Media Relations
News Releases
For Release Upon Receipt - September 5, 2006
Contact:
Kira Jastive, 617-358-1240, kjastive@bu.edu
BOSTON UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES NEW CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN BOOK AND MAGAZINE PUBLISHING
(BOSTON) — Boston University’s Metropolitan College today announced the launch of its Book and Magazine Publishing Certificate Program, offered by the university’s Center for Professional Education.
“Students in the new publishing program can select custom coursework in all related aspects of the publishing industry, including design and print production, custom publishing, new magazine creation, academic and textbook publishing, editing, and magazine and book marketing and promotion,” said Ruth Ann Murray, director of the Boston University Center for Professional Education. “All the while, students receive hands-on instruction from seasoned professionals representing the top book and magazine publishing houses in the region.”
The explosive magazine and book publishing industries offer a wide range of job opportunities, Murray said. In 2001 alone, some 17,694 magazines were published. In 2003, book sales totaled $23.4 billion, a 4.6 percent increase over 2002. In 2003, approximately 70,000 publishers—from obscure, small houses to the conglomerates—produced 175,000 new books.
Intensive evening courses and seminars for working professionals will help students keep abreast of the rapid changes in media and publishing, and bring practitioners from the book industry for rigorous teaching programs to train and retrain those wishing to jump start their career development, or make a move to a whole new area of competency within their industry.
“For those wishing to switch careers and enter the industry, the course work provides a broad core of practical knowledge necessary for assuming a professional role in publishing,” said Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D., director of the publishing programs. “For those already in entry-level positions in publishing, coursework can provide advanced training to facilitate broader professional responsibilities and re-training in new skills. And, those who work for corporations, universities, hospitals, or museums that currently publish—or who anticipate publishing— magazines, books, or other intellectual property can gain professional competencies to help enhance branding efforts at their respective organizations.”
Students are able to concentrate in either book or magazine publishing once they have completed required core courses in design, editing, and the business aspects of the publishing industry. Students are required to complete seven courses, or a total of 147 hours of instruction, and can proceed at their own pace in completing the entire program. Guest lecturers, agents, publishers, authors, editors, and other publishing professionals will lead specific course modules and help enhance learning with a real-world perspective on contemporary practices.
The noncredit tuition for the complete program in either book or magazine publishing is $3,995. The fee covers all lectures, workshops, skills development training, and most educational materials. Reduced tuition plans are available to organizations sending more than one employee to the program at the same time.
The Center for Professional Education at Boston University provides the opportunity for professionals to adapt to the changes taking place in their industries by updating their knowledge, honing current skills, and acquiring new skills. Short, high-quality, non-credit programs are specifically designed to meet the continuing professional education and certificate needs of such industries as biotechnology, financial services, fundraising, private investigation, real estate, facilities management, and law. Through non-credit seminars short courses, and certificate programs, the Center for Professional Education provides students the opportunity to gain the needed education to empower them for today's economy.
As one of the 17 degree-granting bodies that comprise Boston University, Metropolitan College (MET) offers part-time, full-time and international students a remarkable range of choices for study to enrich their lives and advance their careers. MET offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, diploma and certificate programs, and individual courses for the student who needs a more creative setting, whether that means part-time study, evening classes, or convenient locations. For more information on Metropolitan College visit www.bu.edu/met/about_boston_university_metropolitan_college/.
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 30,000 students, it is the fourth largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 colleges and schools along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes which are central to the school's research and teaching mission.
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