Illustration Minor
Tell stories with images — pencil, paint, and pixel — in a 21-credit sequence built around drawing, painting, illustration, and digital paint.
Program Overview
The Illustration Minor offers students a structured pathway to explore drawing, painting, and digital illustration, elevating their primary field of study with enhanced visual communication skills. Ideal for those in Studio Arts, Graphic Design, Interactive Media, or any major that benefits from strong creative expression.
At A Glance
Illustration Minor
Degree
Minor
Format
On campus
Length
Complete alongside your major
Credits
21
Class Size
12:1
Location
Main Campus, Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
Why Study Illustration Minor at Shawnee University
You'll build both traditional and digital skills — life drawing, painting, illustration, and digital paint — so your toolkit is broader than a single medium.
Studio courses are hands-on and small enough that faculty know your work and the direction you're moving.
The minor is a strong complement to Studio Arts, Graphic Design, Interactive Media, game design, marketing, and education majors.
You'll finish with a portfolio that shows visual storytelling — useful for editorial, book, concept-art, and digital media work.
The Illustration Minor requires 21 credit hours — seven required courses across foundations, drawing, painting, and digital media.
- ARTS 1101 — Two-Dimensional Foundations
- ARTS 1105 — Digital Foundations
- ARTS 2221 — Life Drawing I
- ARTS 2311 — Painting I
- ARTS 2711 — Illustration I
- ARTS 3611 — Digital Imaging I
- ARTS 3621 — Digital Paint I
The Illustration Minor is a strong fit for students majoring in:
- Studio Arts (Fine Arts or Illustration track)
- Graphic Design and Interactive Media
- Game & Simulation Arts
- Communication, marketing, or media
- Education
- Any student who wants to communicate ideas through traditional and digital art
Classes meet in the drawing, painting, and digital art studios on the Shawnee State campus in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Illustration Minor Frequently Asked Questions
No. Two-Dimensional Foundations and Digital Foundations build the basics. Life Drawing introduces figure work, and the sequence builds from there.
Yes. Digital Imaging I introduces Photoshop and image-making, and Digital Paint I focuses on painting in software the way concept artists and illustrators work.
It builds the foundation. Many freelance illustrators combine the technical skills with self-directed business work — the department can advise on next steps.It builds the foundation. Many freelance illustrators combine the technical skills with self-directed business work — the department can advise on next steps.
There is overlap by design — some students take just this minor, while others combine related minors. Talk with your advisor about scheduling and how courses count.
