The graduate program in Book Publishing at Portland State University provides its students with a comprehensive view of the publishing industry through general, specialized, and experiential learning. Seminars conducted by expert faculty are augmented by a variety of experiential learning opportunities, the most notable of which is Ooligan Press, a publishing house staffed by students in the graduate program in Book Publishing.
“One of the great things about book publishing is that it’s so eclectic, and no matter what background you’re coming from, there’s a place within book publishing for you.”
– Dr. Rachel Noorda, Director of Book Publishing
Comprehensive Education
Students gain a comprehensive view of the industry through the program’s required foundational courses. These courses include Introduction to Book Publishing, Book Editing, Book Design Software, Book Marketing, The Business of Book Publishing, and Digital Skills. All courses are taught by industry professionals and cover the latest developments in print and digital publishing.
Specialization Opportunities
Students in the graduate program in Book Publishing have the opportunity to specialize in an area of the publishing process. For example, a student may choose to specialize in editing by taking advanced courses on the subject, such as Copyediting and Developmental Editing. Students can also specialize in design or marketing. These prospects for specialization allow students to mix and match courses to suit their goals.
Experiential Learning
Ooligan Press is a publishing house staffed by graduate students in the Book Publishing program, a hands-on experience unique in graduate education. Students direct every aspect of the publishing process—management, manuscript acquisition, editing, design, production, marketing, and sales—with guidance and supervision provided by expert faculty. Students take lessons from the classroom and apply them to real-world publishing challenges, resulting in numerous award-winning and bestselling books that span multiple genres.
Other experiential learning opportunities include internships in Portland’s diverse literary community and international book publishing experience through the Book Publishing Study Abroad.