Online Illustration Degrees: How to Find an Accredited School

Technology has made it possible for today's illustrators to make a good living doing what they love-creating art. Today's Illustrators still use traditional techniques such as ink, charcoal and watercolors to create art, but they also incorporate software such as Adobe and Quark to create art that clients can mass produce at a fairly rapid pace. As a result, illustrators with a computer background are in higher demand than other types of illustrators. With a technical background, illustrators can collaborate with engineers, mechanics, and other technical experts to create visual communication materials for clients.

Graduates with a degree in fine art with an illustration focus can expect a 12 percent increase in job growth for the 2008-2018 decade. They can also expect higher than average salaries. As of 2008, the average annual salary for illustrators was $42,070. Entry-level illustrators start at around $18,650 per year.

While job growth and salary ranges for professional illustrators are "good," the illustration industry is extremely competitive. This means, it will take more than talent to compete in this field.

Most illustrators have a bachelor's degree in fine art with a focus in illustration. Bachelor's degree students have taken all of the necessary courses to prepare them for a successful career. Illustrator students will have to take courses such as Adobe Illustrator for the Illustrator, Advanced Drawing/Composition, Book Illustration, Color Rendering: Media, Computer Animation, Digital Painting for the Illustrator, Digital Special Effects/Retouching, DocumentaryArtist, Layout Design with Quark, Materials and Techniques, The Business of Illustration, The Illustrator's Heritage, and Visual Self-Expression.

To find the best illustration degree programs, check top art and design schools first. These schools are more likely to offer top illustration degree programs. Traditional colleges and universities are acceptable too, but make sure their art and design departments are well respected. You can find out how art and design schools and art departments rank by checking the Princeton Review website (Princetonreview.com) or college directory websites such as Design-schools.us.

It is important to note that top art and design schools, art departments, and top traditional colleges have been accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (Ed.gov). This is an important piece of information to verify when searching for programs - especially if the program is offered entirely online. Visit Ed.gov for a list of accrediting agencies. Just a few top accrediting agencies for traditional and online art and design schools include:

-Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)

-Distance Education Training Council (DETC)

-Council on Occupational Education (COE)

-Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

-National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

-Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

-New England Association of Schools and Colleges

-North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

-Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

-Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

-Western Association of Schools and Colleges

To learn more about online illustration degrees, including curriculum and program info, visit Design Schools. To read about illustrator career trends and salary potential, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.