Professional Editing and Publishing Certificate

• About the Certificate

  The Graduate Certificate in Professional Editing and Publishing (PEP) is offered through the Master of Arts in Professional Writing Program in the Department of English. A unique four-course, non-degree program, this certificate prepares students for entry into the competitive industry of professional editing and publishing through a combination of academic study and hands-on experience. 

  Through this certificate, students will be prepared for positions such as copy editors, developmental editors, editorial assistants, managing editors, and freelance editors, as well as related careers in marketing, sales, and design within the publication industry. Additionally, they will be prepared to organize or join effective editing workflows in multiple media production environments, including print and digital publication venues. Students will also gain an excellent grasp of industry-level linguistic craft and intellectual property standards for American English contexts, as well as an appreciation for how these standards differ in other global contexts.

  Upon completion of this certificate, students will be prepared to edit works across a range of genres, content domains, and media, as well as adjust their editorial approaches accordingly. The certificate will also benefit students interested in navigating publishing industries as authors and editing their own work more effectively.

• Program of Study

  Required Courses (6 credit hours)

  • PRWR 6440 Professional and Academic Editing
  • PRWR 6810 Publishing in the 21st Century

  Electives (6 credit hours)

  Choose from two of the following courses

  • PRWR 6150 Rhetorical Theory
  • PRWR 6200 Contemporary Rhetoric and its Applications
  • PRWR 6260 Managing Writing in Organizations
  • PRWR 6280 Business and Technical Editing
  • PRWR 6455 The Genres of Creative Writing
  • PRWR 6550 Document Design and Desktop Publishing
  • PRWR 6570 Writing for Social Media
  • PRWR 6760 World Englishes
  • PRWR 6860 Intercultural Communication in Context
  • PRWR 7600 MAPW Practical Internship

  *Note: Courses are on rotation and not offered every semester.

• Completing the Certificate

  The final steps in wrapping up the certificate are to:

  1. Petition to graduate the semester you are completing the certificate.
  2. Respond to a brief set of exit questions.
  3. To compile a brief portfolio of work representing your writing and editing development in the certificate program. 

  The portfolio should include the following elements: 

  • Title page
  • Table of contents
  • 1-page statement that reflects your professional goals related to editing and publishing following completion of the certificate
  • 10 pages of work that best demonstrates your writing and editing

  These materials must be emailed to the certificate coordinator by the last day of class of your graduating semester. 

• Contact

  Dr. Erin Bahl
  Associate Professor of English; Coordinator of the Professional Editing and Publication Certificate
  Email: ebahl@kennesaw.edu 

Certificate Faculty

• Dr. Erin Bahl

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6440 Professional and Academic Editing
  • PRWR 6570 Writing for Social Media
• Garrard Conley, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6455 The Genres of Creative Writing
• Dr. Sergio Figueiredo

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6550 Document Design and Desktop Publishing
  • PRWR 6570 Writing for Social Media
• Dr. Elizabeth Giddens

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6440 Professional and Academic Editing
  • PRWR 6460 Managing Writing in Organizations
• Jeffrey Greene, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 7600 MAPW Practical Internship
• Dr. Letizia Guglielmo

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6150 Rhetorical Theory
• Dr. Todd Harper

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6150 Rhetorical Theory
• Dr. Aaron Levy

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6455 The Genres of Creative Writing
• Dr. Kurt Milberger

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6810 Publishing in the 21st Century
• Dr. Laura McGrath

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6440 Professional Editing and Publishing
  • PRWR 6570 Writing for Social Media
• Dr. Christopher Palmer

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6760 World Englishes
  • PRWR 6860 Intercultural Communication in Contexts
• Dr. Amanda Pratt

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6150 Rhetorical Theory