APPLICATION GUIDE

TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAM

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed monthly – spaces in the program are therefore filled in the order received until the maximum capacity reached (no more than 16 — 20 students per year) up to the below application deadline dates.  

Students can enter at either the start of the Fall or in special situations (with approval usually reserved to prior students of Dr. Kordis) in the Spring Semester, keeping in mind the whole first semester is entirely online.

The application submission is FREE.

APPLICATION DEADLINES:

FOR BEGINNING FALL 2025: Until Full  — Registration opens January 1, 2025

NOTE: The Program does not hold online classes during the month of January as a break between semesters.  The program is also in summer break between June 1st and early September when Fall classes resume.

The process for applying to the Certificate Program has several steps:

First, complete the initial APPLICATION FORM — a simple form requiring name, email and basic contact information (through the red button on the Apply page)

You will then receive a full breakdown of the next steps, as outlined below to help prepare and submit all the application requirements.  Please make sure to check your spam if you do not receive a response within 24 hours.

After this initial step is complete, you will need to:

1. Fill out a STUDENT PROFILE FORM (shared after the initial form is complete)
2. Write a separate ONE-PAGE LETTER expressing your interest in joining the Certificate Degree program – sharing some of your artistic and/or academic background (250 – 600 words) and specifically what you hope to achieve. If you have previous experience in iconography, we would like to know more about that experience and what led you to the Writing the Light program.  Note: Dr. George Kordis will be reading these submissions personally.
3. Prepare and send a DIGITAL PORTFOLIO with a minimum of 6 – 10 works, which may be represented as jpeg or links (video) and preferably sent through a Dropbox file.  Alternatively we will accept files through GoogleDocs or wetransfer.com (please no individual photos attached to an email, and if using WeTransfer the file cannot expire within 2 weeks of submission). NOTE: The portfolio does not need to be made up solely of iconographic work – it can include drawings, paintings, sculpture or other visual media. If visual art has not been a part of your background previously, we will work with you on an individual basis.  Total beginners are welcome.

NEXT STEPS – What to expect

Once prospective students have completed all of the steps above, there will be an evaluation of the portfolio and materials submitted, with a response shared as soon as possible.

After a student is accepted into the program, it will be necessary to make an initial non-refundable deposit of $400 within two weeks of admittance to the program to formally secure a spot for the intended beginning semester (this deposit serves as the Annual Administrative Cost).

Even if similar courses have been satisfied elsewhere, it is generally required to follow the specific curriculum as outlined in the Writing the Light Certificate Program. 

Note: Any inquiries can be emailed to the Program Director Keri Wiederspahn, at info.writingthelight@gmail.com.

TUITION INFORMATION

For a full breakdown of the tuition cost for the Certificate program, please refer to the TUITION section in the dropdown menu of the Certificate section of the website.