 3
CORE 3
HHP 1
 Hours16
Semester 3
ART 2550 Typography I 3
ART 1020 Digital Imaging Fundamentals 3
ART 2200 Art History Comprehensive 3
CCE 1020 Western Culture & Worldview 3
MIAD IL 210 3
 Hours15
Semester 4
CCE 1040 Science & Humanity 3
CSC 1010
Foundations of Computer Science
or Contemporary Math
3
ART 2560 Painting 3
MIAD IL 212 3
CCE 1030 Western Thought & Worldview 3
 Hours15
Semester 5
MIAD IL 211 3
CORE 3
GD 3000 Pixel Motion 3
CORE 4
CORE 3
 Hours16
Semester 6
MIAD IL 310 3
GD 3500 Advanced Pixel Motion 3
ART 3500 Figure Drawing 3
CORE 3
ELECTIVE OR MINOR 3
 Hours15
Semester 7
CORE 3
ART ELECTIVE 3
ART ELECTIVE 3
ELECTIVE OR MINOR 3
ELECTIVE OR MINOR 3
 Hours15
Semester 8
ART 4800 Senior Portfolio/Exhibition 3
GD 4800 Design Outlook 3
ELECTIVE OR MINOR 3
ELECTIVE OR MINOR 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours120

Course options and schedule are subject to change.