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
By fulfilling all of the course requirements for the Bachelor's of Art in Illustration, students will be able to:
- Describe and understand the relationships that exist between the visual arts and the Christian faith using research from multiple sources to incorporate a balanced global perspective.
- Apply critical thinking and creative problem-solving in the illustration design process.
- Use data and research to inspire creativity, inform artistic decisions, and create effective illustrations.
- Incorporate historical design knowledge in creating, describing, and analyzing illustration as a technical, spiritual, and social pursuit.
- Present work professionally through visual, oral, and written communication.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Concordia Required Courses | 42 | |
| MIAD Required Courses | 12 | |
| Major Electives | 6 | |
| Additional Electives | 15 | |
Minor: Recommended (18 Credits Minimum) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (Concordia Campus) | ||
| ART 1020 | Digital Imaging Fundamentals | 3 |
| ART 1500 | 2-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| or ART 1550 | Color Theory Application | |
| ART 1510 | Observational Drawing | 3 |
| ART 2200 | Art History Comprehensive | 3 |
| ART 2540 | Mixed Media Drawing | 3 |
| ART 2550 | Typography I | 3 |
| ART 2560 | Painting | 3 |
| ART 3500 | Figure Drawing (or IL 214 Figure Drawing for Illustrators - MIAD course) | 3 |
| ART 4800 | Senior Portfolio/Exhibition | 3 |
| GD 1500 | Digital Vector Design | 3 |
| GD 1510 | Digital Raster Design | 3 |
| GD 3000 | Pixel Motion | 3 |
| GD 3500 | Advanced Pixel Motion | 3 |
| GD 4800 | Design Outlook | 3 |
| Major Electives | 6 | |
| 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 210 | Illustration I | 3 |
| IL 211 | Illustration II | 3 |
| IL 212 | Illustration Media | 3 |
IL 214 | Figure Drawing - or ART 3500 Figure Drawing at CUW | |
| IL310 | Illustration III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Plan
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| GD 1500 | Digital Vector Design | 3 |
| ART 1500 or ART 1550 |
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 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CCE 1010 | Christian Citizen | 3 |
| GD 1510 | Digital Raster Design | 3 |
| ART 2540 | Mixed Media Drawing | 3 |
| REL 1100 | Christian Faith | 3 |
| MATH OR CSC | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| ART 2550 | Typography I | 3 |
| ART 1020 | Digital Imaging Fundamentals | 3 |
| CCE 1020 | Western Culture & Worldview | 3 |
| MIAD IL 210 | 3 | |
| MIAD IL 212 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| CCE 1040 | Science & Humanity | 3 |
| CCE 1030 | Western Thought & Worldview | 3 |
| ART 2560 | Painting | 3 |
| MIAD IL 211 | 3 | |
| SOCIETY & CULTURE | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| GD 3000 | Pixel Motion | 3 |
| ART 2200 | Art History Comprehensive | 3 |
| MIAD IL 214 | 3 | |
| MIAD IL 310 | 3 | |
| HHP ACTIVITY COURSE | 1 | |
| MINOR OR ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| GD 3500 | Advanced Pixel Motion | 3 |
| MINOR OR ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| MINOR OR ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| HUMAN BEINGS & BEING HUMAN | 3 | |
| FAITH & LIFE | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| GD 4800 | Design Outlook | 3 |
| MAJOR ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| HUMAN CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION | 3 | |
| SCIENCE WITH LAB | 4 | |
| MINOR OR ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| ART 4800 | Senior Portfolio/Exhibition | 3 |
| MINOR OR ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE | 3 | |
| MAJOR ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Course options and schedule are subject to change.