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Program Overview

Currently accepting applications Apply now >> Next program starts: Autumn 2008 Program location: Downtown, Seattle Next information meeting: Wednesday, Sept. 3 (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

Seattle and the Puget Sound region is one of the top paying metropolitan areas for editors with an annual mean wage of $66,770 for 2007, according to the US Department of Labor (see BLS Metropolitan area profile).

For more information on the training and education needed, expected job prospects, and what workers do on the job and working conditions, check out: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09.

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