Comics and Sequential Art

This course will combine critical analysis of essential graphic novels, the basics of comic making, and excursions to visit museums and visits with significant French artists.

• Program Dates: May 12-30, 2025

• Program Location: Rice Global Paris Center | Paris, France

• Who Can Apply? Any Rice Undergraduate. This is a great course for art students and creative writers but also for science and engineering students. Learning how to combine words and pictures effectively is an essential skill for life in the 21st century. No prerequisite to take this course. Note for graduating seniors! You are welcome to apply to this course; however, Rice summer aid (i.e. Rice financial aid) is not available to seniors who have obtained enough credits to graduate by the end of the spring semester. Additionally, you will have to postpone your graduation date to the summer in order to participate. You are, however, still eligible to apply for both RICE GLOBAL tuition and travel awards included in the course application.

• Tuition Cost: $1,800 per credit hour (this course is 3 credit hours).

• What's Covered: The program will provide housing for all three weeks, metro card for all three weeks, course-set excursions/tickets, three group meals, and travel insurance.

• Financial Aid: If you already receive financial aid, you are eligible to receive financial aid for up to 9 credit hours a summer for two summer, at 50% of the tuition rate, i.e. if a Paris course is three credit hours and $5,400 total tuition, eligible students would pay $2,700. Rice summer aid (i.e. Rice financial aid) is not available to seniors who have obtained enough credits to graduate by the end of the spring semester.

  After submitting your application, our office is in direct contact with the financial aid office who will let us know if you are financial aid eligible for the summer. If you are accepted, you will immediately know how much financial aid you have available in your acceptance letter.

  To find out if you are eligible before acceptance to a course, contact: fina@rice.edu. To learn more about summer financial aid requirements, please visit: https://financialaid.rice.edu/summer-students.

• Additional Assistance from Rice Global: Students can also apply to receive additional assistance (for both tuition and travel) from Rice Global. Application for assistance is included in the course application.

• Credit Hours: 3 credit hours

• Course Instructor: Christopher Sperandio

• Course Description: Called "the 9th Art," comics are incredibly popular in France. Learn the primary language, tools, and materials of comics, as well as drawing techniques and concepts, while making your own comics. This course will combine critical analysis of essential graphic novels, the basics of comic making, and excursions to visit museums and visits with significant French artists. This course is in English and D1 credit.

• Who is this class for? This is a great course for art students and creative writers but also for science and engineering students. Learning how to combine words and pictures effectively is an essential skill for life in the 21st century.

• Course Zoom Information Session: Take a look at the Information Session recording to learn more.

• Syllabus: Take a look at the draft syllabus - subject to change.

• Does this course fulfill a distribution and/or Analyzing diversity requirement? This course satisfies the Distribution Group I requirement for undergraduate students.

• Check out relevant news articles :

  Article written about this class taught in 2024 summer: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/rice-art-professor-leverages-paris-center-exploration-french-graphic-novels

  Article about comics research at Rice: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/surviving-shards-donation-preserves-comic-art-rice

  
  

For questions, please visit our student program page or email pariscenter@rice.edu. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.