I often get asked if art school is a good choice for a young person who wants to be a professional cartoonist. They want to know if the experience will actually prepare them for the world they’re going into, and if so, what classes should they focus on. That first question — “Will this school preppare me for the real world?” — is crucial, and I think you should evaluate any secondary-learning institution very closely in this regard. Furthermore, when I start listing the classes I think would be beneficial, art falls to the bottom of a three-part list.

So, for what it’s worth, this is how I would build a four-year degree for someone who wants to be a full-time comic creator. It assumes a 120-credit hour program, broken down into approximately 40 classes (3 credits each). I’ve grouped them by category and semester.

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