Curriculum

This course gives participants a working knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style, the most comprehensive and widely used style guide. The course covers many aspects of what it means to be a copy editor, covering the editorial process and addressing topics such as spelling, punctuation, usage, foreign titles, tables and graphs, and more.

Following the Basic Manuscript Editing course (or equivalent relevant professional experience), students practice editing longer texts to become familiar with the process of copy editing, learning how to approach a project and how to read like an editor. While the focus remains on mechanics, as defined by The Chicago Manual of Style, some discussion of substantive editing is included. The course explores the different ways that “style” guides editorial tasks and offers exposure to text elements such as subheads, references, and notes. The idea of “consistency” is a main theme. Students will begin writing author queries designed to guide a successful author/editor relation. Topics include practicing basic copy editing, determining different levels of copy editing, working with the author’s voice and writing queries, the fundamentals of handling documentation, creating a project style sheet, maintaining consistency, and choosing resources. Intermediate Manuscript Editing is a required course for students enrolled in the Editing certificate.

Developing competency in book manuscript editing requires a thorough knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style, the ability to read carefully, and editorial judgment. The Advanced Manuscript Editing course builds on the two prerequisites (Basic and Intermediate Manuscript) with continued practice on longer and more complex materials. Working electronically, students will become familiar with the structure of a book and gain skills in assessing manuscripts, writing editorial notes, setting editorial priorities, handling illustrations, editing documentation, and preparing the edited manuscript for the next stage of publishing. There will be plenty of hands-on practice in sentence- and paragraph-level editing. Quizzes and discussions will touch on challenging aspects of grammar and of editing books in various genres. Using Carol Fisher Saller’s The Subversive Copy Editor as a resource, the class will discuss the editor’s mediating role and how to build trust with authors and other members of the book team. Finally, student will take a good look at what it’s like to be an editor and live a word-focused life.

Editing Electronically is a required course for students enrolled in the Editing certificate. This course teaches students how to use Microsoft Word* to make the editing process more efficient. Students will learn how to use common editing tools, such as Track Changes, more effectively. They will explore ways to customize the keyboard, the toolbar, and the ribbon to suit the way they work. Students will gain experience with advanced Word tools to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and to increase accuracy. They will also learn how to work with authors who are reviewing electronically edited files and how to format files for production. Along the way, students will become more adept at overcoming technological challenges that can arise when editing electronically. 

^{*Please Note: Students must have access to Microsoft Word 2016 or later for this course.}

This comprehensive overview provides a window into the day-to-day responsibilities of an acquisitions editor, a role key to the architecture of every publishing program. You will learn about assessing a manuscript's potential; calculating profit-and-loss statements; championing projects to the editorial board; negotiating publishing agreements with authors and literary agents; shaping manuscripts into books; ushering books through the production process; and working with sales, marketing, and publicity teams to boost unit sales pre- and post-publication. You will practice evaluating book proposals, novel synopses, and manuscripts; addressing common points of negotiation; and reviewing agreements. Although largely focused on trade publishing, the curriculum delivers practical skills and knowledge useful to acquisitions work at university presses, associations, and educational publishers.

Developmental editors help mold an author’s work before a publisher’s review board decides whether to publish it. This course will focus on what it means to be a developmental editor by taking you through all aspects of the process: scheduling, reviewer selection, competitive books, cost analysis, and author relations. You will work on practical, hands-on exercises with real-world manuscripts and reviews.

Even high-performing professionals sometimes pause over the rules and structure of grammar. Grammar for Professionals is an ideal course for those who have forgotten the grammar taught in school or want to revisit and refresh their knowledge of specific topics.

A thorough and practical overview of copyright focusing on the needs of professionals in editorial roles, this course covers the nature of copyright protection, what goes into a license agreement, developing trends in copyright and licensing, and differences between the United States and international markets. You will gain a solid understanding of how copyright forms the foundation of publishing in the traditional environment and in the new world of e-book publishing.

This course, only available as the second elective for the specialization track in Developmental Editing, introduces the elements of fiction that inform every work, regardless of genre, and the work developmental editors do with authors to strengthen a manuscript. You will explore plot and storyline, conflict and tension, character development, dialogue, point of view, voice and tone, pacing and readability, and consistency.

This course is designed to give you the foundation you need to create effective and accurate tables, graphs, and figures. Students will learn their general structure, how to choose among them, and the guidelines for choosing what graphing format to use.

Freelance writing and editing can be lucrative, high-demand careers. This course will help you discover whether freelancing is the right choice for you and learn how to launch and run a successful freelance business. The course covers best practices for freelancers and gives you the knowledge and tools to avoid common mistakes. You will create a vision for your business, determine what success means to you, and develop detailed plans for running the business and marketing your services to clients.

This course is for students pursuing both the Medical Writing and Editing and the Editing certificates. The course is applicable to all freelance writers and editors, but examples and some content focus on freelance medical writing and editing.