You’ll build a solid foundation in the basic practical and theoretical skills of illustration. You may focus on a particular aspect of the field—such as commercial illustration, computer illustration, animation, cartooning, or book illustration—or acquire general skills that may be used in a wide variety of ways.

By taking one or two courses each semester, you can complete the program in one to two years. The certificate program leads to careers in areas such as commercial illustration, computer illustration, animation, cartooning, and general book illustration.


Program requirements
The Certificate Program in Illustration consists of four required courses and at least four electives. The required courses provide a foundation of techniques, skills, and aesthetic understanding of illustration as a discipline. In order for a course to count toward the Certificate it must taken for credit.

Elective courses allow you to build additional general skills or to focus on a particular area. Typically, students take the required courses prior to the electives (all of which are offered through Continuing Education.) Electives can vary each semester. To view our summer course offerings, please visit our Studio Art Courses page.

Required Courses
Elective Courses
Internships

Required Courses
Drawing for Illustrators and Narrative Realists
Illustration: An Introduction
Intermediate Illustration
Fundamentals of 2-D Design  

Elective Courses (Spring semester)
Anatomy: Muscles
Art as Fashion, Fashion as Art
The Artist Sketchbook
Digital Photography I
The Dutch Still Life: An Introduction to Traditional Oil Painting Techniques
Foundation Black-and-White Photography: Traditional and Digital
Illustrating Children's Books: Beginning and Intermediate
Intermediate to Advanced Drawing
Introduction to Adobe Illustrator
Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
Introduction to Typography
Photo and Digital Applications in Printmaking
Realist Painting
Stop Motion Animation


Internships
Certificate students may participate in SMFA's Internship Program. Administered by the Artists' Resource Center, the program offers opportunities with arts organizations, design firms, and other local businesses, allowing design students to gain practical experience and skills. The internships have a value of either four credits or eight credits.

• To apply for an internship, you must be enrolled in the Certificate Program in Illustration and you should have completed the four required courses.

• To be selected, you must meet the requirements of the intern sponsor and have a faculty advisor to supervise the internship.

• If you are selected for an internship position, you must enroll with the Continuing Education office and pay the appropriate tuition and fees.

Each unit of four credits earned in the internship program will count as a one-course elective in the Certificate Program in Illustration.