Illustration and Sequential Art

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Illustration and Sequential Art is designed for the student who wishes to develop an area of specialization in illustration and comics and sequential art. Students will develop narratives through traditional and digital media. The program emphasizes art principles, knowledge, and skills needed to solve design and compositional problems. Areas of emphasis include comic book and sequential art, illustration for publications, and storyboarding. It allows for the development of an individual's personal interest in this area, prepares students for employment, and upgrades skills of those already employed in this field. Employment opportunities are available in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, freelance artist-designer, concept artist, comics/sequential art, visual development artist for gaming/film, and storyboarder. A Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Illustration and in Sequential Art is also available.

Details

Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Illustration and Sequential Art (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3203
Total credits required
61-74
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Create images to project specifications demonstrating professional competence in research, planning, production, and presentation.
  2. Apply critical thinking skills, the creative process, and historical and visual literacy to solve complex visual, technical, and conceptual problems.
  3. Critique images to evaluate their effectiveness.
  4. Research and apply industry standard tools to develop effective images and workflows.
  5. Demonstrate professional and collaborative practices, such as communication, time management, organization, and legal and ethical considerations, in diverse settings.
  6. Collaborate to create visual ideas that recognize diverse opinions and cultural and individual differences.
  7. Create a collection of works (e.g. capstone, internships, and/or portfolio) that reflect professional competency.
  8. Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Art Directors

$83,430

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

$52,220

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the locations, partners, and available tracks of the award.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC 3
Mathematics Mathematics Area Critical course Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area;
MAT14+ recommended for students planning to transfer to a university 		3–6
AVC100 Introduction to Digital Arts 1
AVC177 Digital Photographic Imaging I Critical course Gateway course 3
ART111 Drawing I 3
ART113 or
AVC114		 Color or Digital Color 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
ARH101 or
ARH102		 Art from Prehistory Through Middle Ages or Art from Renaissance to Modernism H, HU 3
AVC169 2D Media Design 3
ART116 Life Drawing I 3
AVC178 Digital Arts Studies Critical course 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or L 3
AVC289 Computer Illustration 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences SB 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4
AVC280AA or
AVC280AB or
AVC280AC or
AVC297AA or
AVC297AB or
AVC297AC		 Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Commercial Art Internship or Commercial Art Internship or Commercial Art Internship 1–3
Specialization Specialization Option 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Mathematics Mathematics Area Critical course Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area;
MAT14+ recommended for students planning to transfer to a university 		3–6
AVC100 Introduction to Digital Arts 1
AVC177 Digital Photographic Imaging I Critical course Gateway course 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC 3
ART111 Drawing I 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART113 or
AVC114		 Color or Digital Color 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ARH101 or
ARH102		 Art from Prehistory Through Middle Ages or Art from Renaissance to Modernism H, HU 3
AVC169 2D Media Design 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART116 Life Drawing I 3
AVC178 Digital Arts Studies Critical course 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AVC289 Computer Illustration 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Specialization Specialization Option 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences SB 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or L 3
Specialization Specialization Option 3

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4
Specialization Specialization Option 3

Term 11

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 11
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AVC280AA or
AVC280AB or
AVC280AC or
AVC297AA or
AVC297AB or
AVC297AC		 Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Commercial Art Internship or Commercial Art Internship or Commercial Art Internship 1–3
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=182854).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.