MFAComics

Our faculty are practicing cartoonists who are dedicated to eliminating any barriers between you and your dream projects. Imagine working with a critically acclaimed graphic novelist, or an Eisner-nominated writer. Our all-star faculty serve as your professional guides in everything from comics theory to publication design.

You’ll also study with faculty from related programs, such as Illustration and Writing and Literature, to help you discover new ways to bring your story to life on the page or screen.

Our graduate cartoonists emerge from the program with a toolbox of practical techniques and a strong sense of artistic identity. Their exposure to interdisciplinary work and knowledge of grassroots self-publishing helps them hit the ground running. From graphic memoir to genre fiction and comics journalism, our alumni approach creative opportunities with a passion for powerful storytelling.

Our two-year, low-residency program welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds. While some of our students have undergraduate degrees in fine arts, design, or writing, just as many have experience in completely different fields, from computer science to law. Overall, admission to our program is based on the strength of your portfolio and transcripts.

Start your application

You’ll apply to CCA and submit all required application materials via SlideRoom. Afterward, you may be contacted for an interview with a faculty member as part of the application process. Being selected for an interview doesn’t indicate applicant status or increase or decrease an applicant’s chances of being admitted into their desired graduate program. Interviews are conducted at the program’s discretion and are used to gain more insight into an application.

MFA Comics application requirements

• Application and $70 nonrefundable application fee
  To be completed and submitted on SlideRoom.
  
  
• Resume/curriculum vitae
  Please outline your educational and professional background and relevant experiences and activities, including community work. Resumes/CVs must be in PDF document format.
  
  
• Two recommendation letters
  You’ll request two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources in SlideRoom by entering the contact information for your recommenders/references. They will then receive an automated email from SlideRoom with instructions for uploading their letter of recommendation.
  
  
• Unofficial college transcripts
  You are required to provide your complete undergraduate academic history. Students who have already taken graduate courses are encouraged to submit those transcripts, too. For international applicants, all transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
  
  Please provide an unofficial transcript from the college where you will receive or have received your bachelor’s degree, as well as unofficial transcripts for all other undergraduate coursework. Unofficial transcripts will be used for review purposes.
  
  Once you have been admitted and enrolled, all students will need to submit official, sealed transcripts showing the completion of a bachelor’s degree to our graduate admissions office by August 1 of the fall semester they begin enrollment at CCA.
  
  
• Proof of English proficiency (international applicants only)
  Review and plan to meet our English proficiency requirements for graduate students.
  
  
• Personal essay
  In a personal essay, submitted as a PDF, write 500 to 1,000 words about your desire to create work within the context of comics and study the form in CCA’s graduate Comics program.
  
  
• Portfolio
  Overall, admission to our program is based on the strength of your visual art and writing portfolios.
  
  The writing portfolio should consist of a single PDF document providing a selection of writing samples (not to exceed 15 double-spaced pages total) that reflects your main areas of interest. You may include an essay, short stories, a section of a novel, creative nonfiction, a portion of a screenplay, or comic book script.
  
  The visual portfolio must include up to 15 still images (up to 5 MB each). You’re encouraged to include examples of work in the comics medium or visual art with a narrative component. Other types of work may also be submitted (e.g., painting, photography, storyboards, and graphic design). These creative visual pieces may consist of academic and professional work, and we encourage you to include examples of personal work as well.

For prospective student inquiries, including questions about the program or how to apply, please contact us