Our Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Illustration guides you in the contemporary delivery of narrative art in digital and print formats.
Our Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Illustration guides you in the contemporary delivery of narrative art in digital and print formats. Our curriculum features courses focused on solid figurative underpinnings to progress toward drawing mastery. As an Illustration major, you gain proficiency in the use of a broad range of media and the advanced practice each of those require.
Illustrators bring narrative to life through the process of telling stories with images and words. Illustration is widely used in books, advertising, clothing design, packaging, store displays, storyboarding, graphics, video games, animation, character design, and more. Through required design courses for the major, you expand picture making skills to develop artwork that will better express the ideas you want to communicate.
St. John’s University has attained the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation, held by selective art schools nationwide allowing illustration majors to potentially move into similarly accredited masters programs with ease.
Illustration, like Graphic Design, is an applied art and as such seeks to connect Illustration students with career opportunities in the visual communications industry. These careers require not only proficiency in drawing and painting but also technical skills in numerous digital platforms. Equally important to the technical education of Illustration students is intellectual development, which requires all of the knowledge, discipline, sensitivity, and awareness of a liberal arts education. Students in the Illustration program acquire the skills necessary to compete in an ever-expanding and increasingly diverse visual arts industry that serves a vast array of visual communications applications.
You can apply directly to the B.F.A. in Graphic Design by completing the St. John's Undergraduate Application.
Please contact the Department Chair directly at [email protected] with any questions regarding this process.
For more information about admission to this and other acclaimed undergraduate programs at St. John's University, please visit Undergraduate Admission.
The Department of Art and Design awards two full-time, four-year scholarships to first-year students who demonstrate extraordinary proficiency and creative potential in their portfolio submission and have met the academic requirements of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Three additional first-year students who demonstrate excellence in the visual arts are offered a $1,000 incentive scholarship. Students are selected through the portfolio review process and must submit their portfolio in our SlideRoom portal by March 1, 2024 to be considered. For more information, contact Nerissa Palad-Palermo at 718-990-6250 or [email protected].
To earn a B.F.A. in Illustration, you complete 132 credits in core, major requirements, and elective courses as outlined below. For more information about courses, please see the St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Science section of our Undergraduate Bulletin.
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1105 | Introduction to Graphic Design |
| ART | 1110 | Foundation Design |
| ART | 1115 | Graphic Design II |
| ART | 1210 | Drawing II |
| ART | 1270 | Illustration I |
| ART | 1280 | Digital Illustration |
| ART | 2125 | Typography |
| ART | 2220 | Anatomy & Figure Drawing I |
| ART | 2230 | Anatomy & Figure Drawing II |
| ART | 2310 | Painting I |
| ART | 2320 | Painting II |
| ART | 2265 | Global Sketchbook |
| ART | 2280 | Illustration II |
| ART | 4112 | Professional Practices for Fine Art and Illustration Majors |
*Please note that studio art courses meet for six hours per week.
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1120 | Social Media for Artists and Designers |
| ART | 1510 | Printmaking |
| ART | 1630 | Digital Photography (Advanced Photo & Imaging) |
| ART | 2115 | Graphic Production |
| ART | 2130 | Motion Graphics |
| ART | 3125 | Advanced Typography |
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1710 | History of Art I |
| ART | 1720 | History of Art II |
| ART | 2750 | Historical Modernism 1848-1945 |
| ART | 2145 | History of Visual Communications |
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ART | 4125 | Creative Thesis | 9 |
| ART | 4909 | Internship | 9 |
In addition, you must select four art electives (12 credits total).
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| FYS | 1000 | First Year Seminar |
| FYW | 1000 | First Year Writing |
| ENG | 1100 | Literature in Global Context |
| HIS | 1000 | The Emergence of a Global Society |
| PHI | 1000 | Philosophy of Human Person |
| PHI | 3000 | Metaphysics |
| SPE | 1000 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking |
| THE | 1000 | Perspectives on Christianity |
Also the following courses:
Explore opportunities at St. John's with our pathway generator.
The Art History minor is an excellent addition to majors in History, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, and English.
Prepare for a career in the visual arts at St. John’s University, a NASAD accredited Institution, in New York City – a global art center.
The Associate Degree in Film Studies at St. John’s University offers students a basic understanding of the theory, history, and practice of film industry, its craft, techniques, protocols, and business practices.
St. John’s is accredited by the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), which sets the highest standards in the arts for undergraduate and graduate art degrees nationwide.
Graphic Design minor is an excellent addition to majors in Marketing, Communication Arts, Management, Education, and English. You may opt for either the Digital Media Design or Print/Advertising Design concentration within the minor.
The St. John’s University Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Graphic Design is a 132-credit program that provides aspiring graphic designers like you with the techniques, tools, and intellectual skills you need to develop your talents.
The Liberal Studies Program is designed to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the humanities, the social sciences and the sciences.
This program provides opportunities for research and professional training in the history and preservation of cultural artifacts.
The Bachelor of Fine Art (B.F.A.) in Photography at St. John's University provides you with the skills you need to succeed in a wide variety of career options
The Associate Degree in Television and Film at St. John’s University offers students a thorough but rudimentary understanding of the theory, history, and practice of television and film craft and technique, and the business structures of the television and film industries.
The Office of Student Financial Services is committed to providing students and their families with the information they need to navigate and understand the financial aid and payment process.
St. John’s offers a free online application for all 100+ undergraduate programs, and graduate applications carry a low cost for most programs.