Program summary

Program title: Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing for Youth
Award abbreviation: GCCreativeWritingYouth
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 6 months minimum full-time, 2 years maximum part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2011: postgraduate coursework places
Total courses: 4
USC program code: AR522
CRICOS code: Not available to international students on a Student Visa

Highlights

• Specialise in writing for children and young adults
• Appreciate the aesthetics of the illustrated book
• Learn to read nuances embedded in an illustrated text

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.

Study Plan

This Study Plan is valid from Study Period 1, 2011.

For students who commenced study in this program prior to Study Period 1, 2011:

• Find the Student Handbook for the semester in which you commenced.
• Select the program in which you are enrolled.
• Scroll down to your relevant Program Structure.

Program requirements and notes

• Students are required to successfully complete the 4 required courses as listed below.
• Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
• Not available to international students on a Student Visa.

Program structure

Required courses: (4)

TOTAL UNITS 48

Enquiries 

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

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

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