MA/MS in Book Publishing: Why PSU?

Among the places one can get a Master’s degree with an emphasis in publishing, the graduate program in Book Publishing at Portland State University is the only one with a publishing house staffed by graduate students that produces real books by real authors for real readers. This hands-on experience, when combined with the program’s focus on providing its students with a comprehensive view of the industry through its required foundational courses, results in a particularly versatile graduate. Alumni of the program obtain jobs in the industry, start their own companies, establish successful freelance careers, parlay their skills into related fields. In short, our graduates define their own futures.

Although there are other courses similar to PSU’s around the country, none hold the distinction of including a student-run publishing company within its framework.
– Publisher’s Weekly

The extensive coverage of the program in publishing industry media (such as this article, this article, and this article, all from Publishers Weekly) is a testament to the high regard in which it is held by industry professionals.

Employers regularly report that one of the most attractive features of our graduates is the thorough understanding of the publishing industry students develop in the program.

The other graduate programs are as follows:

• Emerson College M.A. in Publishing and Writing
• New York University M.S. in Publishing
• Pace University M.S. in Publishing
• Rosemont College M.A. in Publishing
• The George Washington University M.P.S. in Publishing
• University of Houston – Victoria M.S. in Publishing

New programs are being established with increasing frequency, however, as publishers abandon the apprenticeship model for hiring decisions.

There are also short-term summer programs on the subject of publishing, such as the Denver Publishing Institute, the Columbia Publishing Course, and the New York University Summer Publishing Institute. These programs provide networking opportunities for aspiring publishing professionals, but they do not provide the same depth of understanding of the publishing industry that a graduate program can provide.

5 Reasons to Choose PSU

1. We're the only graduate program with its own publishing house.

Acquire, edit, design, market, and sell real books by real authors for real readers. Join us and become a publisher right away!

2. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the publishing industry while being encouraged to specialize according to your interests.

We make sure that you'll emerge from the program with a holistic understanding of the publishing process, and there is plenty of room for you to specialize, experiment, and innovate. 

3. You'll be prepared to enter the publishing industry head-on or transfer your skills to a variety of other creative industries.

We teach editorial, design, marketing, digital, and management skills. You can take these skills anywhere, from local publishing houses to Penguin Random House, and from nonprofits to advertising agencies. 

4. You'll build a professional network before you even graduate. 

The program has robust connections to the publishing industry in the Pacific Northwest and beyond:

• Our faculty are working professionals.
• There are many publishing internships to choose from.
• The books we publish receive shoutouts in national industry publications such as Publishers Weekly and from celebrities such as Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara.

5. Portland has a vibrant literary scene and creative community to inspire you. 

Writing groups, reading series, zines, and indie publishers––we've got 'em all!