Program Overview

Program Overview

The program is designed for aspiring indexers and for editors who oversee and edit indexes. Through critiques of existing indexes in various documents, course readings, forum discussions, and software demonstrations and practice, students will explore what constitutes a good index and how to create one efficiently.

Program Details

• Location: Online
• Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
• Duration: 5 weeks
• Tuition: $545
• Can be applied to:
  • Technical Communication Certificate
  • Editing Certificate

Upcoming Offerings

• Start Date: Tue, May 5, 2026
  • Schedule: Tue, May 5 - Mon, Jun 15 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: -
  • Cost: $545.00
  • Seats Available: 23
• Start Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2026
  • Schedule: Tue, Oct 27 - Mon, Nov 30 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: -
  • Cost: $545.00
  • Seats Available: 25

What You Will Learn

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Analyze and evaluate the contents and format of an index.
• Create indexes for non-fiction works as well as technical and other documents.
• Design an index using the indexing function of a word processing software.
• Design an index using dedicated indexing software.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the range of indexing opportunities and professional indexing standards and practices.

How You Will Learn and Be Evaluated

• Prepare to spend 10–15 hours per week on coursework
• Expect reading, exercises, and other assignments on a weekly basis
• Plan to access the course at least once every few days to keep up with your work and group assignments You will be evaluated on:
• Assignments
• Participation in discussions

Learning Materials

• Required text: The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th or 18th Edition. University of Chicago Press, 2017 or 2024.
• Note: Courses use the author-date style from the (17th ed.) citation guide.
• Once you begin the course, you will be sent SFU library access information for this text. Alternatively, you may wish to access a 30-day free trial of the online version of Chicago Manual of Style.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, you will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. Canvas is the online system that will be used for the course. This course requires:

• CINDEX, MACREX, or SKY demo software (available as free downloads during the course)
• High-speed internet access
• Adobe Acrobat Reader

English Language Requirements

To succeed in this course, you will need an advanced level of written and spoken English. If you are unsure whether your English language skills are sufficient, we recommend you complete the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the following minimums:

• Overall band score minimum 6.5
• No band below 6.0
• Writing band score minimum 8.0 Please note we can’t refund your registration fees after the course start date if you find your English language skills are not adequate.