Build Your Future in Illustration

The Illustration Certificate is designed to emphasize concepts, strategies and skill development in order to secure high wage employment in a variety of careers in commercial arts fields, including editorial and advertising illustration, concept design and illustration for products, conceptual art for the game and entertainment industry, and illustration for the toy and theme park industries.

Degrees & Certificates

  • Apply online at fullcoll.edu
  • Apply for financial aid: fafsa.ed.gov
  • Take the online orientation
  • Take assessment exam
  • Meet with a Counselor
  • Update Personal info in My Gateway
  • Register for classes
  • Pay fees

James Dowdalls
jdowdalls@fullcoll.edu
714.992.7289

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost is $46 per unit. Non-resident tuition: $258 per unit PLUS enrollment fees (Non-Resident Tuition includes $19.00 Capital Outlay fee per Ed Code 76141).

Costs may vary; please visit website for more information: http://admissions.fullcoll.edu/fees-refunds/.

Associate degree or certificate completion depends on program unit requirements and whether student is enrolled full time or part time.
The Illustration Certificate is designed to be completed in four semesters. Most semesters would involve a between 7 and 12 specific certificate units to be completed in those four consecutive semesters. (Additional sources: Financial Aid gainful employment data: Fullerton: http://web.Fullertoncollege.edu/GainFulEmployment or Fullerton: http://www.fullcoll.edu/pio/gainful-employment).

The Illustration Certificate is designed to emphasize concepts, strategies and skill development in order to secure high wage employment in a variety of careers in Commercial Arts fields, including editorial and advertising illustration, concept design, and freelance illustration. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010), book illustrators made an annual salary of $53,000. According to the glassdoor.com, average salaries for Illustrators range from a low of $35,000 up to $70,000 a year, with the average of $46,256 a year. According to careeronestop.com, salaries for Illustrators ranged from $32,230 up to $72,260 per year. (Sources: Use median salary and include the source: https://www.careeronestop.org, BLS.gov or SalarySurfer http://salarysurfer.cccco.edu, or https://nocccd.emsicc.com.

For information on jobs in this industry sector and their median annual salaries visit: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.

Career opportunities:
• Graphic Designer
• Photographer
• Production Artist
• Art Director
• Graphic Artist
• Animator
• Creative Director
• Visual Designer
• Junior Graphic Designer
• Product Designer
• Product Development Engineer
• Art Teacher
• Interaction Designer

Overall employment of craft and fine artists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Employment growth for artists depends in large part on the overall state of the economy and whether people are willing to spend money on art, because people usually make art purchases when they can afford to spend the money. During good economic times, people and businesses are interested in buying more artwork; during economic downturns, they generally buy less. However, there is always some demand for art by private collectors and museums.

Job growth for craft and fine artists may be limited by the sale of inexpensive, machine-produced items designed to look like handmade American crafts. A continued interest in locally made products and crafted goods will likely offset some of these employment losses.
Illustrators and cartoonists who work in publishing may see their job opportunities decline as traditional print publications lose ground to other media forms. However, new opportunities are expected to arise as the number of electronic magazines and other Internet-based publications continues to grow.

Contact Our Department

James Dowdalls

Arts and Digital Arts

Average Salary in this Field

$32,680 to

$141,130 Per Year

Careers in this Field

Graphic Designer

Interaction Designer

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