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Program Overview

Currently Accepting Applications Apply now >> Next program starts: Autumn 2008 Program location: Downtown, Seattle Next information meeting: Tuesday, Aug. 5 (see details >>) Sign up to receive e-mail updates >> Contact a program representative >>   Program at a glance >>

The Editing Certificate Program is designed for adults with education and experience equal to a college degree who are interested in improving editorial skills for current work, exploring editing as a career direction or enhancing their writing skills. Whatever your interest in this program is, you'll acquire the necessary skills needed to edit a wide variety of publications.

The program explores the art of proposing editorial changes, the editorial process and the relationship between editors and writers. Program graduates, using a variety of editorial references, edit manuscripts as freelance editors or find full- or part-time jobs at publishing and online companies.

In the first term, you'll explore the editing process and the key milestones for publishing, review the principles of English grammar and meet a variety of local editors to help you determine if becoming an editor is an appropriate choice. In the second term, you'll get a thorough grounding in copyediting and have the option to take the MS Word for Editors and/or The Web-Savvy Editor workshops. In the final term, you'll choose between two advanced editing courses—long-form or short-form advanced editing. The advanced editing courses meet in the computer lab to work on more challenging projects. An optional practicum in the spring provides additional real-world editing experience with writers and projects.

Career Information

According to the US Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07 Edition, "Median annual earnings for salaried editors were $43,890 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,130 and $58,850. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,780, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,020. Median annual earnings of those working for newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers were $43,620."

For more information on the training and education needed, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job and working conditions, check out: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos089.htm

Contact a Program Representative

To learn more about the Editing Certificate Program, please call 206-685-8936 in the greater Seattle area, or 888-469-6499, or e-mail us.

Related Programs and Workshops

Certificate Programs:

• Literary Fiction I
• Literary Fiction II
• Memoir (Six-month format)  
• Popular Fiction I
• Popular Fiction I (Winter Intensive)  
• Popular Fiction II
• Nonfiction
• Technical Writing and Editing

Workshops:

• MS Word for Editors Workshop
• The Web Savvy Editor Workshop