Course Overview
This course focuses on a selection of graphic novels to engage students with some of the main themes and contexts of the genre. We will start by studying some of the major aspects of the graphic novel form by reading introductory works by the likes of Scott McCloud that define the parameters of this genre. We will then move on to closely analyze graphic novels that feature a range of experiences as well as a variety of geographical and historical contexts, including Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, Art Spiegelman’s Maus, Thi Bui’s The Best We Could Do, among others. In addition to analyzing these works’ thematic foci, we will also study the development of the graphic novel as an emerging form in literary and cultural circles, thus tracing its production, circulation, and reception within as well as outside the US. Graphic novelists will be invited to visit the class (mostly virtually on zoom), and the course will also include field trips to LightWorks at SU (to familiarize students with hands-on production of visual texts). We will also plan a trip to the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester to visit the comic book heroes exhibition so we could study the connections between comics and graphic novels.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives – TBD
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: TBD
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school junior, or senior status – or a 2025 high school graduate.
Students applying should have taken a previous writing course.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
- Residential: $4,295
- Commuter: $3,318
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session II: Sunday, July 20 – Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 | MTWThF 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Noncredit |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Course Requirements
Required Supplies
Please know that any supply purchases are not included in the overall tuition fee. Students will need to budget for additional course supplies, textbooks, supply kits, etc.
Online copies of the required readings will be provided when available. Students might need to purchase a couple of the graphic novels.
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
In the first section of the day, we will engage in reading and discussing graphic novels, hosting guest speakers, studying the connections between text and image, etc. The second part of the day will be administered by the TA, whereby they will give hands-on advice for students to develop their reading and writing skills. The afternoon sections will also include day trips to local institutions/museums/etc. for students to also develop a hands-on understanding of the material and format of the books we are discussing and the contexts from which they emerge.
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College – On Campus activities to meet and connect with other students! Check out our On Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Carol W.N. Fadda
Carol W.N. Fadda is Associate Professor in the English Department at Syracuse University, where she is also affiliated faculty in the Women’s and Gender Studies Department. She holds a PhD in American Literature from Purdue University, and a BA and MA in English from the American University of Beirut. Her research and teaching interests extend to American Studies, women’s and gender studies, and transnational SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) studies.