A certificate program in publishing gives a broad overview of the publishing industry and how it works or show how to set up your own small publishing business. The Denver Publishing Institute in Denver, Colorado, offers a four-week program in publishing that provides an overview of the publishing industry as well as a support system to help in job searches. DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, offers a 54-hour certificate course focusing on editorial aspects, production, digital publishing, publicity and marketing. New York University offers a certificate with more flexibility that allows you to focus on an area of publishing that most interests you. Five completed courses are required for a certificate in publishing.
Many universities offer course work that focuses on the aspects of publishing in conjunction with the undergraduate degree of your choice. Decide what aspect of the book publishing industry you are interested in, whether editing, design or business, then work on your undergraduate degree in that area while focusing on publishing-specific courses. Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, offers a publishing sequence as part of the English major; the publishing sequence focuses on the publishing industry. Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, offers a publishing minor requiring 16 hours of course work chosen form a range of publishing courses.
A few schools offer a master's degree in publishing. New York University offers a master's of science in publishing, emphasizing digital publishing. Emerson college also offers a master's program in publishing, focusing on all aspects of the publishing industry. At Emerson, you may also take English classes or intern with a magazine or book publisher. Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, offers a master's in writing with an emphasis on book publishing.
Individual courses in publishing or a book publishing seminars are also options. Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, offers a five-day course with speakers and seminars that cover the publishing industry in relation to where it is, where it is going and the technological advancements in the industry. The University of Wisconsin in Madison offers non-credit course options in desktop publishing and related computer classes. Look for courses available in specific areas of publishing such as editing, production, design, marketing and publicity.