60-122 Comics for Non-Majors
10 units, Carnegie Mellon University
In this course, students will learn practical and technical skills to communicate their ideas more effectively through comics and sequential art. The first half of the semester will focus on defining the language of comics, and, through a series of technical and exploratory exercises, students will learn the basic tools needed to improve/refine their visual storytelling skills. Specific challenges, such as silent-panel storytelling and modular panel layouts, will be introduced to spark curiosity and encourage students to reexamine their assumptions about the medium. In the second half of the term, students will conceptualize and execute a fully realized four-page comic or an excerpt from a larger story. In addition to creating new comics, we will explore the origins of the modern graphic novel through comic readings. Students will be exposed to both graphic and non-graphic artists whose works have challenged and redefined the genre. We will explore these artists to understand how our work draws on a rich lineage. Students will also be encouraged to think beyond the commonly accepted notions of what constitutes a comic and will ultimately be challenged to question how their perspective and voice best align with the medium.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Fall 2026
Courseweave needs JavaScript to show sections, workloads and planning tools.