Certificate in Professional Copyediting, Proofreading, and Fact-Checking | NYU SPS Professional Pathways

To earn a certificate, students must declare their candidacy at the start of their program of study. To do so, please use the button above.

Offered fully online, the Certificate in Professional Copyediting, Proofreading, and Fact-Checking is designed to provide students with expert advice on what publishers look for and the skills needed to become an exemplary copy editor. Although the work of copy editors and proofreaders is invisible, their contributions to the publishing process are invaluable. Copy editors and proofreaders play roles essential to ensuring the consistency and accuracy of text and preparing manuscripts for publication. These skills are in demand across all types of media, including book, magazine, newspaper, and online publishing. Job opportunities are available through the robust freelance market and occasionally through full-time in-house positions, and the skills are transferable to all industries that utilize written communications. Gain familiarity with the structure of publishing and digital media organizations. Learn how to recognize media bias and the importance of broadening your news sources. Become familiar with standard copyediting and proofreading symbols and terminology, style guides, and house styles. Develop techniques to edit text for accuracy, clarity, and flow. Through hands-on practice, learn how to proof against a manuscript, utilize appropriate reference works, and solve common grammar, punctuation, and word use issues. Also, explore a specialization in book, magazine, or digital copyediting through elective courses that cover production cycles and the roles of proofreaders, copy editors, and fact-checkers in those areas. The Certificate must be completed within three years of taking the first certificate-eligible course.

The Certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete the five required courses and two elective courses within three years.

Note: Students are required to take Mastering English Grammar/WPUB1-CE9503 and Fact-Checking for Accuracy/WPUB1-CE9502 before taking any elective courses in the Certificate program. Please see the course descriptions below for more information.

For advisement, please contact the Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts: (212) 998-7289 or sps.pala.ce@nyu.edu.