2022

What are the top illustration schools in Oklahoma for 2022?

Top Oklahoma Illustration Schools - 2022 College Rankings
RankingSchoolCity
1Oklahoma Baptist UniversityShawnee
2University of Central OklahomaEdmond
3Oklahoma Christian UniversityOklahoma City

Our 2022 ranking of the top illustration schools in Oklahoma. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.

1. Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Baptist University

The Warren M. Angell School of Visual and Performing Arts at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) is home to the Art and Design Department, which has a Studio Art Program that requires 128-129 credit hours to graduate. Leading to a BFA, the program allows students to focus in a particular area such as Illustration, Applied Design, or Painting. The Studio Art BA also offers opportunities to study Illustration through required courses and electives.

Across programs, features include field trips every other year to New York City to meet with professional artists and designers, participation in the Student Art Club beginning in the first semester, and art scholarships for qualifying students.

Course examples for the Studio Art BFA include Illustration I-II, Figure Drawing, Printmaking, 3D Design, Color Theory, Design Basics, Advanced Drawing, and Painting I-II. Students may take up to 21 elective credits, which provides additional opportunities to study Illustration and other areas. The OBU Studio Art BFA culminates with the Senior Project and Exhibition, worth nine credits.

Graduates of the Art Programs at Oklahoma Baptist University are Illustrators, Advertising Designers, Graphic Designers, and Art Educators, among others.

Oklahoma Baptist University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Founded in 1910, the school serves 1,510 students from 37 states and 26 other countries. Program offerings include nine bachelor's degrees in 80 areas of study, and four master’s degree programs in Business Administration, Christian Studies, Intercultural Studies, and Marriage and Family Therapy.

2. University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma
2. University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma

The Jackson College of Graduate Studies at University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and the School of Design offer an Illustration MFA Program consisting of 60 credit hours of study. This competitive program is designed for students interested in Illustration for commercial application or teaching Illustration. The program also explores storytelling and advanced practice in branding, marketing, and business.

Course examples for the program include Graduate Illustration I-IV, History of Illustration, Business of Illustration, Design Theory, ClockTower Studio, Contemporary Illustration Practice, Criticism Seminar, and Teaching Practicum Design. In the final year of the program, students will complete the Portfolio Development, Thesis Development, and Thesis Exhibition courses.

Graduates of the UCO Illustration MFA Program are prepared to for positions such as Art Director, Print Designer, Advertising Designer, Creative Director, Package Designer, and Web Designer, among others.

University of Central Oklahoma does not have an undergraduate Illustration option. However, through design electives and the required Professional Preparation courses (18 credit hours), Design BFA (Major Graphic Design) students can develop solid skills in Illustration. 

Housed in the School of Design, the Design BFA Program with a Graphic Design Major requires 124 credit hours or study, with 80 in the Major. Course options include Illustration I-III, Sequential Illustration, Environmental Illustration, History of Illustration, Design Foundations I-IV, Bookmaking & Prototyping, Character Design, Advertising Design, Advanced Bookmaking, and Design Entrepreneurship. Opportunities include Advanced Portfolio Development, the Study Tour in Design, and an Internship.

The School of Design is housed in the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) and it is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Design graduates have career opportunities in all industries that utilize Illustration. Entertainment, Print, Web Design, Advertising, and Package Design are just a few.

University of Central Oklahoma is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). In addition to the main campus in Edmond, Oklahoma and the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, UCO has downtown locations at Carnegie Center and Santa Fe Plaza. Founded in 1890 as the Territorial Normal School, University of Central Oklahoma is home to 15,000 students served by 450 full-time faculty and 500 adjunct faculty. Around 119 undergraduate areas of study are available along with and 80 graduate programs.

3. Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Christian University

The College of Humanities and Bible at Oklahoma Christian University (OC) houses the Division of Fine and Performing Arts, home to the Graphic Design Program. While most of the Art and Design Programs at Oklahoma Christian University provide opportunities to study Illustration, Graphic Design is the only program at OC with an Illustration and Fine Arts Specialization.

Consisting of 126 credit hours, the Graphic Design Program consists of courses and elective options such as Illustration I-II, Visual Storytelling, Conceptual Illustration, Figure Drawing, Print + Digital Delivery Design, Typography Visual Language, Graphic Arts Production, Motion Graphics, Digital Imaging I-II, Advanced Media Production, Interactive Media Design I-II, and Elements of Visual Thinking. Students may choose an additional 15 credit hours of electives from any Art and Design courses.

Other program features include field trips, guest speakers, internship opportunities, and access to a state-of-the-art computer lab equipped with programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign & After Effects. Graphic Design (Illustration and Fine Arts Emphasis) graduates will leave the program with a  portfolio experience and work in Illustration, Advertising, Graphic Design, Motion Graphics or Web Design.

Oklahoma Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Established in 1950 as Central Christian College, OC opened as a Junior college in Bartlesville. On the first day of classes, the school had 97 students. Today, Oklahoma Christian University is a four-year university that serves more than 2,250 students enrolled in nearly 100 programs and areas of study across 10 colleges and divisions.

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