University of Central Oklahoma has two paths to study Illustration. At the graduate level, students with a degree in a creative field can enroll in the Illustration MFA Program. Housed in Jackson College of Graduate Studies and the NASAD-accredited School of Design, this competitive 60 credit-hour program is designed for students interested in Commercial Illustration or Teaching. Students will explore Storytelling, Design History, Illustration, Teaching Methods, Illustration History, Branding, and Marketing.
Course examples 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 for leadership positions such as Creative Director, Advertising Manager, Senior Illustrator, Lead Exhibition Designer, Creative Consultant, Production Manager, and Art Educator. Some program alumni go on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
At the undergraduate level, University of Central Oklahoma has a Design BFA that allows students to develop solid skills in Illustration through Design electives and the required 18 credit hours of Professional Preparation coursework. Cures examples include Illustration I-III, Illustration for Children’s Books, History of Illustration, Bookmaking & Prototyping, Character Design, Advertising Design, and Advanced Bookmaking. Other opportunities include the Advanced Portfolio Development course, the Study Tour in Design, and a Design Internship.
Graduates of the Design BFA Program at University of Central Oklahoma are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as Advertising, Magazine Illustration, Book Cover Art, Graphic Novels, Book and Magazine Publishing, Illustration for Animation and Games, Brand Management, Comics, Graphic Design, Storyboard Art, Scientific and Medical Illustration, and Poster Art.
Founded in 1890 as the Territorial Normal School, University of Central Oklahoma serves nearly 14,000 students enrolled in 100+ undergraduate areas of study and more than 70 graduate areas of study. Programs are housed across six colleges and the W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute. The school also houses UCO Connected Campus, which provides a variety of online degree programs; the Academy of Contemporary Music in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and downtown campuses at Carnegie Center and Santa Fe Plaza. University of Central Oklahoma is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).