Illustration Certificate online
Undergraduate Certificate in Illustration
Registration Ends: December 22
Program Overview
The Undergraduate Certificate in Illustration provides a thorough foundation in digital and traditional illustration for computer artists. In just two semesters, you’ll gain an understanding of the fundamentals of vector graphics, still life and figure drawing, color theory, composition, painting, and how to implement these concepts using today’s digital arts software tools Photoshop and Illustrator. Students gain a valuable introduction to the practices and workflows of commercial illustrators.
At Sessions College, the entire program is asynchronous, project-based, and instructor-led, which means you can earn a degree or certificate entirely online, working at your own pace and at any time convenient for you.
Registration Deadline. Register by December 22 to join classes starting January 2025.
Live Event:
Degree Programs Open House
Tuesday, Oct 29th, 4pm PT/7pm ET
Register Now!
Program Length: Certificate to Bachelor's
Tuition: $300 per credit
Next Start:
January 6, 2025
End Registration:
December 22
"Illustration suggests new possibilities, new ways of thought. We tell our stories, we inform the masses, create detailed instruction, and entertain both for education and to escape. This program can be your first step in understanding and gaining proficiency in the art of Illustration.”
Jordon Schranz
Department Head of Illustration, Painting Instructor
Program Curriculum
The Undergraduate Certificate in Illustration is a 24-credit online program completed in two semesters. Part-time schedules are available.
First Semester
DES 121: Photoshop I - 3 Credits
Get a thorough grounding in Adobe Photoshop, the premiere image manipulation tool for print design, Web design, and photography. You’ll learn to choose and use the best techniques for common Photoshop jobs including selecting and isolating objects, creating image composites, masking and vignetting images, setting typography, and improving images with retouching and effects. Every designer must tame this creative powerhouse of a program. Photoshop I course syllabus
DES 106: Design Foundations - 3 Credits
Color is a fundamental medium for any artist or designer. Typography is what sets designers apart from other artists. Composition, literally the assembly or construction of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the viewer's eye through an image. In this course, you will analyze everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads to tubes of toothpaste, and discover how color, type, and composition are combined to create effective and powerful visual communications. Class projects challenge you to build and apply your design skills in application to real-life creative scenarios. Design Foundations course syllabus
DES 111: Drawing I - 3 Credits
Many people are afraid to draw, but the truth is that drawing is not as hard as it seems. If you can relax, get your mind around the task, and begin to understand what you see, you can draw. In this online drawing course, you'll learn how to analyze what you see in the world around you and communicate it on paper. 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. Drawing I course syllabus
DES 141: Illustrator I - 3 Credits
Adobe Illustrator is a powerful and versatile tool for creating illustrations, logos, and graphics for print and the web. You can learn to produce detailed and scalable art in this online Illustrator course. Working with an expert instructor, you'll build a strong foundation, exploring shape tools, drawing tools, layers, the Pen tool (a lesson unto itself) as well as transformations/distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Hands-on illustration projects include creating a robot, a series of album covers, a marketing postcard, an advertisement vehicle wrap, and a company logo. Illustrator I course syllabus
Second Semester
ILL 202: Digital Illustration II - 3 Credits
Digital illustration is a challenging and expressive area of graphic design. With Adobe Illustrator, you can develop your unique personal style as an artist. In this online advanced digital illustration course, you'll learn professional illustration and Adobe Illustrator techniques for communicating your creative concepts. Working with a pro illustrator and designer, you'll learn approaches for creating editorial illustrations, icons, retro poster designs, 3D illustrations, and restaurant identity designs. Digital Illustration II course syllabus
ILL 111: Life Drawing I - 3 Credits
Life drawing is a fundamental artistic challenge. Capturing the human figure in all its infinite, intricate variations requires both a mastery of technique and a thorough understanding of the body. In this online life drawing course, you'll make your figure drawings come to life with guidance with feedback from an expert instructor. Following traditional methods, you'll learn the standard measures and proportions artists use to achieve naturalistic and expressive figure drawings. The course builds progressively from the fundamentals to the challenges of portraiture, three-dimensional form, composition, and expression. Life Drawing I course syllabus
ILL 204: Painting I - 3 Credits
For centuries, artists have used paint to represent the physical world. Now you too can learn how to paint online. In this online painting course, you'll learn a traditional approach to oil painting or acrylic painting. Working with a professional artist, you'll study a time-honored approach to painting that enables you to capture proportion, perspective, and lighting in the world around you. You'll learn how to build a foundation with preparatory sketches and underpainting, find out how to mix your paints correctly, and gain control over value through monochromatic painting and color studies. Painting I course syllabus
ILL 209: Commercial Illustration - 3 Credits
Explore business applications for your illustration work, from editorial and commercial to advertising and marketing. In this online commercial illustration course, you will explore different genres of project work, learning how contracts and copyright work and how to represent yourself professionally and effectively. Commercial Illustration course syllabus
Program Outcomes
By completing the program, Undergraduate Certificate in Illustration students develop the following competencies:
Drawing
Draw and paint utilizing traditional media and classic techniques, demonstrating a command of proportion, perspective, value contrast, and the human figure.
Technology
Create images and graphics by effectively and efficiently using creative software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and other industry technologies.
Illustration
Conceptualize, create and provide illustrations for a range of commercial applications in traditional or digital media
Art & Design Principles
Produce visually compelling work by employing art and design principles including the use of color, pattern, details, typography, and composition.
Projects
Produce and present a variety of illustration projects.
About Sessions College
Sessions College has been inspiring creative professionals for 25 years. Accredited since 2001, we have a unique and proven approach to online education.
Accredited by Distance Education Accrediting Commission since 2001
Recognized as top design school by GDUSA
Winner of four USDLA awards for distance education
Student Work
Student Work
Program Benefits
Advance Your Creative Career
Advance your creative career in a focused 2-semester program.
By Creatives, For Creatives
Collaborate with a community of creative learners and industry professionals.
Enhance Your Portfolio
Enhance your portfolio with creative projects that put you through your paces.
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.
Open Enrollment Program
Open enrollment with a convenient 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.
Exciting Job Opportunities
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 and Income Potential
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage* for craft and fine artists including illustrators was $59,300.
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 |
Job Projections and Employment Trends
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.
Based on Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and Indeed Job Outlook data.
Truly Affordable Education
Our 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our online application process makes getting started easy, fast, and convenient.
How Do I Enroll?
Open Admissions.
The Undergraduate Certificate program is open admissions: any student who have earned a high school diploma, GED, or state-approved home school equivalent may enter the program. Any students under 18 years of age will need to provide the signed permission of a parent or guardian.
Classes start in January, April, and August, with midterm options in February, June, and September. Our online application is simple and convenient, and there is no application fee.
How Long is the Program?
Two Semesters, 8 months.
The Undergraduate Certificate program is a 2-semester, 24 credit program. Students can graduate in eight months or less and part-time schedules are available.
Is the Tuition Affordable?
Truly Affordable Tuition.
We are committed to making the highest-quality design and digital media education available at the lowest cost. Our truly affordable tuition is:
| Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition |
|---|
| $300 per credit |
| $3,600 per semester |
| $7,200 total program tuition |
Per-credit tuition is the same full-time and part-time students. Federal financial aid available for eligible students.
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 Undergraduate Certificate 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.
What are the Deadlines to Enroll?
Here are relevant deadlines to be admitted for next term.
- Next Class:
January 6, 2025
Priority Deadline:
November 4
- Final Deadline:
December 9
- End Registration:
December 22
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. Many of our students complete their programs while working part-time or 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.
- 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.
Get Started Today
Take the first step on a rewarding creative journey towards earning an Undergraduate Certificate in Illustration.
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