Graphic Novel Writing & Illustration Certificate
March 14, 2008
Emerson College's Graphic Novel Writing & Illustration Program offers the perfect opportunity to develop your writing and illustration skills, and adapt your creative talents to the exciting graphic-novel medium. Through the program, you will explore your interest in picture books, novellas, and comic strips in seminars designed to chronicle the literature and artwork of graphic novels.
You also will delve into the world of graphic-novel writing and illustration through a course of study focused on specific story-writing and image-creation techniques. Participants who complete the four core courses as well as two electives from the non-credit graphic novel and illustration series will earn the Graphic Novel Writing & Illustration Certificate.
WHO SHOULD ENROLL
The Graphic Novel Writing & Illustration Program is open to creative writers, graphic and fine artists, graphic-novel aficionados, and individuals who would like to develop writing and illustration skills to create a graphic novel. Each participant in the program may enroll in one or several multi-session courses to match his or her personal objectives and schedule.* The certificate, however, will be awarded only to participants who successfully complete all components of the Graphic Novel Writing & Illustration Certificate Program.
*Note: Participants must hold a minimum of a high school diploma or GED to enroll in graphic novel writing and illustration courses and workshops offered by the Department of Professional Studies & Special Programs.
CORE COURSES
CE0351-9 Introduction to Comic Art
10-session course, offered fall and spring semesters $625.00
View the graphic-novel medium from an international standpoint as you focus on the characteristics of comic art through representative works drawn from comic books and strips published during the past 100 years. In this course, you will develop an awareness of the continuing evolution of comic art, and gain an appreciation for the role of the graphic-novel illustrator, who must possess the ability to tell a story—through pictures—without relying on words.
CE0352-9 Graphic Novel As Literature
10-session course, offered fall and spring semesters $625.00
Become familiar with graphic-novel literature through an in-depth study of the nature and content of novels from
the genre. In this course, participants will discuss and critique several storytelling, character development and illustration approaches, and then apply these methods to representative pieces. The reading list for the course will include pieces from the memoir, fantasy, fiction, social criticism and history graphic-novel subgenres. Sessions will include discussions of such writers as Art Spiegelman, Craig Thompson, Will Eisner, and Marjorie Satrapi.
CE0353-9 Writing the Graphic Novel 1
10-session course, offered fall and summer semesters $625.00
In this course, participants will focus on developing an effective story idea, structuring the graphic novel, writing effective dialogue, and completing an outline for his or her original graphic novel.
CE0354-9 Illustrating the Graphic Novel 1
10-session course, offered spring and summer semesters $625.00
Each participant, with or without drawing experience, will work at creating the best images for his or her story as well as plot development through graphic presentation.
ELECTIVE WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS
CE0355-9 Writing the Graphic Novel 2
6-session course, summer semester $300.00
(For individuals who would like to work toward refining the written content of their manuscripts)
Participants interested in rewriting their graphic novels or developing new works will focus on strengthening their writing skills. (Prerequisite: CE0353-9, Writing the Graphic Novel 1)
CE0356-9 Illustrating the Graphic Novel 2
6-session course, summer semester $300.00
(For individuals who would like to work toward refining the illustrational content of their manuscripts)
Illustrating the Graphic Novel 2 will interest participants who would like to continue developing their illustration and plot development skills. In this course, participants will continue to polish their best images, and develop plot through graphic presentation. (Prerequisite: CE0354-9, Illustrating the Graphic Novel 1)
CE0357-9 Final Portfolio Project Review
6-session course, offered future semesters $300.00
(Certificate candidates only may enroll in this course)
Participants will rewrite, refine, and present their graphic novel for critical review, and be encouraged to submit manuscripts for publication. Participants also will learn to collaborate with a writer or illustrator for their professional growth.
CE0358-9 Professional Practices Seminar
6-session course, offered future semesters $300.00
In this course participants will discuss topics pertinent to real-world-work as a graphic novelist including copyrights and survival strategies for artistic collaboration, self-promotion, publication, and marketing.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
Professional Studies participants may choose to work towards a Graphic Novel Writing & Illustration Certificate. The following guidelines apply to all non-credit, non-degree certificate individuals at Emerson College:
- Individuals must satisfy the certificate program requirements published for the term in which they register for the first course toward the certificate.
- All individuals must complete coursework for a certificate program within a period of three years from his or her initial date of registration.
- Only learning activities offered by Emerson College’s Department of Professional Studies & Special Programs may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a certificate program.
- Enrollment in non-credit, non-degree certificate programs is open to all individuals who have a high school diploma or GED. Prerequisite requirements apply in some instances. To receive a certificate, individuals must submit a “Request for Certificate” form to the Department of Professional Studies & Special Programs within one year of program completion.
INSTRUCTORS
Michael Brennan, instructor of Illustrating the Graphic Novel 1; Professional Practices Seminar; andFinal Project Portfolio Review
In 1990, Michael began working on the precursor to Electric Girl in the form of a comic strip. He retooled the concept and published the first issue of Electric Girl comic book in 1998. The Electric Girl comic books have been collected into a series of three trade paperbacks published by AiT/PlanetLar.
Michael has received extensive recognition for Electric Girl, Volume 1. He was nominated for one of the graphic novel industry's highest honors, the Eisner Award, in 2001. The Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, selected Electric Girl, Volume 1 for its list of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults 2002. The Library Journal named Electric Girl, Volume 1 a must-have graphic novel.
Michael is a principal of the graphic design firm, Stormship, located in Medford, Massachusetts, and he works as a freelance illustrator.
Andy Fish, instructor of Illustrating the Graphic Novel 1
Andy is an artist of both fine and graphic art, and also a graphic-novel writer. Mr. Fish was a recent guest speaker at Emerson College's Graphic Novel Industry Night. Scroll down for Mr. Fish's additional biographic information.
Dave Kiersh, instructor of Introduction to Comic Art
Dave is a cartoonist and illustrator. His comic books include A Last Cry for Help, and Dave K. Greatest Hits. He also has worked as a museum educator, teacher and librarian. Dave studied popular culture and literature at The New School University, where he received a bachelor's degree. He also holds a master's degree in Library Science from Queens College, where he completed a thesis concerning the history of comics fandom. Dave is a passionate collector of original comic art and is interested in a wide range of techniques and styles.
Matt Mosher, instructor of Writing the Graphic Novel 1
Matt teaches writing at Emerson College, Northeastern University, and ImprovBoston, where he served as director of education from 2001 to 2002. He is the author of the upcoming comic book series, Deadbeats, which will be available online in 2008. Matt has written for the PBS television series, The Visionaries, and Page 6, a mini-plot commissioned by Fox Television. Matt holds a master of fine arts in Creative Writing from Emerson College.
Elisabeth Price, instructor of Graphic Novel as Literature
Elisabeth earned her master of fine arts degree in Creative Writing from Emerson College. She taught expository- and research-writing courses while at Emerson College, and used graphic novels as an integral part of her curriculum. Elisabeth holds a bachelor of philosophy degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Miami University, where she spent more than a year studying and critiquing the integration of words and images in storytelling, particularly in the graphic-novel form. She writes, illustrates, and guides historic tours in Boston.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WRITING & ILLUSTRATION INDUSTRY NIGHT GUEST SPEAKERS
Andy Fish, writer/cartoonist will speak Monday, November 19, 2007 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 80 Boylston St., 2nd Fl, Boston.
Andy has created comic book characters that have been published in many formats, including in print and on the Internet. As a graphic novel writer, his stories include The Tragic Tale of Turkey Boy and Jerry Claus, and The Return of Dark Santa. Mr. Fish has several books in progress. He is currently illustrating for the Batman Graphic novel entitled Batman: 1940 for D.C. Comics, due for release in 2008. Andy attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and the Rhode Island School of Design. In addition to creating graphic novels, Andy also works as a graphic designer and painter. His artwork has been featured in numerous gallery shows throughout the United States.
In 2004, Andy won an INKY award for his Internet comics.
Rob Stull, illustrator will speak Monday, November 19. 2007 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 80 Boylston St., 2nd Fl., Boston
Rob Stull is a 14-year veteran of the comic book industry. His work includes inking and or penciling for such comic book projects Spider-Man Adventures, Sensational Spider-Man, Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Out of Reach, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Force, New Mutants, and Wolverine for Marvel Comics, to name just a few. Rob was the creator and curator of Sequential Art: The Next Step, a traveling exhibit that spotlighted the contributions and impact of African Americans on mainstream comic book art and popular culture. The exhibit traveled for ten years and featured more than 100 works of art by 15 different mainstream contemporary African-American comic-book artists. Mr. Stull also is founder of Armada Design Group, a New York based design studio with a mission to combine comic books and hip-hop. The studio produced illustration work for such clients as Virgin Records, Tommy Boy Records, The Fader Magazine and Cornerstone Promotions. Rob is director of Visual Arts for Melting Earth productions Group, a creative services organization focused on three vertical markets: music for video, video for music, and business for artists.
GRAPHIC NOVEL WRITING & ILLUSTRATION PROGRAM TUITION & PAYMENTS
Tuition is due upon registration for all Graphic Novel Writing & Illustration Program courses and workshops offered through the Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs. Tuition is calculated per course and individuals must pay tuition in full prior to participating in the courses of their choice.
Students may incur additional course-related expenses. Such additional expenses are separate from tuition costs and payments.
Emerson College reserves the right to change any provision of its programs and courses at any time. The College specifically reserves the right to change its tuition rates and any other financial charges. The College also reserves the right to rearrange its courses and class hours, to drop courses for which registration falls below the minimum enrollment, and to change instructor assignments.
