Sheridan offers the only dedicated Bachelor of Arts Illustration degree program in Canada. No wonder
Applied Arts Magazine ranks our program as one of the best in the nation. Our Illustration degree prepares you to excel as a communicator and to thrive as a professional.
Sheridan offers far greater breadth and depth than a typical drawing college experience, with a higher focus on hands-on learning. At Sheridan, you will:
- Learn all types of illustration, from traditional disciplines (such as painting and drawing) to digital technologies (such as Web design and motion graphics)
- Take 17 illustration courses — nearly twice as many as in a typical program
- Get professional experience during a 14-week work term
- Specialize in information, entertainment or conceptual illustration
- Develop a workplace-ready portfolio and website
Standing Out in a Crowded Marketplace
Illustration students at Sheridan get trained in traditional old-school techniques as well as cutting-edge technology. You’ll also develop a visual philosophy to go along with your technical mastery. This broad-based approach will enable you to apply your Illustration degree across a wide range of career paths, while preparing you to adapt to any new technologies that are introduced in years to come.
Illustration technology is constantly evolving, but the core skill — the ability to tell stories and communicate ideas visually — never changes. In Sheridan’s Illustration bachelor’s degree program, you’ll learn to create compelling imagery that stands out and makes an impact.
Bachelor of Arts Illustration degree courses take place at the Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville, Ontario.
Sheridan's Bachelor of Arts Illustration degree program includes a 14-week work placement between the third and fourth years. Our office will help you arrange your placement, which may be located as far away as New York City or Europe.
Recent graduates with an Illustration degree from Sheridan have worked in a wide range of fields, including:
- Publishing
- Advertising
- Broadcast entertainment
- Graphic design (including Web design)
- Computer gaming
- Bio-medical
- Engineering
- Corporate communications
In addition, many illustrators develop highly successful freelance careers. Sheridan prepares students for self-employment by teaching business and marketing skills: You’ll learn to pitch an idea, assemble a dynamic portfolio presentation, manage copyrights, and handle the other details involved in running a small business.
Program Eligibility
Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, including these required courses:
- English, Grade 12 (ENG4U)
plus
- One senior-level Visual Arts credit at the (M) or Open level
- Four other Grade 12 subjects at the U or M level
- Minimum 65% overall average
or
- Two semesters of postsecondary education including required courses with minimum 65% overall average.
Applicant Selection
Eligible applicants are selected on the basis of previous academic achievement (the average of their six highest senior-level credits, including required courses), and the results of their portfolio assessment. There is a portfolio assessment fee.
Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program will be assessed and advised individually and may be considered for other, related programs.
Sheridan has been granted a consent by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a further five-year term starting March 12, 2008. Sheridan will ensure that all students admitted to the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Illustration) Program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.
| CODE |
TITLE |
CREDITS |
| |
|
|
| TERM 1 - COMMON |
|
|
| DESN 1000/VDES 10101 |
Illustration Design Principles
|
3 |
| DRAW 1002/ARTS 10101 |
Representational Drawing and Painting 1
|
6 |
| DRAW 1003/ARTS 16543 |
Illustrative Life Drawing Principles
|
3 |
| CNST 1000/ILLS 10101 |
Conceptual Process 1 |
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective
|
3 |
| COMM 4072/COMM 17889GD |
Composition and Rhetoric |
3 |
| Total: |
|
21 |
| TERM 2 - COMMON |
|
|
HIST14579
|
Illustration History and Practice
|
3
|
| DRAW 1005/ARTS 16693 |
Representation Drawing and Painting 2 |
6 |
| DRAW 1004/ARTS 16859 |
Illustrative Life Drawing Methods
|
3 |
| CNST 1001/ILLS 13431 |
Conceptual Process 2 |
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective
|
3 |
| PSYC 2001/PSYC 16571GD |
Principles of Psychology |
3 |
| Total: |
|
21 |
| TERM 3 |
|
|
| INTERPRETIVE |
|
|
| ILLS 28263 |
Illustration Core Concepts
|
6 |
| ARTS 20689 |
Illustrative Painting Methods 1
|
3 |
| ARTS 21632 |
Illustrative Figure Drawing 1
|
3 |
| INFO 20408 |
Electronic Media 1 |
3 |
| ARTS 27198 |
Illustration Media and Materials 1 |
3 |
| SOCS 17370GD |
Applied Research Methods |
3 |
| TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC |
|
|
| ILLS 20199 |
Introduction to Technical Illustration |
6 |
| DESN 21044 |
Graphic Design 1 |
3 |
| ILLS 22350 |
Core Concepts of Scientific Illustration |
3 |
| COMP 20408 |
Electronic Media 1 |
3 |
| ARTS 29014 |
Media Studies 1 |
3 |
| SOCS 17370GD |
Applied Research Methods |
3 |
| Total: |
|
21 |
| TERM 4 |
|
|
| INTERPRETIVE |
|
|
| ILLS 27900 |
Illustration Visual Methods
|
6 |
| ARTS 27028 |
Illustrative Painting Methods 2
|
3 |
| ARTS 26367 |
Illustrative Figure Drawing 2
|
3 |
| INFO 25436 |
Electronic Media 2 |
3 |
| ARTS 27545 |
Illustration Media and Materials 2 |
3 |
TBA
|
Breadth Elective
|
3 |
| TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC |
|
|
| ILLS 26693 |
Drawing 1 |
3 |
| DESN 29207 |
Graphic Design 2 |
3 |
| ILLS 23672 |
Scientific Illustration 1:Processes in Nature
|
6 |
| COMP 25436 |
Electronic Media 2 |
3 |
| ARTS 28823 |
Media Studies 2 |
3 |
TBA
|
Breadth Elective
|
3 |
| Total: |
|
21 |
| TERM 5 |
|
|
| INTERPRETIVE |
|
|
| ILLS 34310 |
Illustration Visual Strategies
|
3 |
| ILLS 10016 |
Information Illustration
|
3 |
| ILLS 17545 |
Illustrative Drawing and Painting
|
3 |
| INFOR 33672 |
Electronic Media 3 |
3 |
| DESN 21044 |
Graphic Design 1 |
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
| TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC |
|
|
| ILLS 34717 |
Technical Illustration 1 |
3 |
| ILLS 24718 |
3D Studies 1 |
3 |
| ILLS 35892 |
Scientific Illustration 2: Microscopic Worlds
|
3 |
| COMP 33672 |
Electronic Media 3 |
3 |
| ARTS 33796 |
Media Studies 3 |
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
| Total: |
|
18 |
| TERM 6 |
|
|
| INTERPRETIVE |
|
|
| ILLS 45152 |
Illustration Studio
|
3 |
| BUSM 18263 |
Illustration Business Studies
|
3 |
| ARTS 23551 |
Illustrative Drawing and Painting Explorations
|
3 |
| COMP 40065 |
Electronic Media 4 |
3 |
| DESN 29207 |
Graphic Design 2
|
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
| TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC |
|
|
| ILLS 33551 |
Technical Illustration 2 |
3 |
ILLS26206
|
3D Studies 2
|
3 |
| BUSM 18263 |
Illustration Business Studies
|
3 |
| COMP 40065 |
Electronic Media 4 |
3 |
| ARTS 44998 |
Media Studies 4 |
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
| INTERNSHIP |
|
|
| Total: |
|
18 |
| TERM 7 |
|
|
| INTERPRETIVE |
|
|
| ILLS 40049 |
Advanced Illustration Studio
|
3 |
| BUSM 200000 |
Illustration Business Strategies
|
3 |
| ILLS 19014 |
Visual Narrative 1 |
3 |
| ILLS 45288 |
Illustration Lab 1
|
3 |
TBA
|
Breadth Elective
|
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
| TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC |
|
|
| ILLS 47900 |
Technical Illustration 3 |
3 |
ILLS35436
|
Scientific Illustration 3: Ecology and Us
|
3 |
| BUSM 200000 |
Illustration Business Strategies
|
3 |
| ILLS 14049 |
Product Illustration |
3 |
TBA
|
Breadth Elective
|
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
| Total: |
|
18 |
| TERM 8 |
|
|
| INTERPRETIVE |
|
|
| ILLS44178 |
Advanced Illustration Practice
|
3 |
INFO48263
|
Electronic Media 5 |
3 |
| ILLS 24717 |
Visual Narrative 2 |
3 |
| ILLS 47545 |
Illustration Lab 2
|
3 |
ILLS40146
|
Illustration Portfolio Project
|
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
| TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC |
|
|
| ILLS 40025 |
Technical Illustration 4 |
3 |
| ILLS 47721 |
Advanced Scientific Illustration Studio
|
3 |
ATDN18081
|
Technical Writing
|
3 |
| ILLS 40082 |
Technical Illustration Studies |
3 |
ILLS40146
|
Illustration Portfolio Project
|
3 |
| TBA |
Breadth Elective |
3 |
Total:18
Note: Credits vary based on option choices. Courses subject to change.