About the Children’s Book Writing Program
Children's books impart a wide range of knowledge by capturing the imagination, delighting the senses, and engaging the mind.
Writers have the challenging task of creating stories that both entertain and inform children. The key to being a successful children’s book writer is to learn the techniques and skills that engage a child's imagination, sustain attention, and push a child toward a greater understanding of the world.
Successful writers must also understand how to flesh out ideas, revise and critique, write query letters to get published, and know the history of the medium.
This certificate provides a solid foundation in the skills and tools that improve one’s chances of being published as a writer. It also introduces aspiring professionals to a wide variety of media and advanced topics required for a thriving career.
For detailed information, please enroll in the online on-demand Children's Book Illustration and Writing Programs Information Session below.
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 workshop-focused program where they can specialize in specific children’s genre they’re most interested in.
- New children’s book writers seeking to learn how to 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.)
Courses of Interest
(Not required/Does not count toward certificate)
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
