NYC Publishing Programs
With the world of publishing perpetually changing, we now have more resources than ever to obtain working knowledge of how that world operates. New York City has programs offered by several universities outside of traditional degrees or master's programs that are open to everyone! Many of these programs date back decades, with Columbia’s program being 78 years old as of 2026! This article will be going over 4 programs that focus on providing an education in publishing.
The City College of New York - Publishing Certificate Program
Established in 1988 by Walter Mosley, a prolific Black author who attended the university, this certificate program is open to both matriculated and non-matriculated students! With a heavy focus on diversity in publishing, it is offered at no additional cost to undergraduate students. Courses in the program include areas such as editorial, sales, publicity, marketing, subsidiary rights, digital publishing, audio publishing, and production and design, and it caps everything off with an internship. There is also a mentorship program with Penguin Viking, part of Penguin Random House, which allows students to meet with someone in their preferred department in order to gain a better understanding of that department when entering the publishing world.
The course requires 15 credits, with a required class being Introduction to Publishing. From there, students can expect to take 3 more publishing-related classes and then an independent study linked to an internship.
Requiring 12 credits, the Pace program offers 4 different variations of publishing certificates, ensuring that everyone’s individual needs are met! The certificates are as follows: Book Publishing Certificate, Business Aspects of Publishing Certificate, Digital Publishing Certificate, and Magazine Publishing Certificate. Courses can expect to cover editorial, production and design, financial aspects of publishing, sales, marketing, and digital publishing, amongst other topics.
Each certificate is estimated to take about a year, and as an added bonus, if the student decides to go forward and get a Masters Degree, these classes will count towards that degree.
New York University’s Summer Publishing Institute
Over 45 years old as of 2026, NYU offers the Summer Publishing Institute (SPI), a 4-week-long program equating to 3 credits. The program is open to college graduates, rising college seniors, and new professionals. Focusing on book publishing and digital/magazine media, it covers topics in editorial, marketing, sales, and audience development skills; these are taught through sessions led by publishing professionals. These sessions are typically in the form of workshops and projects.
One should be prepared to be busy with everything the SPI offers, with it running Monday through Friday, approximately 9 am–5 pm. Plus, good news for those looking to get their Master's in Publishing! The 3 credits earned through the program will apply towards the MS in Publishing, and application fees for the MS program will be waived!
Established for over 78 years as of 2026, Columbia offers a 6-week course for 110 students. The course includes elements of lectures, seminars, and workshops. The program is not just focused on book publishing, but 2 weeks of the program are dedicated to digital media and magazine publishing. For anyone more interested in having a publishing course completely dedicated to book publishing, there’s a sister course in Oxford that Columbia makes available, which is an exciting option to have.
Columbia’s NYC Publishing Course involves 3 lectures a day, with the book publishing element culminating in a project where students build a mock book from the ground up. Similarly, at the end of the digital media and magazine publishing section, students can expect to build a mock magazine, create social media, and consider advertisers. Afterwards, a whole week is dedicated to reviewing each group’s work, then resume and cover letter help is offered with HR professionals.
Hopefully this quick overview provides a good starting point for researching the best program for you! New York City truly is a city of opportunity, so keep in mind potential scholarship programs offered by these universities to help make achieving your dream of working in publishing, or developing your publishing skills, as accessible as possible. Then, of course, reach out to any program you’re interested in! As a graduate of one of these programs, I can say that personally reaching out with my application helped a great deal in securing certain opportunities. Be sure to keep an eye out for an upcoming interview with one of these program directors!
Cheers, and good luck!
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Sunny Baumann is a graduate of CCNY’s Publishing Certificate Program. He currently interns with Hushmarrow Press, and volunteers with The Young Publishers Association and FICTION magazine. Having the opportunity to wear many hats in publishing, he’s especially passionate for marketing, publicity, and sales. Outside of his publishing life, Sunny enjoys the company of his two cats, playing D&D, and creating art.
