2-Year Illustration Degree Online
Associate Degree in Illustration
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Program Overview
The Sessions College Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in Illustration degree is an intensive two-year program for students seeking to enter careers in traditional and digital illustration. Developed for high school graduates and adult learners, the program offers a strong foundation in traditional drawing and painting and vector illustration, as well as a working knowledge of software and production techniques used by contemporary illustrators.
Illustration students begin their program with first year studies focused on visual arts skills using traditional drawing and digital drawing media. Classes provide training in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Second-year classes place an emphasis on storytelling and developing illustration concepts.
I truly enjoyed studying online. I am an independent learner and I like going at my own pace. I loved having the freedom and flexibility to work on my studies when it best fit my schedule.
Student Work By: Katherine Orizal, Iliana Franco, Rose Lauer
Truly Affordable Education
Our Fall 2024 tuition is:
50% lower than the average annual cost of tuition at 4-year colleges in the United States.
Significantly more affordable than other online design / digital media colleges.
So affordable that 100% of tuition costs may be covered for eligible students.* Find out today if you qualify.
*Federal student aid and military education benefits available for eligible students.
Studying Online at Sessions
Founded in 1997, Sessions College has delivered accredited and affordable fully online programs for creative professionals for more than 20 years. Earning your 2-Year Illustration Degree Online at Sessions has never been more accessible. Take a virtual college tour in this video!
What Our Students Say
Associate Degree in Illustration Curriculum
The Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in Illustration is a 72-credit program completed in two years. Part-time schedules are available.
First Semester
- DES 111 Drawing I - 3 credits
- DES 141 Illustrator I - 3 credits
- DES 121 Photoshop I - 3 credits
- GEN 104 English Composition - 3 credits
Second Semester
- ILL 121 Drawing II - 3 credits
- DES 106 Design Foundations - 3 credits
- DES 151 Digital Photography I - 3 credits
- GEN 105 Computer Technology - 3 credits
Third Semester
- DES 204 The Study of Graphic Design - 1.5 credits
- ILL 111 Life Drawing I - 3 credits
- ILL 142 Illustrator II - 3 credits
- GEN 204 Intro to Marketing - 1.5 credits
- GEN 106 History of Art - 3 credits
Fourth Semester
- ILL 204 Painting I - 3 credits
- ILL 212 Life Drawing II - 1.5 credits
- ILL 208 Watercolor - 1.5 credits
- ILL 206 Cartooning and Sequential Art - 3 credits
- GEN 107 General Psychology - 3 credits
Fifth Semester
- ILL 207 Portrait Painting - 1.5 credits
- ILL 209 Commercial Illustration - 3 credits
- ILL 202 Digital Illustration II - 3 credits
- GEN 206 Creative Businesses - 1.5 credits
- GEN 207 Copywriting - 3 credits
Sixth Semester
- DES 222 Photoshop II - 3 credits
- ILL 210 Technical Illustration and Infographics - 3 credits
- DES 102 Typography II* - 3 credits
- ILL 260 Illustration Capstone and Portfolio Review - 3 credits
* Elective course may be replaced by any other 3-credit course in the program, subject to availability and prerequisites.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Program highlights for Illustration majors in the AOS in Illustration program.
DES 111 Drawing I - 3 credits
Learn how to analyze what you see in the world around you and communicate it on paper. Through hands-on projects, and guided by a professional artist, you will explore the critical concepts of line, mass, form, perspective, value, and composition, building a solid foundation for all your art and design work. And most importantly, you’ll also discover that drawing can be fun. Did you know that spheres have inner edges? Or why artists measure with their thumbs? Grab your charcoal and chalk pastels... this course is your first step to developing your craft as an artist.
DES 141 Illustrator I - 3 credits
Build a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, the graphic designer's vector program of choice. Course projects explore selection tools, drawing tools, layers, the Pen tool, transformations/distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Tapping the power of vector software allows you to produce detailed and scalable art for almost any application.
ILL 142 Illustrator II - 3 credits
Create photo-realistic illustrations, complex patterns, rich designs, and learn how to speed your efforts with helpful workflow features. You'll build on your existing Illustrator skills to tackle high-end projects with depth, dimension, and wow-power.
ILL 111 Life Drawing I - 3 credits
Follow traditional method to learn the standard measures and proportions artists use to achieve naturalistic and expressive figure drawings. Illustrations and activities guide students through the structure of the human skeleton and help them understand how the body's anatomy shapes its external form. The course builds progressively from the fundamentals to the challenges of portraiture, three-dimensional form, composition, and expression.
ILL 206 Cartooning and Sequential Art - 3 credits
Explore storytelling through cartoons and sequential art. Learn how to create a narrative by developing a story or character in a series of scenes. Fundamental concepts in comic art are used as the springboard for projects, which may be completed in traditional or digital media.
ILL 209 Commercial Illustration - 3 credits
Explore business applications for your illustration work, from editorial and commercial to advertising and marketing. In this survey course, you will explore different genres of project work, learning how contracts and copyright work and how to represent yourself professionally and effectively.
ILL 210 Technical Illustration and Infographics - 3 credits
This course explores approaches and concepts in technical illustration and infographics. Students learn methods for creating instructional illustrations that communicate clearly and effectively. Information design theories will be discussed and put into practice.
ILL 212 Life Drawing II - 1.5 credits
Tackle advanced techniques for life drawing. Learn how to observe and capture the clothed human figure and explore basic techniques for animal drawing. Form, structure, and motion will be essential concepts as you find ways to address subjects that interest and engage you.
ILL 208 Watercolor - 1.5 credits
Watercolor painting has a rich tradition dating back centuries, and is still enjoyed by today's artists for its unique color effects and wide range of techniques. Explore traditional watercolor techniques including washes, glazes, scumbles, resists, and more, and learn how to make the techniques part of your personal painting style.
Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Faculty
Department Head: Jordon Schranz
Jordon Schranz is an audio/visual artist and designer whose work has been exhibited internationally in New York, Chicago, El Paso, Berlin, Bogotá, and Ciudad Juárez. In addition he has performed hundreds of shows across the United States as part of the free jazz trio, "The Eastern Seaboard" and in the avant-rock group "Quivers" with Ninni Morgia, including New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, and Detroit.
INSTRUCTIONAL FACULTY
Get expert feedback in classes taught by our industry-leading faculty.
Andrew Shalat
Andrew Shalat is an author, designer/illustrator, educator, and Mac expert. Since 1985 he has been designing and writing articles about Macintosh, Mac software, and publishing technologies that have appeared in Macworld, maccentral.com and macweek.com (for which he was a columnist writing "Shalat's Web"). He has been a regular speaker/faculty member at Macworld Expo since 2001 and has written three books: How to Do Everything with Online Video (McGraw-Hill, Osborne), Do It Yourself Mac Projects (McGraw-Hill), and MacDesign Out of the Box (Peachpit). Andrew is a regular contributor to design and Macintosh related sites including Inside Mac Radio, InDesign Magazine, and Creativepro.com. His design work covers a large range of media including book, CD and DVD covers, brochures, catalogs, outdoor signage, print ads, artwork, logos, Flash and Web design, and grocery lists. Over the past two decades, Andrew has taught literature, writing, Web design, and print design.
Bill Drastal
Bill Drastal is an artist and animator who works for Bento Box Entertainment, an Emmy award-winning animation studio that produces network programs, such as "Bob's Burgers." He is currently working on a project that is unnamed and under wraps so stay tuned. Bill has animated comic characters for social and mobile games, created storyboards for online animated videos, and designed character actions and rigs for video games. Bill has a Bachelor's Degree in Media Arts and Animation from the Art Institute of California - San Diego.
Carolyn Zaikowski
Carolyn Zaikowski is the author of the hybrid novel In Dream, I Dance by Myself, and I Collapse (Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2016). Her fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, Denver Quarterly, The Rumpus, PANK, West Branch, Dusie, DIAGRAM, Everyday Feminism, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics and is currently an English professor and volunteer death doula. You can find her online at www.carolynzaikowski.com.
Fiorella Shalat
Fiorella Shalat is an artist and educator with expertise in commercial still life, microscope photography, and creative darkroom techniques. Born in Florence, Italy, Fiorella studied ceramics and textile design at Parsons School of Design, studied Illustration and typeface design with designer Ed Benguiat at the School of Visual Arts, and earned a certificate in Fine Art Sculpture from the Art Students League, where she studied with Nathaniel Kaz. Fiorella’s work has appeared in various group shows including the National Academy of Design, winning the J. Sanford Saltus Gold Medal, the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, winning the Hanna Hyatt Huntington Medal, the National Sculpture Society, and the gallery of the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center. Fiorella earned her Bachelor of Science in Art Education from CUNY and Master's degree in Architecture from the City College of New York.
Jordon Schranz
Jordon Schranz is an audio/visual artist and designer whose work has been exhibited internationally in New York, Chicago, El Paso, Berlin, Bogotá, and Ciudad Juárez. In addition he has performed hundreds of shows across the United States as part of the free jazz trio, "The Eastern Seaboard" and in the avant-rock group "Quivers" with Ninni Morgia, including New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, and Detroit.
Kevin Hedgpeth
Kevin Hedgpeth is an Arizona native who makes his home in Phoenix, where he actively writes and illustrates in addition to teaching college-level visual arts courses. He is co-author of “Exploring Drawing for Animation” and “Exploring Character Design” for Cengage Learning and illustrated the book, "Raising Unicorns: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Running a Successful - and Magical! - Unicorn Farm" for Adams Media.
Kristen Becker
Kristen Becker is an educator and a graphic and business designer specializing in e-commerce. She has developed and marketed a niche e-commerce boutique featured in Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, and In Style magazines. With over 12 years of experience as an award winning educator, she has developed curriculum and taught courses in graphic design, multimedia, and e-commerce/marketing. Kristen has an Master's degree in Digital Arts From Maryland Institute College of Art.
Michael Hamm
Michael Hamm is a Senior UX Designer for Oracle Corporation, Web developer, and Adobe Illustrator expert with over 20 years of experience in the creative field. Michael's technical writing on design has been published in various design books and magazines and Michael co-authored the Glencoe/McGraw-Hill book Introduction to Web Design Using Dreamweaver. Michael is an Adobe Certified Instructor in Adobe Illustrator and holds a Diploma in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Houston. Michael has a passion for illustration software and all things vector.
Taz Tally
Dr. Taz Tally is the president of Taz Tally Seminars, a computer publishing consulting and training company, and Taz Tally Photography. Taz is the author of numerous graphics and print production books including Photoshop Before and After Makeovers, Acrobat and PDF Solutions, Avoiding the Output Blues, and Avoiding the Scanning Blues, and he is a contributing author to The Photoshop World Dream Team Book. Taz has produced numerous instructional videos, CDs, DVDs and online training courses on scanning, prepress and printing, Photoshop, color correction, and font management, including an extensive library on Lynda.com. Taz is a frequent presenter at seminars and trade shows throughout the U.S, including the GraphExpo, the annual Chicago Print show, and is a member of the Photoshop Dream Team at the biannual Photoshop World convention. Taz writes for graphics art publications including Printing Industry of America, The Magazine, Layers Magazine, and Photoshop User. Taz is an adventure author who specializes in black and white landscape photography and whose latest book is 50 Hikes in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.
View All faculty.
Associate Degree in Illustration Program Outcomes
By completing the program, Associate Degree in Illustration students develop the following competencies:
1. Drawing
Draw and paint utilizing traditional media and classic techniques, demonstrating a command of proportion, perspective, value contrast, and the human figure.
2. Technology
Create images and graphics by effectively and efficiently using creative software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and other industry technologies.
3. Illustration
Conceptualize, create and provide illustrations for a range of commercial applications in traditional or digital media.
4. Art/Design Principles
Demonstrate the ability to produce visually compelling artwork by applying knowledge of color, typography, and composition.
5. Projects
Produce and present a variety of illustration projects editorial illustration, sequential art, infographics, and portraits.
6. Critical Thinking and Writing
Employ critical thinking to generate, support, and convey ideas through writing for academic or professional contexts.
7. Portfolio
Apply creative problem solving and constructive feedback to conceive, produce, and present an impactful body of work that showcases your skills to employers and potential clients.
Outcomes Assessment
To learn more about our outcomes assessment process, visit our Academic Team.
Student Work
Student Work
Program Benefits
Launch your Creative Career
Earn a degree and launch your creative career in our most rigorous 2-year program.
By Creatives, for Creatives
Collaborate with a community of creative learners and industry professionals.
Maximize Your Portfolio
Projects put you through your paces as you build a body of work. Your program culminates with a guided portfolio review.
Structure and Flexibility
Weekly deadlines keep you on track, but with no set login times you can build your studies around your schedule.
Education You Can Afford
Affordable programs with low per credit tuition, and financial aid available for those who qualify.
Convenient Online Application
Fast, convenient, and student-centered application process.
Career Outlook for Illustrators
Illustrators produce a wide range creative work for a myriad of industries including illustrating for editorial, books, concept art for games and animation, technical and medical illustration, advertising, logo design, packaging, cartoons, digital art, and more. Illustrators need to demonstrate technical expertise, artistic ability, business skills, creativity, customer-service skills, dexterity, and interpersonal skills.
Job Titles
Graduates could be employed as Editorial Illustrator, Children’s Book Illustrator, Concept Artist for Games and Animation, Technical and Medical Illustrator, Product Design and Licensing, Freelance Illustrator, Production Artist, Graphic Designer, Assistant Designer, Concept Artist, and User Experience (UX) Designer.
Median Annual Wage
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage* for craft and fine artists including illustrators was $52,910.
In May 2023, the median annual wages for craft and fine artists including illustrators in these top industries they work within:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $105,640 |
| Motion picture and sound recording industries | $95,970 |
| Personal care services | $49,170 |
| Independent artists, writers, and performers | $45,970 |
Largest Areas of Employment
Employment opportunities for craft and fine artists including illustrators (by percentage) were as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 55% |
| Independent artists, writer, and performers | 9% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 6% |
| Motion picture and sound recording industries | 4% |
| Personal care services | 3% |
Job Projections
Employment opportunities for illustrators are projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032.
There are about 5,500 projected openings for craft and fine artists including illustrators each year, on average, over the decade.
Resources
Based on Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and Indeed Job Outlook data.
To learn more about this field, visit: New York Foundation for the Arts. For information about careers in medical illustration, visit Association of Medical Illustrators.
For information about grant-funding programs and other local resources for artists, contact your state arts agency. A list of these agencies is available from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. For more information about how the federal government awards grants for art, visit National Endowment for the Arts.
Getting Started
Our 2-Year Illustration Degree Online application process makes getting started easy, fast, and convenient.
How Do I Apply?
To enter the program you are expected to have earned a high school diploma, GED, or state-approved home school equivalent. Any students under 18 years of age will also need to provide the signed permission of a parent or guardian.
We have a convenient and student-friendly online application process.
To apply, simply complete our application form and provide transcripts, an application essay, and 5-10 samples or art/design work or alternative written assignment, and a $75 application fee. Applications are reviewed by our Acceptance Committee and generally returned within a business week. See our complete application guide and credit transfer policy.
You can begin your creative journey by completing our online application today. There is no charge until you submit your application materials and no obligation to enroll.
How Long is the Program?
The Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) program is a 72 credit program completed in six semesters or two years by a student on a full-time schedule. Students with transfer credit can graduate in under two years and part-time schedules are available.
Will the Program Fit My Schedule?
Weekly deadlines help you stay on track. And with no set login times, you can build your studies around your schedule, wherever you are located. That’s why more than 50% of our degree students complete their programs while working full-time.
What Software or Supplies Do I Need?
To take this program, you’ll need the following:
- Mac or Windows computer with an Internet connection.
- Access to a digital camera with manual control over ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, and White Balance, that allows for shooting in RAW format.
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CC software.
- Your computer must meet software manufacturer requirements.
- Basic drawing and painting supplies including pencils, charcoal, newsprint, and sketch paper.
- Webcam, headphones or speaker, VPN connection, and microphone connected to the computer for live proctored exams.
There are no textbook or course material costs to participate in this online program. Student discount on Adobe Creative Cloud software is available to enrolled students.
What are the Program Costs?
Truly Affordable Tuition. Since our founding in 1997, we have been committed to making the highest-quality design and digital media education available at the lowest cost.
Our truly affordable Fall 2024 tuition is:
| Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Program - Fall 2024 Tuition |
|---|
| $300 per credit |
| $3,600 per semester |
| $7,200 per academic year |
| $21,600 total program tuition |
Per-credit tuition is the same full-time and part-time students. Federal financial aid available for eligible students. Ask about our $500-$3,000 scholarships for exemplary applicants.
A $200 registration fee is required to process your enrollment in the program. Registration fees are nonrefundable after 5 days from the scheduled beginning of program orientation. See Degree Program Admissions.
Is Financial Aid available?
Federal Student Aid. Federal student aid is available to students who qualify. If you are eligible, you may be able to fund your program using Pell Grants and Federal student loans. Check out our Financial Aid Information pages and ask to set up an interview with our Financial Aid Director.
Military Student Aid. Military servicemembers and their families who are eligible for GI Bill Education Benefits or active service member Tuition Assistance (TA) may also be able to utilize these programs to pay for their education.
Adult Learner Scholarships. Ask about our innovative scholarships for adult learners. The Designed for You Scholarship Program can help you offset your tuition costs.
Accreditations and Approvals
Get Started Today
Take the first step on a rewarding creative journey towards earning an Associate Degree in Illustration.
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