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In The Art of Visual Storytelling Course, students study the universal themes of traditional storytelling as well as their applications to visual narrative design and new nonlinear and interactive forms of media. Students will analyze historical examples of visual narratives and then convey ideas and emotions through the use of images and traditional storytelling techniques in order to design new narratives in a variety of entertainment media formats

In the Multimedia Terms and Genres Course, students master the professional vocabulary of multimedia writing and study production processes required of the degree program. Students will learn basic writing techniques for film, animation, and gaming. They will create sample narratives and then structure their narratives so that they may be used in multiple media formats. Students will learn how various rules and production processes vary in multimedia presentations.

The Literary Research Course provides students with basic instruction to research techniques, methodologies, and information sources relevant to developing and expanding authentic and compelling storylines. Students will explore elements of narrative structure and approaches that work best for various entertainment media genres. In addition, students will begin writing exercises, preparing them for the advanced writing requirements of the degree program.

In the Character Creation and Development Course, students are introduced to various psychological profiles for characters, create a portfolio of characters ranging from simple to complex, and give vital authenticity to characters through the creation of characters’ backstories. In addition to creating characters, students will explore how various types of media influence the development of characters. Various classic, traditional, and popular films, games, and animation will be reviewed and analyzed to further explore what types of characters are the best fit for each format.

In the Script Analysis and Criticism Course, students will learn to recognize elements that create powerful narratives and how they can be best integrated in various multimedia formats. Students will analyze classic films, animation, and games for structure, style, and content and identify how traditional scripts differ across multimedia formats and are transformed into visual narratives. An objective of the course is for students to learn the correct questions to ask themselves when preparing scripts for production in different visual contexts.

In the Film Screenwriting and Storyboarding Course, students will apply what they have learned in the previous courses by writing a screenplay for a short film and overseeing the storyboarding of the screenplay for production. Understanding screenwriting and storyboarding will provide students with the knowledge of the creative process that links all media components together. Other areas of focus will include the following: the screenplay from pitch to screen, structures and formats, and storyboarding and visual thinking.

The Writing for Games Course provides a technical overview of how games are created and presents a variety of video games, gaming genres, and gaming platforms from a storytelling point of view. Areas of exploration will include mythology, military history and warfare, science fiction literature and films, fantasy fiction literature and films, comic books, and graphic novels. Students will formulate a gaming concept that incorporates creative processes such as developing plot, setting, characters, and interactive narrative.

In the Storytelling and Storyboarding for Animation Course, the creative process and writing techniques for several animation genres and formats will be explored. The history of animation and the works of legendary animators will be analyzed for style and perspective. Students will incorporate concepts of visual storytelling, narrative structures, character creation and development, scriptwriting, and storyboarding into the creation of a script for an animation short.

In the Editing for Film, Game, and Animation Scripts Course, students learn how to edit, rewrite, and correct writing elements as challenges are presented in the production of various projects. Students will develop strategies for correcting these issues through learning how to troubleshoot, analyze content objectively from various viewpoints, and address structural issues that can occur during the creative writing process. Students will also learn how to properly edit and format a script for final presentation and professional submission

The Creative Writing Portfolio I Course requires students to select an entertainment media genre and distribution method and begin the development of a concept script for their final thesis project. The final thesis project will consist of a Creative Writing Portfolio that includes a professional, viable script with evidence of incorporated culminating components of the degree program including visual storytelling, narrative structures, character creation, and storyboarding. In addition, the Creative Writing Portfolio will document research students conducted to develop and expand authentic and compelling storylines. Students will “pitch” their concept scripts to faculty and peers and justify selected writing elements based on the specific entertainment media genre and distribution method of choice. Feedback will be provided within these contexts as well as application of current writing trends, authenticity, compelling qualities, and feasibility.

In the Creative Writing Portfolio II Course, students will reevaluate the writing elements, authenticity, compelling qualities, and feasibility of their concept scripts for their chosen entertainment media genres and distribution methods based on the feedback received from faculty and peers in the Creative Writing Portfolio I course. Students will then implement their project plans and begin the writing process. Final scripts will be properly formatted to meet the expectations of the chosen entertainment media genres and distribution methods within the entertainment media industry and will be ready to be pitched to potential employers upon graduation.

In The Business of Creative Writing Course, students will learn about the business of creative writing as well as similarities and differences among different entertainment media genres and distribution methods. This course will complement students’ writing skills with the marketing, publishing, and legal basics necessary to be successful creative writers in the entertainment media industry. In addition, current issues, topics, and trends that may impact the careers of graduates will be addressed, such as the roles of literary agents and unions, new technologies, and new opportunities.

In The Business of Creative Writing Course, students will learn about the business of creative writing as well as similarities and differences among different entertainment media genres and distribution methods. This course will complement students’ writing skills with the marketing, publishing, and legal basics necessary to be successful creative writers in the entertainment media industry. In addition, current issues, topics, and trends that may impact the careers of graduates will be addressed, such as the roles of literary agents and unions, new technologies, and new opportunities.

In the Character Creation and Development Course, students are introduced to various psychological profiles for characters, create a portfolio of characters ranging from simple to complex, and give vital authenticity to characters through the creation of characters’ backstories. In addition to creating characters, students will explore how various types of media influence the development of characters. Various classic, traditional, and popular films, games, and animation will be reviewed and analyzed to further explore what types of characters are the best fit for each format.

The Creative Writing Portfolio I Course requires students to select an entertainment media genre and distribution method and begin the development of a concept script for their final thesis project. The final thesis project will consist of a Creative Writing Portfolio that includes a professional, viable script with evidence of incorporated culminating components of the degree program including visual storytelling, narrative structures, character creation, and storyboarding. In addition, the Creative Writing Portfolio will document research students conducted to develop and expand authentic and compelling storylines. Students will “pitch” their concept scripts to faculty and peers and justify selected writing elements based on the specific entertainment media genre and distribution method of choice. Feedback will be provided within these contexts as well as application of current writing trends, authenticity, compelling qualities, and feasibility.

In the Creative Writing Portfolio II Course, students will reevaluate the writing elements, authenticity, compelling qualities, and feasibility of their concept scripts for their chosen entertainment media genres and distribution methods based on the feedback received from faculty and peers in the Creative Writing Portfolio I course. Students will then implement their project plans and begin the writing process. Final scripts will be properly formatted to meet the expectations of the chosen entertainment media genres and distribution methods within the entertainment media industry and will be ready to be pitched to potential employers upon graduation.

In the Editing for Film, Game, and Animation Scripts Course, students learn how to edit, rewrite, and correct writing elements as challenges are presented in the production of various projects. Students will develop strategies for correcting these issues through learning how to troubleshoot, analyze content objectively from various viewpoints, and address structural issues that can occur during the creative writing process. Students will also learn how to properly edit and format a script for final presentation and professional submission

In the Film Screenwriting and Storyboarding Course, students will apply what they have learned in the previous courses by writing a screenplay for a short film and overseeing the storyboarding of the screenplay for production. Understanding screenwriting and storyboarding will provide students with the knowledge of the creative process that links all media components together. Other areas of focus will include the following: the screenplay from pitch to screen, structures and formats, and storyboarding and visual thinking.

The Literary Research Course provides students with basic instruction to research techniques, methodologies, and information sources relevant to developing and expanding authentic and compelling storylines. Students will explore elements of narrative structure and approaches that work best for various entertainment media genres. In addition, students will begin writing exercises, preparing them for the advanced writing requirements of the degree program.

In the Multimedia Terms and Genres Course, students master the professional vocabulary of multimedia writing and study production processes required of the degree program. Students will learn basic writing techniques for film, animation, and gaming. They will create sample narratives and then structure their narratives so that they may be used in multiple media formats. Students will learn how various rules and production processes vary in multimedia presentations.

In the Script Analysis and Criticism Course, students will learn to recognize elements that create powerful narratives and how they can be best integrated in various multimedia formats. Students will analyze classic films, animation, and games for structure, style, and content and identify how traditional scripts differ across multimedia formats and are transformed into visual narratives. An objective of the course is for students to learn the correct questions to ask themselves when preparing scripts for production in different visual contexts.

In the Storytelling and Storyboarding for Animation Course, the creative process and writing techniques for several animation genres and formats will be explored. The history of animation and the works of legendary animators will be analyzed for style and perspective. Students will incorporate concepts of visual storytelling, narrative structures, character creation and development, scriptwriting, and storyboarding into the creation of a script for an animation short.

The Writing for Games Course provides a technical overview of how games are created and presents a variety of video games, gaming genres, and gaming platforms from a storytelling point of view. Areas of exploration will include mythology, military history and warfare, science fiction literature and films, fantasy fiction literature and films, comic books, and graphic novels. Students will formulate a gaming concept that incorporates creative processes such as developing plot, setting, characters, and interactive narrative.

Learning Strategies The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations. The Freelance Life Explains the publishing industry; how to identify staff-written and freelance articles, market a freelance product, submit a professional manuscript, and work with agents and editors.

The Writing Habit, Part 1 Explains how to discover ideas from other articles, identify types of freelance articles, recognize the difference between objective and subjective writing and the essential elements of all objective articles, how to recognize the most marketable types of fiction and keep a notebook or journal for writing projects. The Writing Habit, Part 2 Review basic grammar elements, learn how to distinguish connotation from denotation, increase your vocabulary, use language effectively, critique and revise your own writing, and write a short feature article. Supplement: Winning With Words

The Business of Writing Explains how to generate ideas for articles, understand specialized markets, research markets for your article, write a query letter, understand the copyright laws, set up a home office, keep accurate records of correspondence with editors and publishers, and tax receipts. Reference Sources for Writers Learn how to use library resources, search the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature and other resources, recognize the available specialized periodical indices, use professional directories to locate expert sources, contact recognized experts for information and/or interviews, and understand the Internet’s resource potential. Supplement: Parts of Speech

Reading for Writers (study guide) Learn to identify writing techniques and structural differences in fiction and nonfiction, trace the genesis of a piece of writing from initial concept to completed work, and how to critique others’ work for structure, focus, and market. Textbooks: • Pocketful of Prose, Volume II • Telling Stories / Taking Risks Supplement: Word Usage

Using the Writer's Market (study guide) How to quickly find information in the Writer’s Market, understand the terms used in it, how to request writer’s guidelines from publications, locate suitable markets in the guide, and judge the marketability of your work. Textbook: Writer's Market Supplement: Sentence Skills

Becoming a Professional Learn to assemble a writer’s resume, conduct a successful interview, get commissions and assignments from editors, present your manuscript to an editor in a professional manner, supply photographs to accompany articles, guard against accusations of libel, and maintain high ethical and professional standards. Becoming a Specialist Discover how to analyze your life and educational experiences, know the requirements of the writing trade and technical publications and house magazines. Learn how and when to specialize in more than one type of freelance writing, how to present editors with credentials qualifying you as an expert in your area, how to discuss your specialty with editors to obtain publication opportunities, and learn what it takes to maintain expertise in your specialty area. Supplement: The Elements of Style Once you’ve reached this point in your studies, you’ll be able to choose an area to specialize in and complete a graded assignment. The assignment will be a short article or story, a proposal, outline, or synopsis for a piece that you could send out for publication. These options are available: • Option 1: Literary Fiction The materials include an introduction to fiction, an overview of children’s literature and the short story, and instructions on planning a novel. • Option 2: Genre Fiction The materials include an introduction to the fiction genre, and an overview of the mystery, science fiction and fantasy, romance, and horror genres. • Option 3: Nonfiction The materials include an introduction to nonfiction, an overview of the essay, feature writing, writing for the media, and writing for business.