Publishing Master of Professional Studies

 

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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 MPS in Publishing program is designed for both current and aspiring publishing professionals. 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 (see also the Graduate Certificate in Publishing and the Graduate Certificate in Publishing Management program).

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.

 

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Program at a Glance

 

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Complete in 2 Years

30-credit-hour, 2-year cohort program offered as a part-time program

 

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Foundational Learning

Core coursework provides a broad foundation of the entire industry, regardless of method of delivery: book, journal, or digital

 

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Multiple Tracks

Tracks focusing on professional roles: business & marketing, editorial, or technology & design

 

 

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"Completing this program was a huge confidence booster for me. I took classes alongside colleagues at the beginning of their career, like me, as well as those who had worked many years in publishing and were looking to further their professional development. The insight of my classmates, as well as my professors - who were all professionals in their fields - helped me develop an understanding of the publishing profession that wouldn't be gleaned simply from studying a book."
 

Anna Borgholthaus
Class of 2016

 

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Where Our Alumni Work

Trade Publishing
  • HarperCollins
  • Melville House Books
  • National Geographic
  • Penguin Random House
  • Recorded Books
  • Sourcebooks
  • The Atlantic
  • W.W. Norton
Associations & Societies
  • AAAS
  • American Geophysical Union
  • American Chemical Society
  • American Council on Education
  • American Psychological Association
  • American Society for Microbiology
  • ASQ
Government & NGOs
  • Economic Research Service
  • Federal Reserve Board
  • Library of Congress
  • National Academy of Sciences
  • U.S. Department of State
  • World Bank
Research Institutions
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Cato Institute
  • Gartner
  • General Dynamics Information Technology
Scholarly Publishers
  • Cornell University Press
  • Elsevier
  • Georgetown University Press
  • John Hopkins University Press
  • Oxford University Press
  • PLOS
  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • Sage Publishing
  • Stanford University Press
  • Taylor & Francis
  • Wiley

 

Where You'll Study

Online or at the Graduate Education Center in Alexandria, VA

You have two options of where to study for the MPS 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.

 

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What You'll Study

4 female students in publishing classroom listening attentively and looking forward
 
 
 

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 degree you must complete 30 credits, including 13 credits in required courses and 17 credits in elective courses.

Publishing Schedule of Classes

 

 

Required Courses
  • PSPB 6201: Book and Journal Publishing (3 credits)
  • PSPB 6203: The Business of Publishing (2 credits)
  • PSPB 6205: Copyright Law in Print & Cyberspace (3 credits)
  • PSPB 6207: Marketing Strategies (2 credits)
  • PSPB 6251: Fundamentals of Electronic Publishing (2 credits)
  • PSPB 6281: Ethics in Publishing (1 credit)
Business and Marketing Courses
  • 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 6272: Book Publicity and Promotion (2 credits)
Editorial Courses
  • PSPB 6126: Children's Publishing and Media (2 Credits)
  • PSPB 6214: Professional Editor. (3 Credits)
  • PSPB 6215: Editing Special Projects (1 Credit)
  • PSPB 6261: Editorial Content, Rights, and Permissions (2 credits)
Technology, Production and Design Courses
  • 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)

 

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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.

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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.

Graduate Application Process

 

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.  

 

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Fall Admissions

In-person and online program

  • Fall Priority Deadline: February 1*
  • Fall Final Deadline: April 1

 

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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. 

 

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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. 


Note for International Students: Applicants must submit their complete applications by the deadlines listed on the International Student Admissions page. These deadlines are at least two months before the deadline for admitted students to submit visa request paperwork.

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.
 

Financial Aid Opportunities

Tuition & Fees

2022-2023 Rates in Effect for Summer 2022, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Terms  

Curriculum: 14 courses (typically completed in two years), 30 credits30 credits @ $1,075/credit hour: $32,250
Registration fees:
6 registration sessions @$35 each
$210
TOTAL: Tuition + fees$32,460


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.

 


Jasmine Wallace

"As I worked to finish my program, the degree became not just about career progression, but also a direct path to a competitive advantage and a stepping stone ahead in an industry built on networking and reputation."

Jasmine Wallace

MPS in Publishing graduate, 2015
Peer Review Manager, American Society for Microbiology


 

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Contacts

 

 

Cheryl Scott-Mouzon

 

 

John Warren

 

 

 

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Request Information

Information Sessions

We periodically offer online and in-person information sessions about the Publishing Master of Professional Studies and special events. Contact the program representative to learn more about upcoming events.