Program Overview

Program Overview

The Editors and Editing: An Introduction course is designed to introduce students to the roles and responsibilities of editors, as well as the knowledge and skills required to succeed in the field. Through course readings, exercises, and assignments, students will explore the world of editing and examine different aspects of editing, including structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing, and proofreading.

Course Details

• Location: Online
• Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Tuition: $485
• Can be applied to: Editing Certificate

Upcoming Offerings

The course is offered at various start dates, with the option to register at any time. The upcoming offerings include:

• Start Date: Wed, Jan 14, 2026
  • Schedule: Wed, Jan 14 - Tue, Feb 10 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: Rachelle Kanefsky
  • Cost: $485.00
  • Seats Available: 17
• Start Date: Wed, Mar 18, 2026
  • Schedule: Wed, Mar 18 - Tue, Apr 14 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: Jessie Johnston
  • Cost: $485.00
  • Seats Available: 25
• Start Date: Wed, May 13, 2026
  • Schedule: Wed, May 13 - Tue, Jun 9 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: -
  • Cost: $485.00
  • Seats Available: 25

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the role and responsibilities of an editor
• Explain the four main types and stages of editing and how editors fit into the overall publishing process
• Describe the author–editor relationship and the variables that help it succeed
• Recognize basic weaknesses and errors related to structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing, and proofreading
• Identify the skills and tools needed to work as an editor today

Course Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on:

• Assignments
• Participation in discussions

Learning Materials

No textbook is required, as all course materials will be provided online. However, the following text is recommended:

• The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th or 18th Edition. University of Chicago Press, 2017 or 2024.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, students will need:

• A computer with audio and microphone connected to the internet
• Microsoft Word (2010 or newer) and being comfortable with the Track Changes function
• A printer
• A scanner or camera to create a digital copy of editing examples to be submitted for one of the assignments
• High-speed internet access
• Adobe Acrobat Reader

English Language Requirements

To succeed in this course, students will need an advanced level of written and spoken English. The recommended English language proficiency requirements are:

• Overall band score minimum 6.5
• No band below 6.0
• Writing band score minimum 8.0