Essential Information
A small number of U.S. schools offer online master's degree programs in publishing. These programs last two or three years and require students to possess a bachelor's degree prior to acceptance. Before graduation, students must also complete an internship, which can be done virtually or in-person depending upon the specific program's requirements. Enrolled students will take courses that examine publishing principles, like cost control and sales methods, as well as business courses in finance and strategic planning. Students will need Microsoft Office and Web publishing software.
Master of Science in Publishing
There are very few online master's-level publishing programs available in the United States, though there are several on-campus versions of this degree program. Through an online program, students study the publishing industry, including the financial aspects of publishing and the different types of materials that can be published, such as books, magazines and journals. Upon completion of the program, students should understand the cost of publishing written material, the types of sales that are possible and the trends of the publishing industry. They should also know how to use publishing technology, including Web publishing software.
Program Information and Requirements
The online master's degree program in publishing typically takes between 2-3 years to complete, and students must have previously completed a bachelor's degree. The master's-level program is available completely online, with no on-campus requirements. Instead, students access courses through educational servers like Blackboard, which allow them to interact with other students and their professors over the Web.
Students must have a computer, a reliable Internet connection and familiarity with basic Web communication, such as e-mail. They also need to be able to use Microsoft products, such as Word, and have access to them so they can turn in assignments.
Course Topics
For this program, students take online courses specifically related to publishing and to business. Students can complete the lessons and view the lectures totally online.
Financial Aspects of Publishing
Students examine the possible earnings available from publishing books, magazines and newspapers. They also examine how the publication process works financially (such as from a writer's advance to the resulting royalties) and study relevant accounting principles.
Editorial Practice and Principles
Students examine the editor's job within the publishing industry, including the people with whom an editor needs to interact (writers, agents, marketers) and the techniques for making a sale. They also gain experience editing and evaluating books and articles.
Selling and Distributing Books and Magazines
How do publishers get books into the hands of the people who will read and buy them? This course teaches students marketing strategies to entice libraries, book stores, individuals and others to purchase the published material.
Technology in Publishing
This class teaches students how to use the rapidly changing technology in the publishing field to their best advantage, with consideration to topics like data security, storage software and legal issues. Students also study marketing techniques, information distribution and ways to use or sell e-books and other electronic media.
Career Information
An online master's degree in publishing could be useful to individuals who work at publishing companies, as well as authors and editors. Graduates might pursue careers at publishing companies as book publishers, editors or sales representatives. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), authors earned a median salary of $62,170 and editors earned a median salary of $59,480 in May 2018. Salaries for other positions varied depending on the number of sales.
Continuing Education Information
The master's degree is typically the terminal degree for the publishing industry. Although there are no formal continuing education requirements for those working in publishing, professionals might seek out trade organizations to stay abreast of developments in the field. The Association of American Publishers (AAP), for example, hosts conferences throughout the year on topics such as electronic publishing and academic book publishing.
Students in online master's degree programs in publishing will gain skills in relevant business principles and approaches, and learn editorial practices and procedures. Internships can be completed virtually.
