Given the myriad ways of creating a comic, The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) curriculum exposes students to a wide array of approaches and techniques with a focus on self-publishing. Whether your comics are illustratively rendered, employ photos or clip art, are humorous or carved in wood, CCS is committed to helping each student improve. CCS offers one and two year programs and a series of summer workshops.
One-Year Certificate Program
This nine-month program (one academic year) is designed to quickly accelerate a cartoonist's growth. CCS faculty, along with frequent visiting artists will introduce a myriad of tools, techniques, and approaches to cartooning. Writing, drawing, graphic design, screen-printing, and computer skills that relate to publishing will be covered.
View the curriculum and course description
Admissions requirements and application
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Two-Year Program. After completing the One-Year Program, the second-year curriculum revolves around a yearlong thesis project. The thesis program may be completed on location or by distance in a low residency online and correspondence program.
View the curriculum and course description
Admissions requirements and application
Two-Year Program
(non-degree)
After completing the One-Year Program, the second-year curriculum revolves around a yearlong thesis project. The thesis program may be completed on location or by distance in a low residency online and correspondence program.
View the curriculum and course description
Admissions requirements and application
CCS Curriculum
One-year and two-year full-time course of study
YEAR ONE
SEMESTER 1
Cartooning Studio I
Reading and Writing Workshop I
Survey of the Drawn Story
Publication Workshop 1
Drawing Workshop 1
SEMESTER 2
Reading and Writing Workshop II
Drawing Workshop II
Field Trip and Visitors I
Cartooning Studio II
Publication Workshop II
YEAR TWO
SEMESTER 3
Thesis Project I
Graduate Critique Seminar I
Externship/Internship:
Community Narratives
Visiting Artist Seminar
SEMESTER 4
Thesis Project II
Graduate Critique Seminar II
Professional Practices
Field Trip and Visitors II
Course Descriptions
YEAR ONE
Semester One:
Cartooning Studio I
This studio class explores the formal underpinnings of comics and provides an overview of tools and techniques involved in making them.
Reading and Writing Workshop I
What is good writing and how do you create it?
This class poses this question by various exercises, writing assignments and close readings of classic literature, essays, graphic novels, and plays.
Survey of the Drawn Story
From the tapestries of Medieval Europe to the woodcut novels of Frans Masereel,
to MAUS and the modern graphic novel, this lecture gives an exhilarating overview of the drawn story.
Publication Workshop I
This course focuses on graphic design and desktop applications.
Weekly assignments revolve around creating online and traditional publications using various technologies and applications.
Drawing Workshop I
Drawing is seeing, a powerful tool for creating and thinking. This class focuses on observational drawing.
Semester Two:
Reading and Writing Workshop II
A continuation of Reading and Writing I with an emphasis on dialogue and scriptwriting.
Drawing Workshop II
A continuation of Drawing Workshop I with an emphasis on perspective and figure drawing and sketchbook practice.
Field Trip and Visitors I
A weekly seminar where guest artists are invited to talk about a wide array of tools and techniques
(digital photography, graphic design, web design, silk screening, etc.) and their own approach to their work.
This class will include field trips to Montreal, Boston, and New York to visit artists, studios, publishers, print shops, and museums.
Cartooning Studio II
Continuation of the studio class that explores the formal underpinnings of comics and an overview of tools and techniques.
Weekly assignments will challenge students to create clear and compelling visual narratives.
Publication Workshop II
A continuation of Publication Workshop I, this class will teach students to color a comic,
build a web site, and create printer-ready documents. Student will also gain experience by working on
professional assignments supervised by the instructor.
Course Descriptions (continued)
YEAR TWO
Semester Three:
Thesis Project I
The student will formulate a yearlong project that builds upon the skills acquired during year one.
This class will involve research and creating a preliminary proposal to present to a thesis committee comprised of CCS instructors.
In addition, students will choose an artist as their thesis faculty advisor.
They work with the thesis advisor on a one-to-one basis and establish a work schedule to research, write and visualize their thesis project.
Graduate Critique Seminar
This studio seminar provides opportunity for all current graduate students to participate in and experience
group critique of their work and that of others. Seminar includes discussion of intention, structure, content,
context and meaning of the studio work, and sessions with guest critics and artists.
Visiting Artists Seminar
A series of seminar/studio dialogue with the CCS artist-in-residence and visiting artists.
Internship/Externship: Community Narratives
Students can choose between community-based teaching externships and industry internships.
Semester Four:
Thesis Project II
The student will continue to work on their yearlong thesis project guided by their thesis advisor. Students will be required to produce a publication documenting their thesis by semester's end. Students are required to exhibit their work.
Graduate Critique Seminar II
A continuation of the studio seminar that provides opportunity for all current graduate students to participate in and experience group critique of their work and that of others. Seminar includes discussion of intention, structure, content, context and meaning of the studio work, and sessions with guest critics and artists.
Professional Practices
This class prepares the students for graduation. Putting together a portfolio, cover letter, business cards, and marketing themselves as artists will be covered. Featured speakers from the business side of cartooning will lecture.
Field Trip and Visitors II
A continuation of Field Trip and Visitors I, this class will include lectures and field trips to visit artists, studios, publishers, print shops, and museums.
Seminar
This course explores new topics and subjects on cartooning and beyond.
The purpose of this seminar is to explore beyond the culture and subject of
comics and looking at fine arts, poetry, painting, gender issues, global
issues, linguistics, and other fields of study. A variety of scholars and
artist practitioners will lecture throughout the term offering a broad range
of subject expertise. This course is available to students seeking advanced
learning opportunities.
TRANSFER STATEMENT:
Credits earned at The Center for Cartoon Studies are transferable only at the discretion of receiving school.
CCS Fellowship Program
This CCS Fellowship is awarded to an emerging cartoonist who has already
achieved significant critical and/or professional stature. The program is
designed to help the cartoonist enter the next phase of their career by
providing faculty guidance, lab access, studio space, and The Schulz Library
borrowing privileges. In addition, the fellow would have full access to
audit CCS's courses and attend lectures.
All qualified candidates must come under the recommendation of one of CCS's faculty or advisory committee members. At this time, CCS doesn't accept inquiries for the Fellowship Program.
Illustration by BRANDON ELSTON
Summer Workshop
Every summer CCS offers a workshop for young artists. Last summer's students self-published several comics in a week, under the guidance of professional cartoonists!
Create Comics Summer 2008
June 23-27
Back by popular demand, Create Comics Summer Workshop, considered a ‘boot camp’ for cartoonists, ideal for ages 16+. The 5-day workshop packs in the essentials for producing your own comics. This year faculty includes Steve Bissette (Taboo, Swamp Thing), Robyn Chapman (Hey! Four eyes!), Alec Longstreth (Phase 7), Aaron Renier (Spiral-Bound) and Jason Lutes
(Berlin).
Download Create Comics
Registration Form (pdf)
Space is limited.
Email registration@cartoonstudies.org to join our email list or to ask questions about the summer workshop.
Click here more information and details on the workshop...
©2008 The Center for Cartoon Studies | PO BOX 125, White River Junction, Vermont 05001 | 802.295.3319 | info@cartoonstudies.org
