These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration and Emerging Media may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. All Illustration and Emerging Media majors must complete the BFA curriculum and General Education requirements.
- Minimum grades of C- or better in DES 2001, DES 2002, and DES 2003 along with an approved portfolio review are required to enter the Illustration and Emerging Media major. The purpose of the mandatory feedback session is to assist students in their planning and set them up for success in selecting and completing their chosen discipline.
- The required Illustration and Emerging Media courses must be completed with a C- or better to fulfill major requirements.
Major Requirements for BFA in Illustration and Emerging Media
Sophomore Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 2001 | Introduction to Design and Illustration | 3 |
| DES 2002 | Introduction to Digital Tools | 3 |
| DES 2003 | Introduction to Typography | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Note:
Illustration and Emerging Media majors who plan to study abroad should do so in the second semester of their sophomore year if they plan to graduate in four years. These students should see the Program Head for advising prior to leaving.
Protocol for Portfolio Feedback
There will be two portfolio feedback cycles in the Design and Illustration (DES) department each academic year: the end of the Fall semester (December) and the end of the Spring semester (May). The portfolio reviews will take place in the week after final studio course reviews. Specific dates for the reviews will be announced at the beginning of each semester in the DES 2001 classes. They will also be posted on the Design and Illustration Canvas group. All full-time DES faculty will serve on the Portfolio Feedback Committee.
Applicants must have completed all Tyler Foundations courses (or had approved transfer courses as noted by the Tyler Admissions Office) and the three (3) prerequisites for the major: DES 2001, DES 2002, and DES 2003 with a C-minus or better.
Application and Feedback
Application forms for students who wish to major in Illustration and Emerging Media will be available for eligible students in the department's Design and Illustration Canvas group.
Students who have completed or who are currently enrolled in the three prerequisites for the Illustration and Emerging Media major (DES 2001, DES 2002, and DES 2003) and intend to submit an application for the mandatory portfolio feedback session will be able to obtain an application form, template, and detailed application instructions on Canvas by mid-semester.
Incomplete or late portfolio feedback applications will not be reviewed, but students may re-apply for the next review cycle.
Following the Portfolio Feedback session, students will receive their feedback and acceptance to their chosen major. All students must confirm their intent to major by the deadline or they will forfeit their admission and will need to re-apply in the next portfolio feedback cycle.
Junior Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 3001 | Design and Illustration | 3 |
| DES 3002 | Digital Tools | 3 |
| DES 3301 | Illustration 1 | 3 |
| DES 3302 | Illustration 2 | 3 |
| Select one DES Studio Elective from the list below | 3 | |
| One additional Studio Elective is required and is strongly recommended to be taken from the DES or additional Studio Electives listed below | 3 | |
| Illustration History Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
DES 3403 | History of Illustration | |
ARTH 2676 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 22 | |
Note:
In the junior year, Illustration 1 and 2 must be taken in sequence (DES 3301 in Fall and DES 3302 in Spring).
Senior Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 3303 | Illustration 3 | 3 |
| Select two DES Studio Electives from the list below | 6 | |
| One additional Studio Elective is required and is strongly recommended to be taken from the DES or additional Studio Electives listed below | 3 | |
| Capstone Requirements | ||
| DES 4096 | Capstone: Thesis | 3 |
| DES 4301 | Capstone: Illustration Portfolio | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Note:
- Additional 3000-level DES courses may be taken as studio electives.
- The Capstone DES 4096 Thesis and DES 4301 Illustration Portfolio are offered in spring semesters only. These two courses must be taken in addition to the required DES courses listed above.
- DES 4096 is one of the two required writing intensive courses. The other writing intensive course must be DES 3596 or an Art History course.
DES Studio Electives
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 3531 | 3 | |
| DES 3532 | 3 | |
| DES 3533 | 3 | |
| DES 3541 | 3 | |
| DES 3542 | 3 | |
| DES 3543 | 3 | |
| DES 3544 | 3 | |
| DES 3545 | 3 | |
| DES 3546 | 3 | |
| DES 3547 | 3 | |
| DES 3548 | 3 | |
| DES 3549 | 3 | |
| DES 3551 | 3 | |
| DES 3552 | 3 | |
| DES 3553 | 3 | |
| DES 3554 | 3 | |
| DES 3555 | 3 | |
| DES 3556 | 3 | |
| DES 3557 | 3 | |
| DES 3558 | 3 | |
| DES 3559 | 3 | |
| DES 3561 | 3 | |
| DES 3562 | 3 | |
| DES 3563 | 3 | |
| DES 3564 | 3 | |
| DES 3565 | 3 | |
| DES 3566 | 3 | |
| DES 3567 | 3 | |
| DES 3568 | 3 | |
| DES 3569 | 3 | |
| or ART 3041 | ||
| DES 3571 | 3 | |
| DES 3572 | 3 | |
| DES 3573 | 3 | |
| DES 3585 | 3 | |
| DES 3596 | 3 | |
| DES 3651 | 3 | |
| DES 3841 | 3 | |
| DES 3842 | 3 | |
| DES 3101 | 3 | |
| DES 3102 | 3 | |
| DES 3201 | 3 | |
| DES 3202 | 3 | |
Additional Recommended Studio Electives
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 2701 | Survey of Lithography and Serigraphy | 3 |
| ART 2702 | Survey of Etching and Relief | 3 |
| ART 2704 | Serigraphy | 3 |
| ART 2705 | Etching | 3 |
| ART 2707 | Lithography | 3 |
| ART 1702 | Artist Books, Zines and Independent Publishing | 3 |
| ART 2205 | Book Structures | 3 |
| ART 2501 | Painting | 3 |
| or ART 2503 | Painting | |
| ART 2507 | Intermediate Figure Drawing | 3 |
| or ART 3517 | Figure Drawing | |
| or ART 3518 | Figure Drawing | |
| ART 3503 | Landscape | 3 |
| or ART 4503 | Landscape | |
| ART 1010 | Special Topics | 1 to 3 |
| ART 1504 | Philadelphia Sketchbook | 3 |
| ART 1502 | Introduction to Visual Language, Painting | 3 |
| ART 2502 | Intermediate Drawing | 3 |
| or ART 2504 | Intermediate Drawing | |
| ART 2506 | Painting Workshop | 3 |
| or ART 3509 | Painting Workshop | |
| ART 3511 | Digital Drawing | 3 |
| ART 3507 | Painting on Paper | 3 |
| or ART 3508 | Painting on Paper | |
| ART 3504 | Figure Painting | 3 |
| or ART 4504 | Figure Painting | |
| ART 2011 | Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities | 3 |
| ART 3702 | Relief and Monoprint Workshop | 3 |
| ART 3704 | Advanced Serigraphy | 3 |
| ART 3705 | Advanced Etching | 3 |
| ART 3706 | Advanced Lithography | 3 |
| ART 2601 | Photo I: Digital | 3 |
| ART 2602 | Digital Imaging | 3 |
| ART 2061 | Moving Image and Sound | 3 |
| ART 3603 | Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| ART 3604 | Photographic Lighting | 3 |
| ART 2611 | Eco-Friendly Plant Based Photo Printing | 3 |
| ART 3612 | Photo Process Workshop | 3 |
| ART 3613 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| ART 3614 | The Photo Book: Making and Understanding | 3 |