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Copyediting

Gain a Solid Foundation in the Tools and Techniques of Copyediting

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About the Copyediting Program

Copyediting, also known as copy editing—especially nonfiction editing—is one of today's most marketable skills for freelance work. In today's economy, creating a career with flexibility and mobility appeals to many people. Copy editors are the bridge between writers, publishers, and readers. They review, refine, and correct a variety of written material that appears in print or onscreen, such as marketing brochures, blogs, manuals, reports, feature articles, catalogs, and books. Copy editors who have a specialized background (such as science, technical, medical, finance and marketing) or proficiency with digital media are particularly in demand. Still, you do not need prior experience in these fields to complete this certificate successfully.

Our program provides a solid understanding of the tools and techniques of copy editing and introduces several topics required to make copyediting a career. Every lesson offers practical skills and information you can use immediately. The program can be completed online in 12 months. The courses are asynchronous but not self-paced; you will be required to keep up with weekly assignments. The average student spends three hours online and six hours offline per course each week.

Additional Information:

For detailed information, please enroll in the online on-demand Copyediting Program Information Session. Questions about our classes or certificates? Contact our department at 858-534-5760 or ahl@ucsd.edu.

For those who are considering entering the field of copyediting via UC San Diego Extension’s Copyediting Certificate Program, we invite you to join our LinkedIn group of current students, graduates, and writing professionals.

  • Grammar review and effective levels of editing to improve clarity and readability, including web copy and all elements of a manuscript.
  • Different types of editor roles and the various style guides used in the industry (the program uses the Chicago Manual of Style).
  • Review of standard copyediting symbols, spelling, grammar, and punctuation rules.
  • Editorial processes, using style sheets and editing with Microsoft Word.
  • Fact-checking, active/passive voice and editing for logic, sexism, and plagiarism.
  • Querying and best practices for fostering the author-editor relationship.
  • Style sheets, legal considerations, bias in language, and editing graphic elements.
  • Career-related information, such as career paths, jobs and training, and the basics of freelance editing.
  • Those who are interested in starting a new copyediting career.
  • Those working in existing copyediting or fact-checking roles who would like to advance their skills and expand their career opportunities.
  • Those who wish to edit technical copy or who work for book publishers and magazines.
  • Anyone who produces content for websites and marketing/communications departments at corporations.
Format: Online

In-class options not available.

Estimated Cost: $2,566

Cost is an estimate and includes course fees and books for the entire program.

Duration: 12 months

Varies by student and courses taken per quarter.

Contact
Department
Arts, Humanities, Languages & Digital Arts
Phone
858-534-5760
Email
ahl@ucsd.edu

Courses

Delivery Method
Show Legend
  • Live Online
  • In-Person
  • Online
  • Hybrid

Find out more about the program in a free, online information session.

Copyediting and Technical Communication Information SessionINFO-70034

Units: 0.00

Free

Copyediting and Technical Communication Information Session (INFO-70034)Free | Online Are you interested in a new career as a copyeditor or technical communicator, but not sure where to begin? Explor...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

All 4 units are required to earn a Copyediting Certificate. Classes must be taken in order and can not be taken simultaneously.

Grammar LabWCWP-40234

Units: 3.00

$595

Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234)10 Weeks | $595 | OnlineThis ten-week online Grammar Lab course is skillfully designed to meet the needs of all students. It is beneficial for those with little grammar experie...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Copyediting IWCWP-40236

Units: 3.00

$595

Copyediting I (WCWP-40236)10 Weeks | $595 | OnlineAs a copyeditor (or copy editor), you will be expected to proofread text for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling and check for readability, ...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Copyediting IIWCWP-40237

Units: 3.00

$595

Copyediting II (WCWP-40237)10 Weeks | $595 | OnlinePractice judicious and defensible editing in Copyediting II so you can master how to thrive as a copyeditor (or copy editor ) in the modern-day work...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Copyediting IIIWCWP-40238

Units: 3.00

$595

Copyediting III (WCWP-40238)10 Weeks | $595 | OnlineAre you ready for your first major editing assignment? In this course, you will work on a deadline to perform a heavy edit on all elements of a manu...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

These classes do not apply to the certificate. They can be taken in any order.

Copy Editing with Associated Press StyleWCWP-40335

Units: 2.00

$395

This class takes a deep dive into the AP Stylebook. The Associated Press style guide is widely used by newspapers and magazines, corporate and personal websites and blogs, marketing/public relations d...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Winter, Summer

Copyediting for FictionWCWP-40336

Units: 2.00

$395

Copyediting for Fiction (WCWP-40336)6 Weeks | $395 | Online As a fiction copyeditor, you will be expected to guide the author through a full edit of the manuscript, including working with sentence s...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Winter, Summer

Critical Thinking for CommunicatorsWCWP-40265

Units: 3.00

$395

Critical thinking affects all communication but one may not realize it. It must be learned to ensure that one thinks, reads, writes, and edits with integrity and communicates with clear language, espe...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Spring

Marketing for Copyeditors: How to Get the Word OutWCWP-80031

Units: 0.00

$220

Marketing for Copyeditors (WCWP-80031)4 Weeks | $220 | Online You ve perfected your editing skills, taken out your business license, and printed business cards. The next step is building connect...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Spring

The Business of CopyeditingWCWP-40333

Units: 2.00

$395

The Business of Copyediting (WCWP-40333)6 Weeks | $395 | Online In the Business of Copyediting course, students will be prepared to launch their own copyediting or proofreading business or grow an e...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Digital Landscape for EditorsWCWP-40340

Units: 3.00

TBD

Digital Landscape for Editors (WCWP-40340)10 Weeks | $595 | Online Interacting in the digital space is a frequently expected skill for freelance and staff editors. In Digital Landscape for Editors, y...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Summer

Download PDF

Required Tools

  • Internet access
  • Scanner access (for use in Copyediting I course)
  • Acrobat Reader 11.0 (or newest available)
  • Microsoft Word 2016 or newer

Certificate Guidelines

Grammar Lab, Copyediting I, II, and III must be taken in sequence. You must earn a Pass (C-) or better grade in each course.

Conditions for Admission

You must have native-level fluency with English and must write clear, logical, and grammatically correct sentences. You will need a computer, a high-speed internet connection, MS Word 2016 or later, and proficiency with all of the above.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Additional questions?

For questions regarding our classes and certificates, please contact us at ahl@ucsd.edu or 858-534-5760.

Advisory Board

Samantha Enslen

Editorial Manager

Executive Board Member, ACES: The Society for Editing

Julie Frey

Freelance Copyeditor

Teresa Schmedding

President

ACES: The Society for Editing

Sara Ziegler

Treasurer

ACES: The Society for Editing

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This certificate requires an application before taking any courses. There will be a $0 fee to apply to this program. Students will also be required to pay a $95 certificate fee upon enrollment into the program after acceptance. View the complete Certificate Registration and Candidacy Guidelines.

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