


About the Children’s Book Writing Program
Learn the Craft of Children's Book Writing
The Children’s Book Writing Certificate is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the skills and tools to improve one's chances of being published as a writer. It also introduces aspiring professionals to a variety of media and advanced topics required for a thriving book-writing career.
Children's books impart a wide range of knowledge in order to capture imaginations and engage minds—and writers have the challenging task of creating stories that both entertain and inform children.
The courses in this program are administered in an ONLINE format.
--ONLINE courses have pre-recorded lectures each week and guided assignments from the instructor; course materials are housed on Canvas.
What You Will Learn
Throughout this program, students will have the opportunity to hone their technique by learning the art of children’s book writing, as well as how to get published and choose genre or age-specific electives to enhance specific goals.
- The nuances of picture books, easy readers, early chapter books, middle-grade novels, young adult novels, children's magazines, fiction and nonfiction.
- The best way to choose an idea for a thriving book-writing career.
- The history of children’s literature, to provide a deeper understanding of the evolution of this genre.
- How to benefit from fellow student and instructor critiques to improve your revisions.
- How to write a catchy query letter or intriguing cover letter to capture an editor's attention for publishing your work.
- Tips for marketing your work will also be offered.
This Program Is Designed For
- Those seeking to enter the world of children’s book writing and publishing.
- Writers interested in honing their children’s book writing skills.
- Writers seeking a specialized program focused on various age ranges and genres.
- New children’s book writers seeking to learn how to write, edit, and publish their work.
Children’s Book Writing
Information Session
(Learn more about the program in a free, online Information Session)
Required Courses
12 units
Final Required Course
(All other Required Courses and Electives must be completed first)
Electives
Min 6 units required (Offerings subject to change. Certificate students must follow Matrix as listed in their MyExtension account.)
Additional Information
For further information about this program, please enroll in the online on-demand Children’s Book Writing & Illustration Program Information Session. Questions about our classes or certificates? Contact our department at 858-534-5760 or ahl@ucsd.edu.
Conditions for Admission
Students should have a basic knowledge of English grammar and be comfortable using computers (PC or Mac).
Please see the application for specific admission requirements for this program.
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 Specialized Certificate in Children's Book Writing can be completed in 3-6 quarters (taking 1-2 courses per quarter). Tuition is $395-595 per course.
About 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.
Advisory Board
Joy Chu, B.F.A.
Edith Fine, B.A.
Deborah Halverson
Seth Lerer, Ph.D
Annika Nelson, B.A.
Annika Nelson, B.A.
Brian Selznick
Kelly Sonnack, B.A.
Peter Thomas, M.A., Ed.M.
Blair Thornley, B.F.A.
Sarah Tomp, M.F.A.
Andrea Zimmerman
Related Programs

Children’s Book Illustration
