Category: FAA

Urban Studies & Planning

Major Description

Urban Studies & Planning looks at the way our cities are designed, constructed, and planned. It studies the socio-economic factors and conditions behind housing projects in the city while also studying the effect of public transportation in suburban areas. It emphasizes both an analytical and quantitative approach combining policy, statistics, a sense of history, and more. Urban Planners help us look at the ways we can improve our neighborhoods, preserving some of the past while keeping an eye open for future improvements. The degree is professionally accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

More About Urban Studies & Planning
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Concentrations

  • Sustainability Concentration
  • Policy and Planning Concentration
  • Social Justice Concentration
  • Global Cities Concentration

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • UP 101—Introduction to City Planning
  • UP 136—Urban Sustainability
  • UP 185—Cities in a Global Perspective.

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Urban planners do many types of jobs and are involved in almost any kind of government or private activity which seeks to affect the future or accommodate community change. 

Common Career Skills
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Computer skills
  • Independent, self-motivated work ethic
  • Interpersonal
  • Leadership
  • Oral/written communication
  • Organizational skills
  • Research
  • Teamwork skills
Common Career Titles
  • Assistant Associate Planner
  • Associate Planner
  • City Planner
  • Community Planner
  • Land Planner
  • Land Use Environmental Planner
  • Landscape Architect Land Planner
  • Landscape Planner
  • Planner Coordinator Senior Planner
  • Principal Planner
  • Senior Planner
  • Transportation Traffic Planner
  • Urban And Regional Planner
  • Urban Planner

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of FAA Career Services
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • Student Planning Organization: SPO’s mission is to provide a vehicle for communication between staff, faculty and students in the planning program, provide forums for workshops and discussions, and organize social events for the department.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Urban Studies & l Planning.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Urban Studies & Planning.  These organizations include American Planning Association, Urban Institute, and The Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Theatre

Major Description

Theatre is a form of human expression, taking place in the present, but connecting us to other times and places. Theatre artists provide a window into the human condition and is a dynamic art form, constantly changing to include current issues and new media. It embraces a broad range of skills including acting, directing, design, construction, technology and management.

Illinois Theatre stands for radical inclusion. We value innovation and collaboration in the creation of new artistic work and in approaches to the classics, along with the development of new technologies and methods of performance research. We prepare students for professions in the theatre and related fields by fostering a deep understanding of traditional approaches paired with rigorous training in emerging professional practices. We empower students to work entrepreneurially and as independent, critical thinkers. We believe that building cross-disciplinary partnerships will enhance our impact in local, national, and global contexts.

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Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Concentrations

  • Acting
  • Arts and Entertainment Technology
  • Costume Design & Technology
  • Lighting Design
  • Scenic Design
  • Scenic Technology
  • Sound Design & Technology
  • Stage Management
  • Theatre Studies (Playwriting, Directing, & Dramaturgy)

The BFA is an intensive, specific, pre-professional training program. An audition or portfolio review and interview are required to be admitted to any of the BFA Theatre Concentrations.

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • THEA 121—Theatre Foundations: Performance
  • THEA 122—Theatre Foundations: Theory and Practice
  • THEA 123—Theatre Foundations: Production

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Theatre Alumni lead the way in the fields of theatre, television, film, and arts education. 

Common Career Skills
  • Ability to accept public scrutiny and criticism
  • Ability to analyze and interpret emotions
  • Ability to captivate audiences
  • Ability to communicate emotions/ideas
  • Ability to maintain composure under pressure
  • Good ability to concentrate/practice
  • Imagination/Creativity
  • Proficiency in memorizing
  • Public speaking skills
Common Career Titles
  • Actor 
  • Director
  • Costume Designer
  • Playwright
  • Technical Director
  • Theatre Critic
  • Lighting Designer
  • Stage Manager
  • Scenic Carpenter
  • Production Manager
  • Costume Technician
  • Scenic Designer
  • Sound Engineer
  • Master Electrician
  • Media Designer
  • Automation Operator
  • Producer
  • Dramaturg
  • Props Technician
  • Company Manager
  • House Manager

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • New Revels Players: renaissance through modern drama.
    • Penny Dreadful Players: provides all majors with an opportunity to participate in every aspect of live theatre.
    • Krannert Center Student Association: promotes and celebrates the arts by providing volunteer opportunities and activities that unite those who appreciate the arts throughout the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the University of Illinois, and larger communities.
    • Illini Student Musicals: ISM is an organization dedicated to the performance of musical theatre on campus. Students will be able to gain experience in all aspects of putting a musical together.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Theatre.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Theatre.  These organizations include American Society of Theatre Consultants and American Association of Community Theatre.

If you are interested in learning more about the various BFA concentrations in theatre and what a career in theatre might look like — please contact: Cynthia Kocher, Illinois Theatre Director of Undergraduate Studies at ckocher@illinois.edu for more information.

Sustainable Design

Major Description

Sustainable Design calls on a student’s creativity to conceptualize, visualize, analyze, communicate, and build products, buildings, cities, landscapes, and communities that use energy and materials in a more environmentally and socially sustainable manner. You will learn how design can contribute to solving problems of sustainability in a constantly evolving society and building equitable, healthy, and thriving places.

With course work in graphic and industrial design, architecture, landscape architecture and urban and regional planning, the program grounds concrete skills development with opportunities to move between disciplinary barriers and traverse traditional boundaries.

Graduates of this program will be prepared for a future in a sustainable world where ideas from many disciplines will be necessary to solve complex problems.

More About Sustainable Design
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • FAA 230—Sustainable Design of the Built Environment
  • LA 101—Introduction to Landscape Architecture
  • UP 136—Urban Sustainability
  • ARCH 171—Concepts of Architectural Design

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

With expertise across disciplines, students in this program will be prepared to enter jobs in design firms, planning agencies, industry, and public and non-profit agencies, or continue preparation in a variety of graduate or professional programs such as Architecture, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Urban Planning. 

Common Career Skills
  • Creativity
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Computer skills
  • Oral, written, and graphic communication skills
  • Research skills
  • Teamwork skills
Common Career Titles
  • Sustainability Coordinator
  • Urban planner
  • Sustainable design specialist
  • Industrial designer
  • Product designer
  • Green Business marketer
  • Architect
  • Landscape Architect
  • Graphic designer
  • Green buildings consultant
  • Climate designer

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to sustainable design.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse of what sustainable designers do.  These organizations include U.S. Green Building Council , American Sustainable Business Council, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, Environmental Design Research Association, International Society for Industrial Ecology, and Biomimicry Institute.

Studio Art

Major Description

The BA and BFA in Studio Art offer a student-initiated path through a variety of studio art course offerings. Students may choose a general concentration in studio art, allowing them to use a range of studio practices from different disciplines, or they may choose a concentration in fashion, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Concentrations will be noted on the student’s transcript, indicating material expertise and qualification for discipline-specific employment or advanced study.

More About Studio Art
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Concentrations

Students may choose to develop their area of interest by focusing on one of five specializations within the major.

General Studio Art

Select from the entire menu of course offerings available in the Studio Art fields, including Painting, Sculpture, New Media, Printmaking, Ceramics, and Fashion Design courses, for a truly customized experience that offers broad exposure to a wide variety of art-making materials and strategies.

Painting

Pursue a course of study that begins with rigorous instruction in traditional Drawing and Painting materials, methods, techniques, and concepts, and proceeds to encourage a diversity of experimental and multi-disciplinary approaches to Painting as a field with a complex and culturally influential history.

Sculpture

Focus on methods and concepts related to three-dimensional art, form-making, and expanded spatial practices. Contemporary sculpture practice is informed by multiple modes of ideation, making and fabrication, and utilizes a dynamic and ever-expanding set of tools, materials, techniques and approaches.

New Media

Provides an opportunity for students to pursue sustained study in art forms that include time-based media, performance, digital imaging, and coding-based practices. New Media courses incorporate established and emerging technologies in the service of art-making that looks to the history of art as well as to contemporary intersections between art, design and community engagement.

Printmaking

Offers students the opportunity to study a wide range of traditional, photographic, and digital printmaking methods that engage with contemporary art and design fields. Courses provide instruction in screenprint, letterpress, comics and zines, relief printing, intaglio, lithography, and other rotating special topics.

Fashion

The future of fashion lies in sustainability and our students have access to world-class educators developing cutting-edge technologies, practices, and innovations. The internet has decentralized every aspect of the fashion industry and it is no longer essential to pursue your interest in fashion capitals like New York and Los Angeles. Come join us!

Photography

We prepare serious photographers to serve as cultural leaders of the 21st century. Our studios and seminars explore historic traditions, wide-ranging techniques, recent innovations, and the role of the contemporary photographer.

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • *ART 102 Drawing for Non-Majors
  • *ART 103 Painting for Non-Majors
  • *ART 104 Sculpture for Non-Majors
  • *ART 105 Visual Design for Non-Majors
  • *ART 140 Introduction to Art
  • ARTS 210 Ceramics Sculpture I
  • ARTS 220 Introduction to Fashion
  • ARTS 243 Time Arts I
  • ARTS 244 Interaction I
  • ARTS 264 Basic Photography
  • ARTS 280 Beginning Sculpture

*Courses non-majors can take, but do not count toward the major. These courses will help students continue to develop their portfolios and connect them to the department.

Possible Career Opportunities

A studio art degree can lead to a variety of professions related to art.

Common Career Skills
  • Creativity
  • Planning
  • Problem Solving
  • Spacial Visualization
  • Visual Analysis
  • Visual Communication
  • Visual Design
Common Career Titles
  • Apparel Fashion Designer
  • Art Administrator
  • Art Buyer
  • Art Conservator
  • Art Critic
  • Art Dealer
  • Art Gallery Owner
  • Art Teacher
  • Art Therapist
  • Cartoonist
  • Commercial Artist
  • Curator
  • Editorial Illustrator
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Fashion Designer
  • Fashion Photographer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
  • Interior Decorator
  • Medical Illustrator
  • Mural Artist
  • Painter
  • Sculptor
  • Silkscreen Artist
  • Videographer
  • Website Designer

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • 8 to CREATE: 8 to CREATE is an art event in which 8 artists have 8 hours to create 8 works of art. The event is open to the public to observe, engage, and participate in the creative process.
    • Life Drawing Club: Allows its members to learn and understand the human figure. Through the use of a live model, the members will observe and render the form to their own degree of satisfaction.
    • Krannert Center Student Association: promotes and celebrates the arts by providing volunteer opportunities and activities that unite those who appreciate the arts throughout the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the University of Illinois, and larger communities.
    • Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics: focuses on the development of computer animation & visual effects, video games, graphics research, multimedia, and software relating to graphics.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to the Studio Arts:

  • American Photographic Artists
  • The American Society of Media Photographers
  • College Art Association (CAA)
  • Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)Mid-American Print Council
  • The New Media Caucus (NMC)
  • Rhizome.org
  • SGC International
  • Society of Illustrators Artists & Designers (SIAD)
  • Women’s Caucus for Art

Music

Major Description

Music includes performance, theory and history, music education and pedagogy, and open studies. The curriculum develops undergraduate students to their fullest potential as teachers and performers. It also acquaints proficient instrumentalists with traditional literature and new compositions and arrangements written by students and faculty. The incorporation of technology such as Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) instruments and computer applications provides students with a well-rounded experience while preparing them for independent studio work, teaching, or further professional study.

Allows students to major in piano, organ, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar, electric violin, electric viola, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba, or percussion.

Be sure to learn about the different degrees that the School of Music offers.

The Bachelor of Music

Focus on public performance as an integral part of the training in applied music, including required student recitals. Foreign language study may be required according to the major chosen, based upon previous experience and/or the results of language placement tests.

Six majors are offered:

Music Composition
Prepares students for careers in composition and teaching, as well as for graduate study in composition or music theory. This major offers comprehensive course work in music theory and composition, with specialized courses in orchestration, music formalization, experimental music, jazz arranging, electronic music, and computer music.

Instrumental Music
Allows students to major in piano, organ, harpsichord, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, harp, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, horn, euphonium, baritone, trombone, tuba, or percussion.

Jazz Performance
Pairs with piano, double bass, saxophone/clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion, or guitar as the major instrument.

Musicology
Offers students a broad cultural education, which unites academic and musical training. It provides the sound preparation required for graduate study in research and teaching of music history or ethnomusicology and offers comprehensive course work in the history of western and non-western music.

Open Studies
Allows concentration in diverse fields such as music of other cultures, piano pedagogy, or other areas not included in the majors above. Admission is initiated by petition to a committee of three faculty members, the open studies adviser, and the associate dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts.

Voice
Includes both private lessons in voice and classes in vocal diction. At least eight semester hours each in the Italian, French, and German languages are required.

The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music

For students whose musical interests are in the broad historical, cultural, and theoretical aspects of music (rather than professional training). It incorporates a high degree of flexibility beyond the core of required courses and can prepare the way for graduate study in music theory, composition, or the various branches of musicology. Students must choose an option, which may include studies in a particular era of music history, ethnomusicology, music theory, music composition, or other possibilities as approved by advisor.  

Four options are offered:

Music Technology
The Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Music Technology is designed to build a foundation of digital literacy in the musical arts and provide instruction relevant to contemporary career paths for today’s students. Some examples of career paths in Music Technology include music production, recording/live sound engineering, sound design, multimedia and game design, hardware/software design, film and media scoring, music business, and music education.

Composition
The Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Composition is designed for students who are broadly interested in studying composition.

Musicology
Offers students a broad cultural education, which unites academic and musical training. It provides the sound preparation required for graduate study in research and teaching of music history or ethnomusicology and offers comprehensive course work in the history of western and non-western music.

Music +
Music+ allows students to combine unique, interdisciplinary fields of study with our core Bachelor of Arts in Music curriculum requirements.

The Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre

Two concentrations offered:

  • Performance Concentration
  • Creative Concentration
More About Music
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • MUS 101—Music Theory & Practice I
  • MUS 107—Aural Skills I
  • MUS 110—Introduction to Art Music: International Perspective
  • CS 101/CS 105 – Intro to Computing (for Music Technology option only)tism

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

The School of Music prepares students for a number of disciplines.

Common Career Skills
  • Ability to keep audience’s interests
  • Ability to read and write music
  • Ability to use various sound equipment
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Basic reading, writing, editing skills
  • Communication skills
  • Creativity
  • Entertaining skills
  • Good stage presence
  • Humbleness
  • Observation skills
  • Performance techniques
  • Physical stamina
  • Self-discipline
  • Singing/instrumental talents
  • Teaching abilities
  • Versatility
Common Career Titles
  • Architectural Acoustic Monitor
  • Artist & Repertoire (A&R)
  • Church Music Director
  • Community Development
  • Composer/Arranger
  • Conductor
  • Copyright Specialist
  • Disc Jockey
  • Engineer/Mixer
  • Instrument Service Specialist
  • Film Music Editor
  • Music Software Programmer
  • Music Store Manager
  • Music Stringer
  • Music Teacher
  • Music Therapist
  • Manufacturers Representative
  • Music Attorney
  • Music Copyist
  • Music Critic
  • Music Promoter
  • Music Reporter
  • Musician
  • Orchestra Librarian
  • Piano Tuner
  • Publicist
  • Recording Technician
  • Singer
  • Studio Musician
  • Synthesizer Specialist
  • Tour Manager
  • Voice Teacher

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • Illinois Student Association of Music Scholars (ISAMS): enhance the academic experience, scholarship and community of students in musicology (historical and ethnographic) and related fields of music scholarship, including music theory, music education, and composition through fostering community interaction and dialogue, providing scholarly support and critical dialogue, offering professional development and organizational support.
    • Illini Student Musicals (ISM): dedicated to the performance of musical theater on campus and helping students gain gain experience in the administrative, technical, creative, and performance aspects of putting a musical together.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Music.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Music.  These organizations include American Federation of Musicians and The American Musical Instruments Society.

Music Education

Major Description

Music Education develops skills, concepts, and methodologies in music, including music theory and composition, musicianship, history, arranging, orchestration, improvisation, and conducting; teaching with technology; solo performance techniques acquired through private instrumental or vocal study; vocal and instrumental techniques, pedagogy, and literature related to solo and ensemble performance; and the relationship of music to other fields of knowledge. This curriculum prepares its graduates for teaching music from kindergarten through grade 12. Students complete a concentration in instrumental, choral, technology, or general music education.

More About Music Education
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Concentrations

Choral

Prepares for teaching students in secondary choral programs, as well as adult choirs. Throughout the program, students examine relevant developmental, social, and vocal issues in the middle school and high school choral classroom, explore concepts of choral tone and production, learn to select appropriate repertoire, and experiment with conducting gesture as well as various methods of score analysis and planning for instruction. Involvement with local choral programs provides opportunities for students to synthesize learning in real-world settings.

General Music

Prepares for teaching comprehensive musical courses in grades P-12.  The concentration focuses on developing knowledge, skills, and understandings that foster vibrant and creative music programs in a variety of contexts. Courses enable students to consider musical culture, diversity, and developmental and social learning theories as foundations for planning instruction.  Beyond the core music education courses, students take specialized classes in Early Childhood Music, Popular Music Pedagogy, and Music in the Interdisciplinary Curriculum. Teaching experiences in local schools complement many of the general music courses.

Instrumental

Prepares students to teach band and orchestra in elementary and secondary music education programs. Students in the Instrumental Concentration take a thoughtful sequence of technique (“how to play”) courses on percussion, string and wind instruments. In addition to the core music education, students take advanced instrumental methods (“how to teach”) and conducting classes.  Significant observation and teaching experiences in either band and orchestra classrooms at both the middle school and high school level are included throughout the course of study.

Technology

Prepares students for contemporary and emerging practices related to teaching with, through, and about various technologies in P-12 music classrooms. Students in the Technology concentration of the BME degree program have the opportunity to explore areas including, but not limited to computer programming, digital and electronic music creation, electrical engineering, mediated educational environments, multimedia, sound recording and reproduction, and/or sound reinforcement. Additionally, students in this concentration apply their experiences in these varied fields to P-12 music education settings via a capstone portfolio project.

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • EPSY 201—Educational Psychology
  • MUS 101—Music Theory and Practice I
  • MUS 107—Aural Skills I

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Music educators have teaching careers available in preschools through high schools, adult learning centers, and private studio teaching.

Common Career Skills
  • Ability to concentrate and practice musical instruments for long periods
  • Ability to make critical observations
  • Ability to read musical notes accurately
  • Basic tools of self-promotion
  • Confidence
  • Creativity
  • Competencies in business management, computers, or marketing to broaden employment possibilities.
  • Flexibility regarding work schedules
  • Good finger responses
  • Good listener
  • Positive attitude 
  • Team player but also ability to work alone
  • Works well under pressure
Common Career Titles
  • Adult Education Teacher
  • Curriculum Specialist
  • Education Management
  • Educational Resource
  • Educational Therapist
  • Elementary Teacher
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • Secondary School Teacher
  • Tutor
  • Vocational Rehab Counselor

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • American String Teachers Association: dedicated to the promotion and advancement of string playing, teaching, and orchestral development. Offers professional development for string performers and string educators, including workshops, technique masterclasses, and social events.
    • Illinois Student Association of Music Scholars: Augments the academic experience, scholarship, and community of students in musicology and related fields of music scholarship through community interaction and social engagement.
    • Student Education Association: offers professional opportunities to learn about issues teachers face while providing students with the skills and experiences necessary to become the best teachers. We also focus on community outreach and political action; serving as an organization for well-rounded, top-notch, future leading educators.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Music Education.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Music Education.  These organizations include Music Teachers National Association and Illinois Music Educators Association.

Landscape Architecture

Major Description

Landscape Architecture orients students to the profession and its specialties while developing both breadth of viewpoint and technical competency in the widest possible range of activities. Aspects include an understanding of the natural resource constraints on land-use for design decisions and activities; an awareness of the cultural determinants of human behavior and the social, political, economic, and legal institutions that influence these decisions; a working knowledge of the basic skills used in the design profession; and a guiding sense of responsibility to the land.

More About Landscape Architecture
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • LA 101 – Introduction to Landscape Architecture
  • LA 222 – Islamic Gardens & Architecture
  • LA 242 – Nature & American Culture
  • GGIS 103, GEOL 100 or GEOL 107 – Earth’s Physical Systems, Planet Earth, or Physical Geology
  • GGIS 220 – Landscape, Ecosystems and Environmental
  • HORT 223 – The Intelligent Behavior of Plants

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Landscape Architects work on a vast array of projects in diverse settings: parks, campuses, memorials, reuse of salvaged materials/infrastructure, residential design, urban revitalization, rain gardens, green roofs, heritage study and transportation. Because the BLA at the U of I is accredited, with some additional study and supervision, our graduates are license eligible.

Common Career Skills
  • Developing a landscape plan based on the requirements of the client, interest groups and needs of the animals and plants of the area
  • Meeting with interested parties to report on the landscaping plan and any environmental impact that may occur
  • Promoting environmental landscaping and architecture in the various sectors of the economy
  • Providing evaluations of the various plans and making recommendations to clients
  • Researching various land types, animals, plants and other living organisms in the area to be landscaped
  • Ability to analyze problems in terms of design and physical form
  • Ability to communicate effectively–orally and in written and graphic form–with clients, the public, and other professionals
  • Artistic talent–the ability to see and compose functional, creative environments
  • Sensitivity to landscape quality
  • Skills in all aspects of professional practice including management and professional ethics
  • Technical competence to translate a design into a built work
  • Understanding of the arts and a humanistic approach to design
Common Career Titles
  • Business Owner
  • Civil Engineer
  • Civil Engineer Technician
  • Drafter
  • Environmental Planner
  • Graphic Designer
  • Historical Preservationist
  • Industrial Designer
  • Land Trust Manager
  • Landscape Architect
  • Landscape Designer
  • Park & Recreational Planner
  • Professor/Educator
  • Real Estate Developer
  • Regional Landscape Planner
  • Residential & Commercial Designer
  • Site Planner
  • Urban Designer
  • Urban or Regional Planner

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience: for BLA students, study abroad programs are available in Sheffield, England; Taipei, Taiwan; Uppsala or Alnarp, Sweden
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • American Society of Landscape Architects – Illinois Student Chapter: promotes student engagement, creates professional networks, helps to develop necessary skill sets, and encourages academic growth.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Landscape Architecture.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Landscape Architecture.  These organizations include The American Society of Landscape Architects, The International Federation of Landscape Architects, the Council of Landscape Architecture Boards (CLARB) for information about licensure, and ASLA-Illinois Chapter.

Industrial Design

Major Description

Industrial Design determines the form of a manufactured product, shaping it to fit the people who use it and the industrial processes that produce it. Areas of design investigation include furniture, appliances, transportation, tools, farm equipment, medical instruments, electronics, human–computer interfaces, and recreational support equipment.

Industrial designers look for innovative and better ways to do things, linking technical knowledge with understanding people and the visual arts. They approach their work as problem solving, asking, “How do people want to travel?” rather than, “Let’s build another car.” To answer such questions, industrial designers explore a broad range of alternatives through drawings and models, steadily refining their designs as they test them against the user’s needs and manufacturer’s capabilities.

More About Industrial Design
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • ARTF 101—Contemporary Issues in Art
  • ARTF 102—Observational Drawing
  • ARTF 104—Expressive Drawing
  • ARTF 106—Visualization Drawing
  • ARTD 101—Introduction to Industrial Design
  • ARTH 110 —Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Industrial Designers are well rounded problem solvers and have access to a variety of careers.

Common Career Skills
  • Ability to convey concepts with quick sketches
  • Computer proficiency
  • Creative problem-solving skills
  • Good verbal and written communication skills
  • Mechanical aptitude and basic understanding of how things work
Common Career Titles
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Industrial Designer
  • Interface Designer or Developer
  • Multimedia Designer
  • Product Designer
  • Product Developer

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Industrial Design. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Industrial Design. These organizations include: Industrial Designers Society of America and IDSA’s Women in Design.

Graphic Design

Major Description

Coursework addresses graphic design fundamentals (typography, critical thinking, and image making), design history and contemporary practices, research methods, user experience, and social responsibility. Students engage with complex problems and are asked to identify opportunities where design can intervene. In addition, students have the opportunity to develop their personal interests by taking advantage of a highly interdisciplinary selection of elective courses offered by the School of Art & Design, including photography, video, traditional printmaking, sustainability, and advanced interaction design.

More About Graphic Design
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • ARTD 151—Introduction to Graphic Design
  • ARTF 101—Contemporary Issues in Art
  • ARTF 102—Observational Drawing
  • ARTF 104—Expressive Drawing
  • ARTF 106—Visualization Drawing
  • ARTH 110—Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Students who graduate from the program are equipped for a broad range of practices in the design field.

Common Career Skills
  • Adapt techniques, tools and materials to different printing processes, plan step-by-step procedures to attain desired visual effects
  • Create new ideas and communicate them graphically
  • Interpret rough sketches, data, or verbal instructions to produce creative art work
  • Use pictures, typography and arrangement to enhance written messages and promote the sale of goods, services and ideas
  • Visualize and evaluate finished products before completion; weigh aesthetic alternatives and make choices
Common Career Titles
  • Art Director
  • Graphic Designer
  • Multimedia Designer
  • Editorial Designer
  • UI/ UX Designer
  • Packaging Designer
  • Environmental Designer

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Graphic Design.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Graphic Design.  These organizations include American Institute of Graphic Arts and Graphic Artists Guild.

Dance

Major Description

You can choose from various programs that match your dreams, goals and ambitions and tailor make your program to build a sustainable career in the arts: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts + BS in Kinesiology, Musical Theater Minor, Yoga Certification and Dance Minor.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (BFA)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) provides comprehensive study in dance specifically designed for students who want to make an impact on the field as professional dancers, dance makers, teachers and visionaries. Requiring 77-80 credit hours in dance, this program features in-depth interactions that will prepare you to enter the professional world of dance through in-depth interactions with major artists in the field, collaborative experiences within a diverse and interdisciplinary curriculum, and individualized mentoring with our faculty. When you graduate from this program, you will be prepared to lead the field of dance as a visionary, advocate, performer, choreographer and/or teacher.

See more information on BFA degree requirements.

Bachelor of Arts in Dance (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts program provides a flexible, individualized and interdisciplinary approach to dance studies and art making, specifically designed for students who want to integrate studies from another field with their passion for dance. Requiring 52 credit hours in dance, this degree is highly self-directed and allows you to simultaneously pursue a minor or major in another discipline. Create your own path through the career preparation courses and career building opportunities such as the BA + BS in Kinesiology, Yoga Certification or a Musical Theatre Minor. Synthesize your studies in a senior thesis project, developed under the mentorship of our world-renowned faculty and present your research to the entire community. When you graduate from this program, you will be prepared to build your own unique career based on your selected course of studies.

See more information on BA degree requirements.

More About Dance
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • DANC 150—Green Room
  • DANC 160—Dancing Techniques I
  • DANC 232—Repertory Company
  • DANC 270—Dancing in Community

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

With broad skills, our graduates choreograph, become artistic directors, dance on Broadway, teach, write, and thrive in body-based professions.

Common Career Skills
  • Arts Administration
  • Dance History and Criticism
  • Dance Notation
  • Dance Therapy
  • Somatics (such as Alexander Technique, Pilates, Feldenkrais)
  • Physical Therapy
  • Teaching: university, studio, and public school (K-12 certification requirements vary from state to state)
  • Ability to accept public scrutiny and criticism
  • Ability to analyze and interpret emotions
  • Ability to captivate audiences
  • Ability to demonstrate emotions/ideas
  • Ability to interact with people of differing backgrounds and personalities
  • Ability to maintain composure under pressure
  • Disciplined in an exercise program
  • Good ability to concentrate/practice
  • Imagination/Creativity
  • Proficiency in all types of dance
Common Career Titles
  • Artist-in-Residence
  • Arts Council Director
  • Ballet Mistress or Master
  • Choreographer
  • College Professor
  • Company Dancer
  • Consultant
  • Dance Designer
  • Dance Studio Owner/Manager
  • Dance Therapist
  • Director
  • General Manager
  • Grants Specialist
  • Instructor
  • Marketing Assistant
  • Personnel Manager
  • Physical Therapist
  • Press Agent
  • Private Teacher
  • Production Assistant
  • Booking Agent
  • Technician

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • Illini N Motion Dance Team: focuses on student-run and student-choreographed dance routines ranging from hip-hop to lyrical, including Jazz, Tap, Pointe, Ballet, and Modern
    • Legend Dance Company: provides an outlet for talented students of all majors to express themselves through choreography and performance of dance

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Dance.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Dance.  These organizations include American Dance Guild, Dance USA, and National Dance Education Organization.

Division of Exploratory Studies
Illini Union Bookstore, Floor 5
807 S. Wright Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
217-333-4710

Campus Center for Advising and Academic Services

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