Dec 17, 2024  
2024-2025 Cal State East Bay Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Cal State East Bay Catalog

Art, B.F.A.: Illustration Concentration



Art, B.F.A. Program (127 units)


Program Description

The Art Department emphasizes study in our Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Program. This is a professional degree that offers students the opportunity to develop greater expertise through comprehensive and intensive study in a specific area of art or design - a program that leads to successful careers in the visual art and design industries. Students who intend to pursue graduate studies or advanced skills for a professional career typically choose the B.F.A degree.

The B.F.A. professional concentrations require 70 units of study in the Department to complete the major.  There is no application procedure to enter the Bachelor of Fine Arts program beyond declaring as a B.F.A. student with a specific concentration.  The concentrations are listed below under major requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts will be able to: 

  • Demonstrate mastery of appropriate art-making skills and tools.
  • Imagine, ideate and create using an open, confident, and flexible method through creative processes and design thinking.
  • Critique and think critically about art works using appropriate concepts from art history and theory, in the context of culture, contemporary art, and in public and global spheres.
  • Communicate clearly and persuasively through their work.
  • Integrate arts related skills in developing professional practices and planning for ethical, sustainable civic engagement.
  • Formulate a plan to develop and maintain a  professional creative practice.

Program Roadmaps

These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

 

 

4-Year Freshmen Roadmaps

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program go on to pursue careers as:

• User Experience (UX) Designer • Interaction Designer • Game Designer • Web Designer • User Interface (UI) Designer • User Experience (UX) Researcher • Level Designer • Product Designer • Creative Director • Information Designer/Information Architect • Fine Artist • Product Designer • Architectural Model Maker • 3D Modeler for Film • Craft Artist • Secondary School Teacher • Computer Aided Designer (CAD) • Book Illustrator • Character Designer • Educational Illustrator • Matte Painter (Film and Game Industry) • Animator • Editorial Illustrator • Storyboard Artist • Advertising Illustrator • 3D Modeler • 3D Character Rigger • Digital Painter • Forensic Animator • Stop Motion Animator • Film / Video Editor • Video Production Crew • Motion Graphics Designer • 3D Character Animator • Effects Animator • Compositing Artist • Photo Journalist • Studio / Portrait Photographer • Stock Photographer • Fine Art Photographer • Event Photographer • Fashion Photographer • Commerical / Industrial Photographer • Graphic Designer • Multimedia / Content Developer • Publication Designer • Visual / Branding Designer • Creative Studio Manager • Studio Artist • Muralist • Set Painter/Designer • Production Assistant/Manager • Printmaker • Gallery Assistant • Arts Administrator • Assistant Conservator • Museum & Gallery Preparator • Sculptor • Ceramicist • Production Potter • Art Teacher/Instructor • Game Developer • Creative Technologist • Design Researcher • Wildcard Designer • Imagineer • Environment Designer • Portfolio Coordinator.

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

  • A baccalaureate of fine arts degree requires a total of 127 units:
    • The major requirements consists of 70 units;
    • General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
    • Free Electives may consist of 0 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program advisors for information.

Art, B.F.A. Major Requirements (70 units)


Note: All courses must be completed with grade C- or better to be counted toward the major.

Lower Division Foundation


18 units of lower-division required:

Upper Division Foundation


19 upper-division core units are required.  Take the following 13 units:

Illustration Concentration


The concentration in Illustration prepares students for careers focused in various areas of this professional field.  Illustration  occupies an artistic space between creativity and communication and is influenced by society, culture and technology. Our program offers courses to enhance knowledge, skill, creative and professional development. Illustration has areas of specialty including publishing, games, film, concept art, graphic novels, cartoons, children’s books, and editorial. Our program begins with practiced emphasis on core and pictorial work then goes on to familiarize the student in ideas and tools specific to the Illustration field, including career and portfolio preparation. The program covers traditional and digital tools to give students a foundation with which to branch out into their own creative endeavors.

Illustration Core


The following 30 units are required:

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements


In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Undergrad Baccalaureate & Program Requirements  chapter of this catalog. 

Department Courses Listed by Course Type


Art Courses

Department of Art

Go to information for this department.

Courses

Art

Art: History

Art: Studio

Interaction Design and Interactive Art: Graduate