Contact
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Interim Director of Publishing, Dr. Kathi Berens, via any of the following methods:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Orientation to PSU and Basic Program Information
Will there be a specific in-person orientation for book publishing graduate students?
For book publishing graduate students entering the program in Fall term, there is an English Department graduate orientation held during the week before Fall classes begin. For students entering the program in Winter or Spring, there is not an official orientation, but you will receive a welcome email and there will be a student bonding event during the term to give you time and space to connect with your cohort of students. For a generic PSU orientation (not specific to graduate school or book publishing), you can find information about new student orientation and tours here (link).
Where can I find out more about resources on campus?
The Dean of Student Life (link) has a wealth of information and resources. PSU library also has many resources, including laptop loans (link), library how-to guides (link), and a book publishing research guide (link).
What is being in the book publishing program like and what is the day-to-day like as a publishing student?
Check out the Ooligan Press instagram page (link) for more information about the press. If you scroll sideways through the pinned instagram stories, you will see instagram takeovers from students detailing their days.
Where can I find out more about Ooligan Press and the books published through the book publishing program?
If you have additional questions that are not answered below in our section dedicated to questions about Ooligan Press, Ooligan’s website (link) is a great place to get acquainted with the press. WR 575 Publishing Lab and WR 574 Publishing Studio will allow students to dive into Ooligan’s content and processes as well.
Class Schedule Questions
What classes should I sign up for in my first term?
Course registration advice for incoming graduate students is really very simple: enroll in Introduction to Book Publishing, one other required course, and Publishing Lab. Since Publishing Lab is a 1-credit course and the others are 4-credit courses, this adds up to 9 credits, which qualifies for full-time enrollment. Students can take more than 9 credits in a given term, but no more than 9 credits in a student’s first term is recommended as you adjust to graduate school. Indeed, most students continue to take 9 credits each term they are in the program, as they are balancing their education with part-time employment. It’s possible to take fewer than 9 credits in a given term and, thus, be enrolled part-time. However, graduate assistantships, some student loans, scholarships, and grants all require full-time status.
What is the difference between WR 575 Publishing Lab and WR 574 Publishing Studio?
The main difference between Publishing Lab and Publishing Studio is number of credits and number of assignments. WR 575 Publishing Lab is a 1-credit course and WR 574 Publishing Studio is a 4-credit course. You can expect approximately 4 hours of work outside of class for each credit. Both courses meet together and are focused on experiential learning work in Ooligan Press.
How long will it take me to finish the degree?
As long as students finish the 48 graduate credits, the time students take to finish the degree is variable. Most full-time students finish the degree in 2 years, taking 9 credits each term (excluding summer term) and then possibly a lighter course load in their last term (4 or 5 credits). Students can graduate in any term except for summer.
Do students take classes over the summer?
The summer course list at PSU is quite light. The only book publishing courses offered in the summer are WR 575 Publishing Lab (online in summer), WR 574 Publishing Studio (online in summer), and study abroad courses (such as WR 510 Book Publishing in Scotland). Students who are managers at Ooligan Press will participate in Ooligan over the summer. Internships for credit can also be taken during the summer.
Once I start the program is there a time limit to finish?
Once you start the master’s program, your credits will be valid toward the degree for up to 7 years. After 7 years, you will need to submit a graduate petition to the graduate school if you would like those credits to continue counting toward a degree that has not been completed.
What is the difference between the MS degree and the MA?
Whether you choose an MA or MS is a personal decision, but there has not been any indication that employers find one more valuable than another. The only difference between the two degrees is that the MA requires foreign language credit and the MS does not. All book publishing coursework is the same for both the MA and MS. If you sign up for one degree and find before you finish that you would like to switch, you’ll fill out this form (link).
What is the difference between a 400-level section of a book publishing class and a 500-level section? Which one should I sign up for?
Most of the book publishing courses are offered in sections both 400-level and 500-level. For example, Book Editing is WR 461/561. Graduate students should sign up for the 500-level courses; 400-level courses are for undergraduates and some postbac students.
Funding Resources
What graduate assistantship opportunities are available?
There are typically three GAships offered in the book publishing program: a two-year teaching GAship and 2 one-year administrative GAships. To apply for the two-year teaching GAship, incoming students will submit a GA application letter with their other application materials when they apply to the program. To apply for the 2 one-year administrative GAships, the Director of Book Publishing will send out an application call in Spring term and current students will send their application materials via email. Other GAships are available throughout the university, posted here (link). You can also email individual campus offices to find out more about what job opportunities they offer.
What other financial resources are available?
This page on the Graduate Program’s website (link) details other funding opportunities.
About Ooligan Press
What is Ooligan Press?
Ooligan is an award-winning not-for-profit general trade press that publishes books honoring the cultural and natural diversity of the Pacific Northwest. Ooligan Press is a teaching press, dedicated to the art and craft of publishing, staffed by students at Portland State University.
What kinds of books does Ooligan Press publish?
Ooligan publishes literary fiction, nonfiction, and young adult fiction.
Where does the name Ooligan Press come from?
The name Ooligan is adopted from a Chinookan word for a smelt fish, otherwise known as the candlefish. The ooligan was an abundant natural resource in the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. It may well be the word from which the name “Oregon” was derived. During the trade of the valuable fish oil to tribes east of the Rockies, the L in Ooligan was replaced with an R, creating a word that sounded like Ooregon. One theory suggests that this usage became the name of an area of land and assumed its current spelling of Oregon over the course of history.
What are the departments of Ooligan Press and what are their functions?
- Acquisitions: The Acquisitions department discovers and initiates writing projects that are relevant to our press and our diverse community. They aim to acquire works that are socially and regionally significant to readers in the Pacific Northwest and instructional to the students of Ooligan Press’ master’s program. They are committed to operating as sustainably as possible, while consistently producing high-quality work and maintaining professionalism.
- Design: The Design department represents Ooligan Press through clear, thoughtful design and a commitment to incorporating sustainable publishing practices. They work hands on with our books from start to finish, including facilitating processes for galley, interior, and cover design.
- Digital: The Digital department focuses on implementing new technologies into the publishing workflow, and consists of three main aspects: digital, audiobooks, and website management. They work in recently developed formats, such as ebooks and online publishing. They also oversee the Ooligan website and consult with other departments to develop content for marketing the press through digital formats.
- Editing: The Editing department polishes any and all text distributed by Ooligan Press. It is their job to revise, rework, or rewrite all documents—from marketing copy to complete manuscripts—in an effort to ensure precision, clarity, and a professional standard of quality. They work closely with authors, professors, and each of the departments within Ooligan Press in order to guarantee that publications flow consistently from the press to the intended audience.
- Social Media Editor: The Social Media department creates and develops content for our social media platforms. They ensure Ooligan’s digital presence and help to facilitate publicity for our novels and publishing press.
- Marketing and Publicity: The Marketing and Publicity department aims to create vibrant and engaging materials to support the promotion and sales of our books. They are the interface between Ooligan titles, the public, and the media.
- Publisher’s Assistants: Our two publisher assistants cover three main parts within the industry: metadata, sales, and DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) presence. They work closely with Ooligan Press’s Publisher, Robyn Crummer, and handle all shipping and management aspects of our publication process.
Living in Portland
What housing options are available to students? If I don’t live on campus, how should I go about finding roommates?
For on-campus housing, University Housing and Residence Life at PSU (link) has many living options to choose from including small sleeper units, studios, and one-bedroom units. Most graduate students live in Blumel Hall for its apartment style feel, but may live in any of our buildings. College Housing Northwest (link) is another local organization that caters to providing housing to college students. Many graduate students, particularly in their second year in the program, live with other students from the book publishing program. Here is the link (link) to a facebook group for PSU students looking for housing. Students looking for roommates can also reach out to the Director of Book Publishing to have the request for roommates circulated via email.
Do I need a car in Portland?
Whether or not you need a car in Portland depends on where you live. Portland has a good public transportation system, with the MAX Light Rail system that covers Portland and parts of Beaverton and Hillsboro. Closer to PSU, there is also the Portland Streetcar, which can take you from MAX stops to campus. Buses are an option for areas that do not have access to the MAX and Streetcar. You can find more information on public transit passes here (link). You can find out more information about parking on campus and buying a parking pass through the Transportation and Parking Services website (link).
Will I be required to live in Portland during the summer?
No, students are not required to live in Portland during the summer, unless they are registered for in-person courses during that time.
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Events
Check out upcoming events on our Book Publishing Event Calendar.