Industry and Careers
This certificate could lead to a career in:
- Book publishing: including trade, educational, scholarly, and reference publishing
- Literary magazine and journal publishing
- Publishing in corporate, non-profit, and government communications
In roles such as:
- Business (acquisitions, contracts, rights)
- Editorial
- Sales
- Marketing and publicity
- Production and design
Who Should Take This Certificate?
This certificate program will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the publishing industry.
You may be interested if you:
- Want to enter the publishing industry and are looking for a quick path to career-specific training
- Work in the publishing industry or in areas where publishing skills are required
- Are considering a career change
What Will You Learn?
You can take a full range of online courses covering the latest in print and digital publishing, including overviews of industry sectors and skills-based training in editing, production and design, sales, marketing and publicity, literary rights and the business of book publishing, and digital publishing.
This certificate program is fully online, which gives you the flexibility to take classes anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace.
Plus, enrolled learners have access to job postings and paid internship opportunities for a year after taking their last course in the program.
Certificate Requirements
- Two required courses
- Six 39-hour electives
- Two 19.5-hour courses are considered equivalent to 1 39-hour course
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 1.67+
Admission Criteria
Recommended:
- Undergraduate degree
OR
- Mature student status with related professional experience and education
If you are an undergraduate student in your final year, please contact the academic coordinators at publish@torontomu.ca.
Awards and Financial Aid
For information regarding awards and financial assistance, please refer to The Chang School's Merit-Based Awards and Bursaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m attracted to a career in publishing, but I don’t know which area to specialize in. Which course should I take first?
Start by taking one of the two overviews: CDPB 100 - Trade Publishing or CDPB 200 - Educational Publishing. By the time you finish the course, you will have a better idea of where your talents and interests lie. You might choose to specialize in editing, production and design, sales and marketing, publicity, literary rights and the business of book publishing, and/or digital publishing.
Which courses should I take if I know I want to be an editor? Do I have the foundation in grammar that I need to take Copy Editing (CDPB 102)? Should I consider taking Practical Grammar and Punctuation (CDPB 312) first?
To enter CDPB 102, ideally you will score 80 or higher on this Diagnostic Grammar Test. This is a self-administered test to help you determine whether you should take Practical Grammar and Punctuation (CDPB 312) first.
This is a closed-book test. Give yourself 30–45 minutes to complete it. Once you have completed the test, please see the Diagnostic Grammar Test Marking Sheet for solutions.
If you score between 70 and 80 and decide to proceed directly into Copy Editing, please review grammar basics (see Practical Grammar by Maxine Ruvinsky). Under 70: we highly recommend that you take Practical Grammar and Punctuation (CDPB 312) before tackling Copy Editing (CDPB 102).
Eligibility and Preparation
I work in corporate communications. Will your courses provide professional development for me?
Yes. Our courses that focus on copy and stylistic editing, production, design, and digital publishing may be particularly helpful to you.
I’m in my late 30s. Will I be the oldest person in the class?
No. Publishing program students range in age from early 20s through 40 and beyond.
I’m starting my undergraduate degree now and want to take your program later. Should I major in English?
You should study something you really enjoy. Regardless of your major, you will benefit later from following current events and reading widely in both nonfiction and fiction.
I’m finishing my undergraduate degree and would like to start your program early. Can I do that?
You can, but before you do please consider the amount of additional work that you will be taking on. Most of our courses require three hours per week of classroom or online time plus another three hours – often many more – outside the classroom, and many students still completing their degree find themselves struggling with the additional workload.
I didn’t complete my university degree. May I still register for the Certificate in Publishing?
Please contact the academic coordinators at publish@torontomu.ca.
Internships and Jobs
Do I have to complete the Certificate in Publishing before I apply for an internship?
No. Feel free to apply for an internship as soon as you feel you have the skills to impress (usually after taking at least four courses).
Do I have to register for the Certificate in Publishing to apply for the Publishing Program awards?
Yes. Our awards are open only to students who are registered for the Certificate in Publishing.
Online Courses
Can I complete the certificate online?
Yes, all courses in this certificate are offered fully online.
I live in Toronto. Can I take online courses?
Yes. Online courses are open to enrolment for local students as well.
As an online student, can I qualify for internships and awards?
We offer a full range of online courses for the Certificate in Publishing that are developed and taught by industry professionals. Through online modules, readings, exercises, discussion boards, assignments, and more, you have access to high-quality, professional-level training (note: Our online courses are not “virtualized” classroom courses).
What is online learning like in this certificate program?
We offer a full range of online courses that are developed and taught by publishing industry professionals. Through online modules, readings, exercises, discussion boards, assignments, and more, you have access to high-quality professional training. Note that our online courses are not “virtualized” classroom courses. That is, you are not required to be present at a specific time, but you are expected to keep up with the weekly modules.
Coursework, Grades, and Credits
Are the assignments based on real-life publishing?
Yes. Because our instructors work in the areas they teach, the assignments are very realistic and are indeed often drawn from confidential real-world materials, used by permission.
How large are the classes?
The maximum is 30 in the two overview courses and 25 in the skills-based courses. These limits ensure a close student-instructor relationship and make it possible for us to employ the instructors we do. The same limits apply to our online courses.
How many hours a week of my time will each course require?
Every on-campus course meets for three hours one evening each week for seven or 14 weeks. Allow about four to five hours extra for readings, homework, and assignments, though you may find that some courses require more than that. Online courses entail similar time commitments. Time commitments for workshops vary.
How many courses should I take each term?
The number of courses you should take depends on your own schedule and energy level. We strongly recommend, based on years of student experience, that students who do not have a job or internship take no more than four courses per term and that students with full-time jobs or internships take no more than two. If you have both a full-time job and home responsibilities, be realistic about the number of hours you can set aside for your studies each week.
How long will it take me to complete the Certificate in Publishing?
You need eight full credits (or half-credit equivalents) to get the certificate. Figure out how many courses you can handle each term. We recommend that you take no more than four courses per term, and no more than two if you are working full-time.
How much will it cost to complete the certificate?
Costs are on a per-course basis, with some additional administrative fees and the occasional textbook or software purchase. Check each course description for fees. We attempt to keep software purchase costs as low as possible.
May I use credits from other programs or universities towards the Certificate in Publishing?
Yes. You may use one or two, as long as they are credit courses, relevant to our program, and do not duplicate courses you have already taken with us. All Transfer Credits must be approved by one of the Publishing Program academic coordinators.
What is the recommended course sequence?
If you have no background in publishing, begin by taking either of the two required overview courses (CDPB 100 or CDPB 200). If you are working full-time, you are advised to register in no more than two courses per term.
Contact Us
Questions? Contact Kelvin Kong and Meg Taylor, Academic Coordinators.
Email: publish@torontomu.ca