Program Overview

Introduction to the Children's Book Illustration Program

The Children's Book Illustration program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the specialized skills required for a thriving career in children's book illustrating. This program introduces students to a wide variety of media and advanced topics, enabling them to translate text into imagery, capture the imagination, delight the senses, and engage the minds of kids of all ages.

Program Overview

• The program is administered in an ONLINE or LIVE ONLINE format.
  • ONLINE courses have pre-recorded lectures each week and guided assignments from the instructor, with course materials housed on Canvas.
  • LIVE ONLINE courses are fully online with live virtual weekly class meetings using Zoom, with course materials housed on Canvas.
• The program duration varies by course and quarter, with a total duration of 12-18 months.
• The cost of the program ranges from $2,500 to $2,795, excluding textbooks and other materials.

What You Will Learn

• Storyboarding, basic book structure and format, character development, style, and self-promotional strategies.
• How to build an illustration portfolio.
• Areas of elective study, including figure drawing, animal illustration, writing, and digital illustration.
• The art of navigating the children's book market.
• The history of children's literature, providing a deeper understanding of the evolution of this genre.
• How to think in pictures and focus on style as it relates to illustration.
• How to work effectively with others in the field, such as designers, editors, and authors, to create the best possible manuscript.

Program Structure

• The program consists of 18 total units, which can be completed in 12-18 months, depending on the number of courses taken per quarter.
• Required courses include:
  • Children's Book Illustration I: Thinking in Pictures
  • Children's Book Illustration II: Focus on Style
  • History of Children's Literature
  • Getting Published: Navigating the Children's Book Market
• Electives include:
  • Writing Children's Picture Books
  • Introduction to Illustration
  • Animal Illustration
  • Figure Drawing I
  • Digital Illustration Using a Graphics Tablet
  • Adobe Photoshop

Admission Requirements

• Although a college degree or professional experience in the field are not required, applicants with such experience may receive preference for admission when program capacity is limited.
• Current UCSD students may be considered for admission depending on their academic and career focus and educational performance.

Certificate Guidelines

• The Children's Book Illustration certificate program consists of 18 total units that can be completed in 12-18 months.
• Students officially have five years to complete all requirements for the certificate.

Online Courses

• Online courses in this certificate are led by live instructors, but students may view lectures according to their own schedules.
• There are no set lecture dates or times; however, students will be required to meet weekly assignment deadlines, participate in critiques, and contribute to discussion topics.
• Online students should expect to spend four to six hours per week per course.
• Online students must provide their own software.

FAQs

• Will I get hands-on experience in the program? Most courses combine theory with hands-on exercises.
• If I work full-time, will I still be able to complete this program? Yes, the program is designed to be working-student friendly.
• How long is each course? Most courses in this program are 3 units, running for 9 weeks with 3 classroom hours per week.
• How many hours can I expect to spend studying outside of class time? Each student has their own learning style, but expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour spent in-class.
• How long does it take to complete this certificate? You officially have five years to complete all requirements for the certificate, although students can typically complete the entire program in 12-16 months.

Advisory Board

• The program has an advisory board consisting of industry professionals, including authors, illustrators, and educators.

Related Programs

• Art and the Creative Process
• Children's Book Writing
• Creative Writing