In order to receive the certificate, students must:
- be admitted as a post-baccalaureate student; you cannot receive the Comics Studies certificate as an undergraduate. Portland State undergraduates interested in pursuing the certificate should see the English department for details.
- meet academic standards--Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the following categories:
- all undergraduate course work outside PSU (if applicable)
- all PSU graded credits.
- Students who do not meet these standards may apply with a statement explaining their background and academic plans and may be accepted on a probationary status.
- fill out the online application.
To continue in the program, students are required to be in good academic standing, requiring a cumulative 3.00 GPA for all post-baccalaureate coursework taken at PSU and a term GPA of at least 2.67 each term.
Application Process
Deadlines: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
University Application: Complete the University Post-Baccalaureate application.
Departmental Application: Complete the application at www.pdx.edu/comics-studies/apply
The Comic Studies application requires:
A statement of intent: A personal introduction that describes your interest in comics and comic art, your reasons for pursuing the Certificate in Comics Studies, and what most interests you about comics (creation, writing, editing, drawing, history, theory, critical scholarship, etc.).
Copies of transcripts from previously-attended universities and/or colleges.
Requirements
Core Requirement
| Eng 449/549 | Advanced Topics in Cultural Studies: Comics History & Theory | 4 |
Elective Options (Choose 5):
All courses counted towards the Comics Studies Certificate must be completed at Portland State; no transfer credits will be accepted.
Other courses (e.g., internships) may be substituted for electives at the direction of the Program Director.
Other courses in additional departments TBA.
Eng 410/510: Special Topics in Comics Studies, listed above as an elective option, may include courses such as:
- Editing Comics
- Focus on Frank Miller/Will Eisner
- European Comics
- Autobiographical Comics
- Superheroes and Society
- Censorship and the Comics Code
Completion Requirements
To be awarded the certificate, students must complete the core requirement and 5 elective courses (for 24 total credits) with a grade of C or higher (or Pass) for each course.