Publishing and Writing MA Curriculum Requirements

Emerson College’s on-campus Publishing and Writing graduate program requires the completion of 40 credits. Students are required to attend courses in person on the Boston campus but do have an opportunity to choose from a limited selection of online courses. Housed in the School of Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, the program offers courses on the publishing of books and magazine media via print, digital, video, social media, and other platforms. These courses cover a full range of skills from writing, editing, design, and production to marketing, project management, and product development.

Sample Curriculum Map

Our Publishing and Writing MA can be completed full-time in two years or part-time in two-and-a-half to three years. This sample curriculum map is designed to give you an idea of your course load as a full-time student over two years. For full course information, review our course catalog.

Full-Time Sample Curriculum Map (September–May)

Fall Semester 1 (8 credits)

  • Core Course: PB 680 Magazine Media Essentials
  • Core Course: PB 683 Book Publishing Essentials

Spring Semester 1 (12 credits)

  • Core Course: PB 692 Digital Publishing Essentials
  • Department Elective Course: PB 678 Magazine Editing
  • Publishing Elective Course: PB 679 The Editor/Writer Relationship

Fall Semester 2 (12 credits)

  • Publishing Elective Course: PB 621 Fundamentals of Content Strategy
  • Publishing Elective Course: PB 686 Book Design and Production
  • Department Elective Course: PB 693 Publishing Sales and Marketing

Spring Semester 2 (8 credits)

  • Department Elective Course: WR 515 Topics in Nonfiction
  • Department Elective Course: PB 696 Web Development for Digital Publishing