College of Science

There is no online version of the program available, but we offer several 2-week summer classes each year as part of our Summer Classes and online classes are often available.

The curriculum is divided into three quarters of coursework that run from September to June, followed by a 10-week internship that is to be completed within a 6-month time window. If the internship takes place promptly after coursework ends in June then the entire program can be completed within one year. If the internship is initiated later within the 6-month time period then the entire program may be completed within one year and three months.

The Science Illustration Program is a graduate level program, but not a master’s degree. Students receive a Graduate Certificate in Science Illustration upon completion.

We do not offer any scholarships, but students may be eligible for scholarships found online or locally, such as the Tentacles & Wings memorial scholarship.

The Science Illustration Program addresses a wider range of natural science topics than a medical illustration program would cover, including zoology and botany. If you are interested in medical illustration as one component of a broader interest in visual science communication and natural science topics, then this program may be a good fit for you and would allow you to explore multiple subjects and art styles while building greater variety into your portfolio. If you are only seeking medical illustration certification, then you may want to seek out a more specialized medical illustration program.

Our Summer Classes are open for anyone to enroll in, including high school and undergraduate students.

The program administrators will be happy to answer your questions. Contact us at scienceillustration@csumb.edu if you would like to schedule a one on one meeting with a member of the faculty.

The classroom is not open to the public and we do not allow visitors to sit in on classes in order to minimize distractions for our students. We may occasionally be able to accommodate visitors to the classroom outside of class hours, please contact us at scienceillustration@csumb.edu for more information.

You must have completed a bachelor’s degree in order to enroll in the Science Illustration Program.

You do not need to currently be enrolled as a student at CSUMB or elsewhere in order to apply. If you are an undergraduate student nearing completion of your degree you can apply to the program as long as your degree will be completed before the start of the program.

You will apply directly to the Science Illustration Program through Cal State Apply. You do not need to be an enrolled CSUMB student in order to join the Science Illustration Program. If you are already a CSUMB student you can apply once your undergraduate degree is completed. The program’s courses are not open to other CSUMB students outside of the Science Illustration Program, but CSUMB students are able to register for Summer Classes.

Yes, international students are encouraged to apply. All international applicants must meet the CSUMB graduate admission requirements. You can find more information at the International Students page of our website.

An application portfolio needs to demonstrate a student's readiness to jump into our rigorous curriculum in visual science communication, so it's most helpful when the work selected for the portfolio gives us information about artistic media competency, ability to accurately render natural science subjects, and ability to communicate ideas or information, because these are the topics we focus on most heavily throughout our courses. That is not to say that every single piece in the portfolio should hit all of those points, just that we like to see some indication of your level with each of those components across the entirety of your application portfolio.

All 2D and 3D artistic mediums are acceptable, including traditional and digital media. Applicants are required to include at least two digital illustrations in their portfolios that indicate basic experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or equivalent digital illustration programs. An exception is granted for those without digital experience if they attend and pass the two-week Digital Painting summer course at CSUMB.

Additional tips for building a strong application portfolio:

• Avoid including academic exercises such as timed figure drawings or value studies. These types of drawing exercises are common for anyone who takes art classes and are not very informative to the selection committee.
• Sketches, including field sketching pages, may be included but should not comprise more than half of your portfolio. It is important that the selection committee primarily sees examples of finished artwork.
• Your selection of work should demonstrate an interest in natural science. You may include non-science-related works in your portfolio, but if the entire portfolio shows a weak connection to nature or science it may be difficult for the selection committee to assess your readiness for the program.
• Make sure all of the images you include are good quality reproductions without blurriness, pixelation, distortions, or poor lighting. 
• Include examples that showcase the type of work you love to do, the types of subjects you are genuinely invested in, or the kinds of projects you would hope to work on in the program or beyond. If you describe a goal or special interest in your statement of purpose, it is important for the selection committee to see effort toward that goal or special interest reflected in your portfolio as well. 
• Attending one of the Summer Classes is a great way to create work for an application portfolio under the guidance of program faculty.

Preparation begins with successfully completing your prior degree and building a portfolio of your best work. If your background is more heavily in the arts, we recommend taking some time to build your knowledge of natural science subjects and practice scientific research skills. If your background is more rooted in science, we suggest that you build your art-making skills and practice working in both traditional and digital media.

It is also helpful to do some personal research about science illustration as a career choice. Become aware of the many areas where scientific illustrations are used and identify the types of illustration that interest you to help define your goals as an illustrator.

We require that you have some experience in digital illustration programs like Adobe Photoshop before you are eligible for acceptance. If you do not have experience creating digital artwork, we recommend attending a beginner's course at your local community college, online, or enroll in our online Digital Painting summer course at CSUMB.

If your application was submitted 2 application windows ago or less you may reactivate previous letters of recommendation but official transcripts must be resubmitted. If your previous application was submitted earlier than that, please complete the full application and submit through Cal State Apply. We recommend making some updates to your application portfolio when reapplying. You can contact jhirten@csumb.edu for advice about adjusting your portfolio for reapplying.

Classes are held Monday through Thursday, Mondays classes meet from 1pm to 3:45pm and Tuesdays through Thursdays classes meet from 9am to 3:45pm. Students have 24/7 access to the classroom and typically spend 20 to 40 additional hours a week on assignments. Due to the intensive nature of the program, we advise students to not work a full or part time job outside of class for the duration of the program.

Many students find housing on their own online or through recommendations from previous graduates. Seaside and Marina are closest to campus, but Monterey and even Pacific Grove are great options.

On-campus housing is available to Science Illustration Program students. Please begin pursuing this option as soon as you receive your acceptance letter. There is often a wait-list for on-campus housing by the time you are accepted to the program. The move-in period for on-campus housing is in August so you will need to arrive early. Visit the CSUMB Student Housing webpage for more information or contact studenthousing@csumb.edu with questions.

The Monterey Bay area is rich with natural wonders and wildlife, both above and below the water. There are several state beaches/parks in the area, including Point Lobos (Carmel), Asilomar State Beach (Pacific Grove), Fort Ord (Seaside), and many parks in Big Sur (south of Carmel). 

The famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is located on Cannery Row and student memberships are available for $75. The university often offers a one-time free pass per student each year.

Our classroom is outfitted with wifi, standing tables, and a shared kitchen space. We also have a shared printer and large format scanner. Each student is assigned a flat file drawer, a locker to store artwork and supplies, and access to dissecting microscopes.

You will receive a list of art supplies (some required, some optional) if you are accepted to the program, including computer and tablet recommendations. You may choose to purchase these supplies all ahead of time, or wait until you need them. A laptop will be required for the program’s digital media courses.

We also recommend you bring along any natural history objects you have collected over the years. During the first term, we encourage you to work from objects or preserved specimens, therefore it is nice to have some shells, plants, bones, or other items to choose from. We also have a cabinet with specimens if you do not have any yourself.

Yes. You will need a drawing tablet with pressure sensitive capabilities such as a Wacom tablet, as well as a laptop computer. An iPad can be used as a drawing tablet but you will still need a laptop computer in addition to the tablet. The specifications for both of these will be sent to you in your welcome packet once you've been accepted.

Having access to a car is very helpful in this area and is useful for attending field trips. If you do not have a car, we encourage students to carpool for class-related activities. 

Your student ID gets you free access to the local bus system. Areas close to campus are well served, but public transit in the area is not ideal for long distance travel, or commuting from nearby towns. More information about transit options can be found here: https://csumb.edu/transportation/transit/ 

An extensive bike path system leads directly from campus to nearby towns of Marina and Monterey. More information about biking at CSUMB can be found here: https://csumb.edu/transportation/biking/

Upon completion of your coursework, you will need to pursue a 10-week/400-hour internship of your choice. Usually students choose an organization or host that will help launch them into other positions, whether it be art direction, museum curation, mural work, or a freelance career. See our internships page for more information.

The internships page includes a list of past internship hosts and locations.

Many graduates go on to be self-employed and start their own freelance illustration businesses. Potential clients include natural history and science museums, researchers, medical and healthcare organizations, zoos and aquariums, botanical gardens, and science publications. You can get an idea of what kinds of clients/opportunities are out there by viewing the list of companies and organizations that have hosted our students as interns: https://csumb.edu/scienceillustration/internships/

There are also staff employment opportunities available. Several of our graduates have been employed as staff graphic designers, art directors, or animators for museums, educational organizations, and publications including National Geographic and Scientific American. 

If you'd like to see some of what our alumni are up to you can follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scienceillustration/

We post regular alumni features and try to showcase some of the interesting projects and opportunities that are out there for science illustrators.