About the Course

Writing About Art and Visual Design

Do you have a flair for design, and an eye for what makes a scene or image visually effective? In this course, you will explore historically significant and modern works of visual design—including photography, paintings, films, video games, comics, and more. By studying and writing about elements of art and design, you will learn to recognize how images are created, and how audiences perceive them. You will become a careful observer and a more precise, descriptive writer and critical reviewer as you write well-developed essays that examine elements of visual design, consider the creator’s intentions and audience, analyze placement and sequencing, explore the themes specific images and visual elements convey, and more. Throughout the course, you and your classmates will share your creative work with each other. At the end of the course, you’ll craft your own visual essays analyzing the visual representation of theme in a film. This course is great for artistic students who want to pursue their interest and develop their skills in analytical writing, digital media, and design.

Time commitment: 3-5 hours of independent work per week.
 

Course Overview

Classes

Register for an Online course by selecting an open class below. If no open classes are listed, then course enrollment is currently closed. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY.

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12 weeks
$695
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Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level Not required CTY-Level
Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

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Cost and Financial Aid

  • Tuition
    • Varies
  • Application fee
    • Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)
Financial Aid

CTY Financial Aid Availability for Online Programs:

Academic Year 2023-24 (Course start dates July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024): We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs.

Academic Year 2024-25 (Course start dates July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025): Financial Aid funding is currently available for all eligible students while funding lasts. If interested in applying for financial aid, please select a course with start date of July 1, 2024 or later.

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Earning School Credit

Recommended school credit: One half of an academic year

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Technical Requirements

This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client, and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.

Terms & Conditions

Students may interact in online classrooms and meetings that include peers, instructors, and occasional special guests.

After a you complete a course, your projects may be used to illustrate work for future students. 

About Language Arts at CTY

Enhance your skills in creative writing and critical reading, learn to craft effective sentences, and develop an analytical approach to reading and writing through our Language Arts courses. Guided by our expert instructors, you can further develop your communication skills in our interdisciplinary visual fluency courses, and explore topics in communication theory, design theory, and cognitive psychology. Through coursework and online discussions with classmates from around the world, you’ll elevate your writing structure and style, hone your craft, and become an adept wordsmith fluent in the language of literary arts. 

Write, Edit, Publish

Walk in the shoes of a writer, editor, and publisher this fall in Master Class I: Writing, Editing, and Publishing, and then collaborate with peers to create the next issue of our CTY Online student-developed literary journal, Lexophilia, in Master Class II: Writing, Editing, and Publishing, offered in the winter.

Explore Greek Myths

Newly revised for fall 2021, you'll read, discuss, and write about Greek myths in Young Readers’ Series: Greek Myths Revisited, studying exciting, heroic characters and ancient narratives that continue to teach us all valuable lessons about life, love, and family.

Meet our Language Arts Instructors