Publishing Graduate Certificate
The publishing industry has shown remarkable resilience in the face of rapid technological and economic change. Publishers, storytellers, and media companies have developed new platforms, audiences, formats, and technologies for how the written—and spoken—word is to be produced, distributed and consumed in the 21st century.
The Graduate Certificate in Publishing program is designed for aspiring professionals without significant publishing experience, and for those needing a comprehensive background in the fundamentals of publishing (see also the Graduate Certificate in Publishing Management and the Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program). Students include career changers, post-bachelor and post-graduate students who have earned their degrees in other disciplines, and publishing professionals who seek to expand their skills and knowledge through high-level coursework. The curriculum covers editing and acquisitions, marketing and publicity, copyright and licensing, production, management and business, and technology and design.
More than 450 MPS in Publishing alumni work in organizations throughout the U.S. in diverse publishing sectors. Program instructors are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the publishing industry, whose goal is to prepare you for managerial and leadership positions across all publishing industry segments and specialties.
Program at a Glance
18-Credit Program
Designed as a part-time program, you can earn your certificate in 3-4 semesters.
Foundational Learning
Core coursework provides a solid foundation for new and aspiring publishing professionals.
Publishing Tracks
Electives allow you to learn more about Business and Marketing; Editorial; or Technology, Production, and Design.
Where You'll Study
You have two options of where to study for the Graduate Certificate in Publishing. You can either choose to study fully online or at our GW Education Center in Alexandria, VA where classes are offered in the evenings.
What You'll Study
The program integrates traditional print with electronic publishing topics, including editorial acquisitions, production and design, copyright law in print and cyberspace, marketing, distribution, management and business.
To earn your Graduate Certificate in Publishing, you must complete 18 credits, including 12 credits in required courses and 6 credits in elective courses.
Students who complete the certificate program will be eligible to receive their MPS in Publishing degree with the completion of 12 additional credits.
- Required Courses (12 Credits)
- PSPB 6201: Book and Journal Publishing (Fall) (3 Credits)
- PSPB 6251: Fundamentals of Electronic Publishing (Fall) (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6203: The Business of Publishing (Spring) (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6205: Copyright Law in Publishing (Spring) (3 Credits)
- PSPB 6207: Marketing Strategies (Summer) (2 Credits)
- Elective Courses (6 Credits)
Business & Marketing:
- PSPB 6221: Publishing Management, Organization, and Strategy (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6222: Accounting and Finance for Publishers (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6223: Global Publishing (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6236: Publishing Entrepreneurship (NEW!) (Spring) (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6272: Book Publicity and Promotion (2 Credits)
Editorial:
- PSPB 6126: Children's Publishing and Media (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6214: Professional Editor (3 Credits)
- PSPB 6215: Editing Special Projects (1 Credit)
- PSPB 6216: Mastering Book Acquisitions (NEW!) (Fall) (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6261: Editorial Content, Rights, and Permissions (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6281: Ethics in Publishing (1 credit)
Technology, Production & Design:
- PSPB 6213: Book Design (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6232: Production Management (3 Credits)
- PSPB 6256: E-Publishing Technologies and Standards (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6257: Designing for E-publishing Success (2 Credits)
- PSPB 6259: E-Publishing Tools (2 Credits)
About the Faculty & Advisory Board
Our professional faculty and advisory board members possess diverse backgrounds and expertise, and serve in senior leadership positions throughout the publishing world.
- Publishing Faculty
Our professional faculty hold leadership positions in a variety of publishing organizations and possess diverse backgrounds and expertise.
- Al Bertrand, M.A., Princeton University; Director, Georgetown University Press.
- Gregory M. Britton, Editorial Director, Johns Hopkins University Press, and Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Ken Brooks, M.S.; Adjunct Professor; EVP of Supply Chain, Amplify Education.
- Virginia Veiga Bryant, M. Phil., Trinity College Dublin; Marketing and Sales Director, Georgetown University Press; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Jennifer Emmett, Instructor, Children’s Publishing and Media, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Tony Julien, M.A., Publication Design; Creative Director, 720 Strategies, and Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Janis Owens, Adjunct Professor, Book Design Course, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Kate Roddy, M.P.S.; Adjunct Professor; Associate Editor, Sourcebooks.
- Iris Sanchez, M.F.A., Graphic Design; Creative Director, Carr Properties and Adjunct Professor, M.P.S in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Andrew Siclari, M.P.A; Adjunct Professor; Founder and Principal Consultant, Pivotal Advisors, LLC.
- Dean Smith, Director, Duke University Press; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Puja Telikicherla, Licensing and Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association Publishing; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University; M.A., Media Ecology, New York University
- Randy Townsend, M.P.S., Director, Publishing Operations, American Geophysical Union; Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
- Advisory Board
The Advisory Board for the GW Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program hold professional senior leadership positions in trade, academic, and scholarly publishing, providing support and advice to the program, its curriculum, and the development of new initiatives.
Advisory Board Members (2024-2026):
- Becky Brassington Clark, Director of Publishing, Library of Congress
- Geneva Henry, Dean of Libraries and Academic Innovation, Vice Provost for Libraries and Information Technology
- Dennis Johnson, Publisher, Melville House
- Jed Lyons, President and CEO, Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, National Book Network
- Gita Manaktala, Editorial Director, The MIT Press
- Brian F. O'Leary, Executive Director, Book Industry Study Group
- Cristóbal Pera, VP and Publisher, Editorial Planeta USA
- Niko Pfund, President, Oxford University Press US
- Barbara Kline Pope, Director, Johns Hopkins University Press
- Chris Reid, Director, Publishing and Product Development, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Liesl Riddle, Ph.D., Dean, College of Professional Studies
- Josephine Sciortino, MPS (2019), Managing Editor, Canadian Science Publishing; Professor, GW Publishing (MPS graduate: 2019; CPS Distinguished Scholar)
- Kimberly Ayers Shariff, Executive Vice President, Director of Strategy for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Penguin Random House
- Dean Smith, Director, Duke University Press; Professor, GW Publishing
- Randy Townsend, MPS (2014), Origin Editorial; Professor, GW Publishing
The Advisory Board for the GW Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program hold professional senior leadership positions in trade, academic, and scholarly publishing, providing support and advice to the program, its curriculum, and the development of new initiatives.
Advisory Board Members (2020-2022):
- Dr. Philippa Jane Benson, Principal, PJB Global Consulting; Managing Editor, Managing Editor, CABI Agriculture & Bioscience;
- Walter Biggins, Editor-in-Chief, University of Pennsylvania Press;
- Becky Brassington Clark, Director of Publishing, Library of Congress;
- Geneva Henry, Dean of Libraries and Academic Innovation, The George Washington University;
- Barbara Kline Pope, Director, Johns Hopkins University Press;
- Jed Lyons, President and CEO, Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, National Book Network;
- Dennis Johnson, Publisher, Melville House;
- Gita Manaktala, Editorial Director, The MIT Press;
- Niko Pfund, President, Oxford University Press US;
- Chris Reid, Director of Publishing and Product Development, AAAS;
- Liesl Riddle, Dean, College of Professional Studies;
- Elda Rotor, Vice President and Publisher, Penguin Classics, Penguin Random House Group USA;
- Josephine Sciortino, Managing Editor, Canadian Science Publishing; GW Publishing Alumnus, 2019; Adjunct Professor in GW Publishing program;
- Dean Smith, Director, Duke University Press; Adjunct Professor in GW Publishing program;
- Randy Townsend, Director, Publishing Operations, American Geophysical Union; Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing.
Admissions Information
To be eligible for the program you must have earned an undergraduate degree, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
Please note that this program is not eligible for students to apply for an F-1 or J-1 international visa.
Deadlines
Applicants that have complete applications are eligible to request an application fee waiver by 11:59 p.m. on the Priority Deadline.* To request an application fee waiver, contact your program representative before submitting your application. Fee waiver details. Applications received after the Final Deadline will continue to be processed, space permitting.
Fall Admissions
In-person and online program
- Fall Priority Deadline: February 1*
- Fall Final Deadline: April 1
Spring Admissions
In-person and online program
- Students are usually admitted for the fall semester. If you are interested in a spring start, please contact us for details.
Summer Admissions
In-person and online program
- Students are usually admitted for the fall semester. If you are interested in a summer start, please contact us for details.
- Costs & Aid
Graduate tuition and fees at the George Washington University are comparable to the national average for private universities. These costs, set by the GW Board of Trustees, generally increase from year to year and may vary by program and location.
Please use this information as an estimate based on current tuition rates and fee structures. Total tuition and fees will vary according to the courses taken and the timeframe in which you complete your coursework.
Tuition & Fees
2024-2025 Rates in Effect for Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Terms
Tuition: 18 credits @ $1,225 per credit hour
(typically completed in 3-4 semesters)
$22,050 Registration fees: 3-4 sessions @ $35 each $140 TOTAL: Tuition + fees over the average completion time $22,190 (approx.)
Other Costs to Consider: Application fee (one time): $80; Matriculation fee (one time): $200; Books: Approximately $50-$100/course. The costs of travel, meals and accommodations (if applicable) are not included in the tuition or fees.
Graduate tuition and fees at the George Washington University are comparable to the national average for private universities. These costs, set by the GW Board of Trustees, generally increase from year to year and may vary by program and location.
Please use this information as an estimate based on current tuition rates and fee structures. Total tuition and fees will vary according to the courses taken and the timeframe in which you complete your coursework.
Tuition & Fees
2022-2023 Rates in Effect for Summer 2022, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Terms
| Curriculum: 18 credits (typically completed in 3-4 semesters) | 18 credits @ $1,075/credit hour: $19,350 |
| Registration fees: 3-4 registration sessions @$35 each | $140 |
| TOTAL: Tuition + fees | $19,490 |
Other Costs to Consider: Application fee (one time): $80; Matriculation fee (one time): $200; Books: Approximately $50-$100/course. The costs of travel, meals and accommodations (if applicable) are not included in the tuition or fees.
Contacts
Cheryl Scott-Mouzon
Assistant Director,
Recruitment & Admissions
571-553-0192
clsm@gwu.edu
Schedule an Appointment
John W. Warren
Director and Associate Professor
Publishing Programs
703-299-6782
jww@email.gwu.edu