LCAD Programs

A minor in Art History gives today’s creatives a competitive edge in the fields of art conservation, architectural preservation, library and archival research, the museum profession, as well as an edge towards internships and teaching opportunities. Conducted under the guidance of an art history instructor of choice, students pursuing the minor take four additional art history courses (12 units) beyond degree requirements for the BFA.

LCAD’s Fine Arts department presents entering students with an immersive artistic experience offering a robust foundation in representational drawing, painting and sculpture with an emphasis placed on academic figuration.

Describe the theoretical aspects of picture making, incorporating effective pictorial strategies. Use appropriate technical and conceptual strategies to support their artistic intents. Describe how representational art fits into the greater art historical context. Communicate ideas clearly, in writing. Critically evaluate their own work and the work of other artists and will discern between fashionable trends and authentic explorations. Promote and market their work and their abilities to professional venues; i.e., galleries, exhibitions, educational institutions, etc.

Our program’s multidisciplinary approach recognizes that as a designer in today’s market, you must develop solutions that move seamlessly across a dynamic array of media. Our design graduates are adept with traditional theory and can lead in the innovative use of technology.

The Illustration Minor prepares students for careers across multiple industries. Graduates work in publishing creating book covers, magazine illustrations, and educational materials. Commercial opportunities include brand illustration, advertising, packaging design, and product visualization. The entertainment industry offers roles in concept art, storyboarding, character design, and visual development for film, TV, animation, and gaming. Digital careers span web illustration, social media content, app design, and user interface graphics.

This minor serves as a valuable complement to any major, broadening career options and providing students with versatile skills applicable across the entertainment industry. Whether pursuing traditional animation careers or integrating animation skills into other creative fields, students gain practical experience and technical proficiency that enhances their professional marketability.

Central to our CMF Minor is a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable design practices. Students explore eco-friendly materials, circular design principles, and the environmental impact of color and finish choices. The program emphasizes bio-based materials, recycled content alternatives, and lifecycle assessment methodologies that prepare graduates to lead the industry toward more sustainable solutions.

Today, illustrators don’t just draw narrative images for editorial and publishing purposes, they apply a broad spectrum of techniques and mediums to bring all kinds of ideas and stories to life in pursuits as varied as muralist, apparel design, gaming, publishing, advertising, marketing, and packaging applications.

LCAD’s BFA program in Animation is dedicated to ensuring that you become an exceptional storyteller who understands the entire process of filmmaking from script to screen. You will develop your abilities in traditional animation with classic artistic skills and then enhance that knowledge with fluency in the latest digital tools.

Our MFA in Drawing equips students to explore contemporary subjects through historical drawing traditions while developing a strong foundation in pictorial theory, technique, and visual communication. Students will learn to critically evaluate their work and that of others, understanding representational art within a broader art historical and cultural context. The program also prepares graduates to articulate their artistic intent and market their work professionally in galleries, exhibitions, and educational institutions.

This minor enhances any major by providing valuable visual communication skills increasingly sought across industries. Whether pursuing careers in design, UI/UX, illustration, or across the arts sector, students gain competencies in design thinking, digital literacy, and creative problem-solving that are essential in today's visually-driven marketplace.

The UI/UX Minor emphasizes practical application of design thinking and user-centered design methodologies. Students learn to bridge the gap between creative vision and technical implementation, developing skills that are essential in today's digital-first marketplace. The program balances theoretical understanding with hands-on experience using industry-standard tools and emerging technologies.

The Sculpture Minor develops essential three-dimensional skills for careers in entertainment, fine arts, and commercial design. The hands-on experience with form and anatomy enhances digital sculpting capabilities for video game development and strengthens skills in architectural model making and museum exhibit fabrication.

As a graduate of LCAD’s Game Development program, you will be multi-disciplined, team-minded, industry-ready, and employable in any studio, style, or software environment. This program is driven by an inspiring community of talented students who challenge one another and by faculty who will motivate you to create work you never thought possible.

This minor prepares students for diverse career paths including brand marketing, content creation, digital media production, brand strategy, apparel design, and entrepreneurship within the action sports and lifestyle sectors. The combination of creative skills and industry knowledge positions graduates to contribute meaningfully to this dynamic and growing field.

LCAD’s progressive Liberal Arts curriculum is designed to teach you diverse methods of critical and lateral thinking and to instill better habits of mind, which, in turn, prime you for more effective creative output.

The Drawing + Painting with Illustration Emphasis zeroes in on the art world found at the intersection of fine arts and illustration to prepare you to work in both traditional and mixed media arts. Classes will consist of narrative and concept development, mixed media, taking work to print, mural arts, and artist branding. Professional practices will cover galleries, publications, and organizations that specialize in applied works.

LCAD’s BFA program in Entertainment Design provides you the education that entertainment designers need to bring these extraordinary experiences to life. Our state-of-the-art curriculum gives you real life, hands-on instruction with concept design, model and prop making, and 3-D digital tools.

The Entertainment Design Minor prepares students for dynamic careers in the rapidly expanding entertainment industry. Graduates find opportunities as concept artists, storyboard artists, and visual development specialists in film studios, animation companies, video game-dev studios, and streaming platforms. Whether pursuing careers in feature animation, video game art direction, theme park design, or freelance concept work, this minor provides the specialized skill set and portfolio development necessary to compete in today's entertainment marketplace.

By studying the work and craft of established authors, students of the minor build a foundation for their original creative writing projects. Creative Writing minors discover how powerful literature can be as both a written and spoken expression and learn firsthand the vital role that creative writing plays in our culture and in the growth of an individual.

Open to students in good academic standing from any major who demonstrate entrepreneurial interest and creative vision. Students should have completed at least two years of their major and show evidence of creative project development. A brief application including a portfolio and entrepreneurial goals statement is required.

The Drawing + Painting Minor provides foundational visual skills that enhance career prospects across multiple creative industries. Graduates apply their refined observational abilities, color theory knowledge, and compositional understanding to roles in concept art, illustration, gallery representation, art education, and freelance artistic practice.

LCAD’s BFA Graphic Design + Digital Media with Illustration Emphasis program will help you to create a successful portfolio of work that will position you to work in a wide range of design fields. You will learn to take your talents into motion graphic work, 3D, package design, user experience and interfaces, advertising, social media, photography and video, and emerging virtual reality applications.