For those people in Illinois, who want to work within the field of art, there are many schools in the state that offer astounding programs.
While people train in an art program, they will not only maximize their existing skills, but they will also acquire new skills that will enhance their talents and broaden their career possibilities.
Following are just a few of the many schools in Illinois that will prepare students for the careers of their dreams.
Schools of Art in Illinois
Below are some of the best Art Schools in Illinois for Artists.
The Illinois Institute of Art/Chicago
Accredited with the Higher Learning Commission, The Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago offers a vast array of programs for art majors. Following are some of the sensational programs that the institute offers-culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, graphic design, advertising, interior design, advertising, illustration and design, audio production, game art and design, media arts and animation, and fashion design. If people want to find out about these programs or any of the other programs at the institute, they can call the main desk at-312-280-3500 or write to them at-350 North Orleans Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60654. They can also find out all about the institute and its programs at the schools website-http://www.artinstitutes.edu/chicago/.
An admissions officer will interview applicants before they can gain entry into the school, and all new students must submit a short essay describing their talents and educational goals. Some programs also require students to submit a 10 to 15 piece portfolio of their most recent art work.
Students, who wish to work towards a bachelor of arts degree in advertising, will need to fulfill several general education and program-specific courses. The general education courses are as follows-English I and II, Effective Speaking, Computers for the Arts, two Humanities or Fine Arts electives, two Mathematics electives, three Physical and Life Science courses, two Social Science courses, General Art History, and General Education Capstone.
The program-specific courses are as follows-Fundamentals of Advertising and Marketing, Conceptual and Strategic Thinking, Survey of Advertising, Storyboards and Scriptwriting, Advertising Design, Consumer Behavior, Principles of Marketing Research, Brand Strategy, Account Planning, Sales and Persuasive Techniques, Public Relations and Promotions, Media Planning and Buying, Advertising Copyrighting, Art Direction, Advertising Campaigns, Portfolio, Advertising Internship, Design Fundamentals, Color Theory, Image Manipulation, Digital Photography for Designers, Digital Illustration, Introduction to Typography/Traditional, Digital Pre-Press, Digital Layout, Professional Development for Graphic Design, Designing for Multimedia Display, Fundamentals for Interactive Design, and Fundamentals of Authoring.
The Illinois Institute of Art/Schaumburg
The Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg, accredited with the Northcentral Association, also offers a vast array of art programs for aspiring artists. Some of the many fascinating art programs that the institute offers to students include hospitality management, graphic design, advertising, interior design, illustration and design, fashion design, fashion merchandising, web design, and digital photography. Prospective students can call the school for additional information at-847-619-3450 or visit their website at-http://www.artinstitutes.edu/schaumburg/. They can also request information by writing to-1000 North Plaza Drive, Suite 100, Schaumburg, Illinois, 60173.
All new students must schedule an interview with an admissions counselor to discuss their educational and long-term goals. They must also provide a short essay describing the same. Some programs, such as game art and design, illustration and design, and web animation require students to submit a portfolio of their most recent and best artwork.
Those students, who want to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design, will need to complete a four-year curriculum comprised of a variety of basic skills, art-related and fashion-related courses. The basic skills courses included in the curriculum include the following classes-English I and II, Effective Speaking, General Art History, Computers for the Arts or Social Science, two Humanities or Fine Arts electives, two Mathematics electives, three Physical or Life Science courses, two Social Science courses, and General Education Capstone.
The art-related and fashion-related courses within the curriculum are as follows-Survey of the Fashion Industry, Fundamentals of Construction, Advanced Construction, Textiles, Trends and Concepts in Apparel, Knitwear, Fundamentals of Patternmaking, Costume History, Fashion Sketching and Illustration, Advanced Patternmaking, Technical Drawing and Design, Research and Sourcing Fundamentals, Introduction to Business and Retailing, Draping and Fit Analysis, Computer Patternmaking, Concept and Line Development, Design Specialties I and II, Production Systems, Fashion Career Management, Surface Design, Senior Collection Concept and Technical, Digital Textile Design, Senior Collection Technical and Production, Product Development, Portfolio Preparation, Internship, Design Fundamentals, Observational Drawing, and Color Theory.
American Academy of Art
Located in Chicago and accredited with the Higher Learning Commission, The American Academy of Art offers several superb art programs for people who want to begin careers in art. Some of their excellent programs include illustration, graphic design, web design, life drawing, oil painting, water color painting and photography. If people would like to study within any of these areas, they can call the academy at-312-461-0600, or they can visit the academy’s website at-http://www.aaart.edu. They can also choose to write to the school at-332 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60604.
Students will need to attend an interview with a school official before they can attend the academy, and transfer students may need to submit a portfolio to receive credit for various classes and course work. If students want to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in life drawing, they will need to complete several basic education courses as follows-Freshman Seminar, Anatomy, English Language Arts I and II, Quantitative Literacy, Professional Writing, and Lab Science or Advanced Anatomy.
They will also need to complete the following program-related courses-Fundamentals of Art I and II, Beginning Life Drawing I and II, Intermediate Life Drawing I and II, Figurative Sculpture I, Art History Survey I and II, four Studio electives, two Film and Society electives, Marketing, Advanced Figurative Drawing, Figure in Composition, Drawing for Illustrators, Digital Graphic Foundations, Light and Color, Vision, one additional Art History course, Advanced Drawing I and II, and Portfolio/Life Drawing.
Colleges and Universities in Illinois
Below are some of the most popular Colleges that offer Classes, Courses, Programs and Certification for Art Degrees.
Bradley University
Accredited with the Higher Learning Commission, Bradley University in Peoria offers several superior programs including studio art, art history, art education, music and theater. Those students, who would like to attend Bradley, can find out about the admissions requirements online at-http://www.bradley.edu. They can also request information by phoning the university at-309-676-7611 or by writing to them at-1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, Illinois, 61625.
Students, who choose to pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art, will need to fulfill a curriculum comprised of both basic education and art-related courses. The basic education course work included in the curriculum is as follows-English Composition I and II, Speech, Mathematics, Western Civilization, Non-Western Civilization, Fine Arts elective, Human Values, two Cultural Diversity and Social Forces classes, and two Science and Technology courses.
The art-related courses within the curriculum are as follows-Survey of Art History I and II, Drawing I and II, Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, Professional Lecture Series/Studio Visits I and II, Life Drawing, Introduction to Interactive Media, three Art History electives, six Studio courses in one of the following concentrations-ceramics/drawing/graphic design/painting/photography/printmaking or sculpture, five Studio courses outside of the student’s chosen concentration, five additional art-related electives, and BFA Seminars I and II.
Chicago State University
Chicago State University, accredited with the Higher Learning Commission, has superb programs in art and design, theater, music, multimedia, studio art, studio craft, art history, and art education. People can find full details pertaining to these programs online at-http://www.csu.edu. They can also request a catalog by phoning the university at-773-995-2000 or by writing to them at the 9501 block of South King Drive in Chicago, Illinois, 60628.
Those people, who choose to pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio arts, must take a variety of general education and art-specific classes. The general education classes they must take are as follows-English Composition I and II, two Foreign Language electives, Mathematics, two Humanities or Fine Arts electives, two Physical and Life Science courses (one with a lab), three Social Science courses, Critical Thinking, and Diversity.
The art-specific classes they must take include the following courses-Drawing I and II, Printmaking, Sculpture I and II, 2-D Design, Advanced Printmaking, Portfolio Preparation, Seminar I through III, Ancient and Medieval Art History, Renaissance and Baroque Art History, Painting I and II, Modern Art History, Non-Western Art, and at least six of the following courses-photography I, Illustrator/Photoshop, Fiber Art I, Ceramics I, Jewelry I, Weaving I, Visual Communication I and II, or Sculpture III.
Columbia College of Chicago
Accredited with the Higher Learning Commission, Columbia College of Chicago offers a vast array of art programs including art and design, art history, dance, music, fashion design, fine arts, graphic design, game design and illustration. Prospective students can learn all about these programs online at the college’ website-www.colum.edu/. They can also acquire information by calling Columbia at-312-663-1600 or by writing to-600 South Michigan, Chicago, Illinois, 60605.
Those students, who want to pursue the bachelor of fine arts degree, will need to take the following basic education classes to earn their degree-First-Year Seminar, Writing and Rhetoric I and II, Oral Communication, two Humanities electives, Literature, two Social Science courses, two History courses, Mathematics, Science, and Science with lab.
They will also need to take the following program-related classes to earn their degree-History of Art I/Stone Age to Gothic, Drawing I, Fundamentals of 2D Design, Fundamentals of 3D Design, Digital Photography for Non-Photo Majors or Photography I, one Global Arts elective, History of 20th Century Art, Contemporary Issues in Drawing, Contemporary Issues in Digital Practices, Contemporary Issues in Painting, Professional Practices in Fine Art, Contemporary Issues in Printmaking, History of Art II/Renaissance to Modern, Contemporary Issues in Sculpture, Contemporary Issues in New Media, Contemporary Art/1980 to the Present, BFA Review in Fine Art, 20th Century Art Theory, Junior Fine Art Seminar/Practice and Theory, Fine Art Thesis Exhibition Workshop I and II, Senior Fine Art Studio I and II, and 23 additional art-related credits.
Additional Art Schools in Illinois
- Western Illinois University-Macomb
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago-Chicago
- Quincy University-Quincy
- Springfield College in Illinois-Springfield
- Wheaton College-Wheaton
- Barat College-Lake Forest
- Elmhurst College-Elmhurst
Admission and Graduation from Art Schools in Illinois
While every art school in Illinois has its own admissions and graduation requirements, there are some basic requirements to many schools. Before students can gain entry into many art schools in the state, they will need to schedule an interview with a school official and attend an orientation or tour of the school. They may also need to submit an essay and/or a portfolio. Performing arts students may need to perform in an audition.
The supplies that students will need for their programs may vary, as well. However, some basic supplies, that many art programs require, include drawing pads, drawing utensils, erasers, sharpeners, basic paint supplies, a digital camera, measuring tools, cutting tools, a stapler, masking tape, and glue sticks.
Before students can graduate from their programs, they will need to complete one or more of the following-art capstone, apprenticeship, internship, junior or senior thesis, and junior or senior projects.
There are many ways that students may complete the capstone such as art projects, art portfolios, research papers or projects, presentations, exhibitions, and essays.
