Program summary

Program title: Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing for Youth
Award abbreviation: GCCreativeWritingYouth
Degree type: coursework
Study mode: on campus
Duration: 6 months minimum full-time, 2 years maximum part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2012: postgraduate coursework places
Total courses: 4
USC program code: AR522
CRICOS code: Not available to international students on a Student Visa

Enhance your professional writing skills to specialise in writing for a youth audience.

The Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing for Youth gives you the opportunity to specialise in writing for children and young adults in the genre of the illustrated book, the short story and the novel.

The first course introduces you to the basic skills required to be a creative writer. Focusing on the short story, you examine narrative elements including character motivation, plot, theme and setting, as well as basic editing skills and approaches to writing for particular audiences.

You explore creative writing for children and young adults, which can draw on many genres. You study a range of novels to develop an understanding of the thematic potential within this field, and develop creative writing techniques applicable to a youth audience.

You focus on the specific writing style needed to make the illustrative genre successful. While the children’s illustrated book has been available for many years, the graphic novel for adults is a relatively new genre and attracts a wide readership. This course does not teach illustration, but examines the print text (narrative) pertinent to this illustrated genre.

Course delivery is via lecture, workshop or tutorial.  

Admission requirements

A student entering the Graduate Certificate program will normally be required to hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognised higher education institution. Entry by non-graduates who have extensive relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Enquiries

Faculty of Arts and Business
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

Program Leader
Associate Professor Gary Crew
Tel: +61 7 5430 1130
Email: gcrew@usc.edu.au