Illustration
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Illustration develops knowledge and skills in creating visual narratives through traditional and digital media. The program emphasizes art principles, knowledge, and skills needed to solve design and compositional problems. Focus areas include graphic arts, publications, and storyboarding for animation, video, and media. This certificate prepares students for employment and upgrades the skills of persons employed in occupations such as freelance artist-designer, concept artist, visual development artist for gaming/film, and storyboarder. Students may also pursue an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Illustration and Sequential Art.
Details
Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Illustration (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5174
Total credits required
31
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
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:
- Create images to project specifications, demonstrating professionalism in research, planning, production, and presentation.
- Apply critical thinking skills, the creative process, and historical and visual literacy to solve visual, technical, and conceptual problems.
- Analyze images to evaluate their effectiveness.
- Apply industry standard tools and research to develop effective images and workflows.
- Demonstrate collaborative practices.
- Communicate visual ideas that recognize cultural and individual differences.
- Create a collection of works (e.g., capstone, internships, and/or portfolio) that reflect professional competency.
Successful completion of this certificate 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 Show expanded career information for Art Directors
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$64,680 Show expanded career information for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Artists and Related Workers, All Other
$55,720 Show expanded career information for Artists and Related Workers, All Other
Commercial and Industrial Designers
$77,810 Show expanded career information for Commercial and Industrial Designers
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
$52,220 Show expanded career information for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Graphic Designers
$50,740 Show expanded career information for Graphic Designers
Special Effects Artists and Animators
$81,310 Show expanded career information for Special Effects Artists and Animators
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.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
| ART116 | Life Drawing I | 3 | |||
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC178 | Digital Arts Studies | Critical course | 3 | ||
| AVC248 or ART255 | Design Self Promotion or Art Marketing | Critical course | 3 | ||
| AVC289 | Computer Illustration | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC100 | Introduction to Digital Arts | 1 | |||
| AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| ART111 | Drawing I | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART113 or AVC114 | Color or Digital Color | 3 | |||
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART116 | Life Drawing I | 3 | |||
| AVC178 | Digital Arts Studies | Critical course | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC248 or ART255 | Design Self Promotion or Art Marketing | 3 | |||
| AVC289 | Computer Illustration | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Restricted Electives
Students must select six (6) credits from the following list of courses. Students may select from one emphasis or may select from different emphases to fulfill the six (6) credit requirement.
Animation Emphasis
ADA/ART/MMT184 Digital Animation I 3
ART/MMT185 3D Modeling for Animation I 3
Drawing Emphasis
ART117 Life Drawing II 3
ART118 Art Anatomy 3
ART122 Drawing and Composition II 3
Painting Emphasis
ART165 Watercolor Painting I 3
ART166 Watercolor Painting II 3
ART167 Painting I 3
ART168 Painting II 3
ART263 Figure Painting 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.
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/freeForm11?id=184876).
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.