Publishing Master of Professional Studies
The publishing industry has shown remarkable resilience in the face of rapid technological and economic change, but also developed a new way forward for how the written word is to be produced, distributed and consumed in the 21st century.
The program is designed for current and aspiring professionals. Some students include post-bachelor and post-graduate students who have earned their degrees in other disciplines but desire careers in publishing. Current publishing professionals can sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge through high-level coursework. The master’s degree in Publishing integrates traditional print with digital publishing topics, including editorial acquisitions, production and design, copyright law in print and cyberspace, marketing, distribution, management and business. Taught by nationally and internationally recognized leaders, you will master the skills required for traditional print publishing as well as online and electronic publishing.
Program at a Glance
Complete in 2 Years
30-credit-hour, 2-year cohort program offered as a part-time program
Foundational Learning
Core coursework provides a broad foundation of the entire industry, regardless of method of delivery: book, journal, or digital
Multiple Tracks
Tracks focusing on professional roles: business & marketing, editorial, or technology & design
"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
Where Our Grads Work
Trade Publishing
- National Geographic
- The Atlantic
- Penguin Random House
- Melville House Books
Associations & Societies
- American Geophysical Union
- American Chemical Society
- American Council on Education
- American Psychological Association
- ASCD
- AAAS
Government & NGOs
- Economic Research Service
- Library of Congress
- Federal Reserve Board
- U.S. Department of State
- World Bank
Research Institutions
- Brookings Institution
- Gartner
- General Dynamics Information Technology
- Cato Institute
- Booz Allen Hamilton
Scholarly Publishers
- Cornell University Press
- Elsevier
- Sage Publications
- CQ Press
Where You'll Study
You have two options of where to study for the MPS in Publishing. You can either choose to study fully online or at our Graduate 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 degree you must complete 30 credits, including 16 credits in required courses and 14 credits in elective 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 6232: Production Management (3 credits)
- PSPB 6251: Fundamentals of Electronic Publishing (2 credits)
- PSPB 6281: Ethics in Publishing (1 credit)
About the Faculty
Our professional faculty hold leadership positions in a variety of publishing organizations and possess diverse backgrounds and expertise.
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Rebecca S. Benner, M.P.S., Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Al Bertrand, M.A., Princeton University; Director, Georgetown University Press.
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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.
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Kathleen Ann DeBoer, Writer/producer and Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Barbara M. Ford, M.A., DBA Meyers Consulting Services and Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Tony Julien, M.A., Publication Design; Creative Director, 720 Strategies, and Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Michael Kalyan, Director of Production Services, ASCD; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Alphonse L. MacDonald, M.B.A., John Hopkins, Acting Executive Director, National Academies Press. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Kevin Mayo, Director, Product Management at Vbrick; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Janis Owens, Adjunct Professor, Book Design Course, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Iris Sanchez, M.F.A., Graphic Design; Creative Director, Carr Properties and Adjunct Professor, M.P.S in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Kimberly M. Schmelzinger, M.M., Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; Founder and Principal, Meanline Publisher Services; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Josephine E. Sciortino, M.A., M.P.S., Managing Editor, Canadian Science Publishing; Lecturer, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Eric S. Slater, Esq., J.D., New York Law School, Master of Journalism, Louisiana State University, B.S. Mass Communications, Virginia Commonwealth University; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Dean Smith, Director, Duke University Press; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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Ioan Suciu, Assistant Director and Business Manager for Georgetown University Press; Adjunct Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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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.
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John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor, M.P.S. in Publishing, George Washington University.
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
- Not available
Summer Admissions
In-person and online program
- Not available
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.
Tuition is made up of many variables, so all calculations are estimates based on current tuition rates and fee structures. Total tuition and fees will adjust depending on the courses taken and the rate at which you complete your coursework. Please use this information as an approximate tuition amount based on current information and not your final investment, which will appreciate over time.
Costs
Rates Effective Summer 2019-Spring 2020 Terms
| Curriculum: 14 courses (typically completed in two years), 30 credits |
30 credits @ $980/credit hour: $29,400 |
| Registration fees: 6 registration sessions @$35 each |
$210 |
| TOTAL: Tuition + fees |
$29,610 |
Other Fees 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
MPS in Publishing graduate, 2015
Peer Review Manager, American Society for Microbiology
"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."
Contacts
Lucero Flores
Senior Recruitment & Enrollment Specialist
571-553-0035
[email protected]
Schedule an Appointment
John W. Warren
Director and Associate Professor
Masters of Professional Studies in Publishing
703-299-6782
[email protected]
Request Information
Information Sessions
We periodically offer online and in-person information sessions about the Publishing Master of Professional Studies. Contact the program representative to learn more about upcoming events.
February
26
Wednesday
Publishing Online Information Session - 2/26/2020
12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern Time
March
26
Thursday
Publishing Career Panel
6:30pm - 7:30pm Eastern Time
