Lewis-Clark State College

What you'll study

This programme blends core liberal‑arts study with specialist publishing modules to give you a broad understanding of the editorial and commercial sides of the industry. You will study topics such as:

• Editorial practice — copyediting, substantive editing, manuscript evaluation and development of editorial judgement.
• Production and design — typography, page layout, prepress workflows, and an introduction to print and digital production tools.
• Digital publishing and multimedia — e‑book creation, content management systems, metadata, and publishing for web and mobile platforms.
• Publishing law and ethics — copyright, contracts, permissions and ethical issues relevant to editors and publishers.
• Marketing and sales — audience development, marketing plans, publicity, book distribution channels and sales strategies for trade and academic titles.
• Project and rights management — scheduling, budgeting, licensing and rights negotiation basics.
• Internship and capstone project — supervised industry placement or an applied project such as producing a book, magazine or digital publication.

The programme typically includes general education requirements in writing, literature, communications and business fundamentals to ensure graduates have strong contextual knowledge and transferable skills.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally required to hold a completed high‑school qualification or equivalent. Typical expectations include a demonstrated competency in English and composition. Mature students with relevant work experience or those who have completed community college coursework are also considered.

Selection may involve submission of a short writing sample or portfolio (such as editing examples, published work or a short project), as well as an interview in some cases. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through recognised tests or prior study in English.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a variety of roles across the publishing ecosystem and adjacent industries. Common career paths include:

• Editorial assistant, copyeditor or commissioning editor at trade, academic or independent presses
• Production editor, layout designer or digital production specialist
• Marketing, publicity and sales roles within publishing houses or literary agencies
• Rights and permissions assistant, project manager or catalogue specialist
• Content strategist, digital content manager or editorial roles in magazines, nonprofit media and corporate communications
• Self‑publishing entrepreneur, independent publisher or freelancer offering editorial and production services

The practical focus and internship opportunities are designed to help you build a professional portfolio and regional networks that support entry into these roles.

Why study at Lewis‑Clark State College

Lewis‑Clark State College offers small class sizes and close faculty engagement, which is beneficial for hands‑on, applied disciplines like publishing. The college emphasises experiential learning, with opportunities for internships, supervised publishing projects and collaboration with local cultural organisations.

Studying at LCSC provides a cost‑effective pathway to a career in publishing with personalised academic support, access to vocational resources and a tight‑knit campus community. The programme is well suited to students who prefer practical training and one‑to‑one mentorship in a regional setting, while developing skills that are transferable to national and digital markets.