Illustration, AOS

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Illustration, AOS

This professional degree provides an intensive curriculum in a close-knit community of like-minded creatives. In just two years, you will gain the skills and knowledge to thrive in a variety of industries and leave with a specialized portfolio. Come to Manhattan and immerse yourself in a city full of inspiration.

Collage of three different illustrations by Graphic Design students. They are laid side by side and have three distinct styles.

Type: Undergraduate, AOS
Credits: 66
Duration: 4 Semesters
Courses: Plan of Study
School and Department: School of Art,
Associate Degrees

An illustration with a hand at the very top grabbing a mosquito-like character. Beneath is a fish-headed man with fishing rod that has a shark trapped by the bait. Beneath that is a cacophony of character conveying an ecstatic imagination of a girl at the very bottom. — Work by Daniel Herrera, AOS Illustration ‘20

A Complete Design Education in Two Years

Based on Pratt’s Manhattan Campus, the two-year Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree programs deliver the same number and level of art and design courses as a BFA program in half the time by eliminating gen-ed courses. Ours are the only solely design-focused AOS programs in the United States. Students are immersed in the studio from day one, beginning with foundational art and design courses that set the basis for advanced courses in traditional illustration, digital illustration, painting/drawing, communications design, and more.

Career-Track Degree

Whether you are looking to illustrate children’s books, freelance for print or online publications, work at an agency, or apply your skills to other industries, the AOS Illustration curriculum is specially curated for those who want to gain the expert skills required to become a working illustrator. This program is ideal for those considering a move into illustration, offering advanced courses with a professional focus.

Where Our Alumni Work

Brolga – Freelance (Apple, BMW, Target, Jaguar, Nike, H&M, NYT)
Helen Escobar – Brooklyn Born Chocolate
Rinn Wight – Pratt Institute

Gain Industry Experience Through Internships

Pratt has deep roots in the New York City art and design worlds, and our second-year AOS students gain invaluable real-world experience and connections through internships. Students have held internships in a range of organizations, from The Painting Center to Marvel Studios.

Learn on State-of-the-Art Tools

You will have access to traditional art and design studios, labs with cutting-edge hardware and software, and print facilities with endless possibilities. Learning resources.

Tour Pratt’s Associate Degree Department Manhattan headquarters to get a better feel for the close-knit, professional learning environment. Department Chair Susan Young personally leads every tour. Contact her at aos@pratt.edu to arrange a tour.

Illustration of a fish made from junk food as the cover of a magazine

Outstanding Faculty Prepare You for the Professional World

As some of New York’s leading art and design experts, our faculty have a deep passion for teaching the next generation of creative professionals. They will prepare you to enter your chosen field with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed.

Edward Murr
Visiting Instructor
Rinn Wight
Visiting Instructor
Davis Cathcart
Visiting Instructor
Jimmy Huber
Visiting Instructor
Deborah Caponera
Assistant Professor
Charles Parker
Associate Professor

An Industry-Focused Degree

Our program offers an industry-focused degree with an emphasis on professional preparation. As you pursue your degree, you will work with real-world clients under the mentorship of our faculty.

Student Work

A Supportive Environment

A strong focus on community and collaboration sets Pratt’s Associate Degree Department apart. Here, you join a tight-knit, supportive environment with intentionally small classes and personal attention from our outstanding faculty and staff. You will have access to the full college experience and the option to live on Pratt’s beautiful, tree-lined Brooklyn campus.

Career Resources for Life

Students and alumni can schedule one-on-one appointments in Pratt’s Center for Career and Professional Development. These sessions pair you with a career strategist who can help develop your job/internship search strategies and life and business plans, as well as review résumés, cover letters, websites, and other marketing materials.

Learn More

News

Animation Career Review Ranks Pratt among Nation’s Top Schools for Graphic Design and Illustration

Article

Animation Career Review Ranks Pratt among Top Schools for Graphic Design and Illustration

Article

Ready for More?

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY	PORTFOLIO HELP	OUR CAMPUS & BEYOND
Thinking seriously about Pratt? Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.	Building your portfolio can be daunting. We’ll answer your questions and help you feel confident about the portfolio you submit with your application. Start building your portfolio, now.	Find yourself at home at Pratt: our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighbors. Check us out.

From the Catalog

View all Associate Degrees courses

The AOS program is a professional degree designed for high school graduates and adults with or without previous college experience. This is an intensive, two-year, all art-and-design-based curriculum, offering a strong foundation in design along with capstone courses, internship opportunities, and a professional portfolio upon graduation. The program attracts highly motivated students who, upon completing their studies, move quickly into the fields of graphic design, advertising, illustration, web design, game design, package design, and publishing, as well as an array of interactive media fields.