There are a number of different publishing degree programs available for those who want to work in some form of publishing, whether it is for books, magazines, or an online venue. There are degrees available on an associate's, bachelor's, and master's level, but it would be very rare to find publishing degrees that go beyond this level of graduate school. In addition, interested students may be able to find traditional, in-residence degree programs, as well as online programs that offer more flexibility. Though most publishing degree programs are solely focused on publishing, others will focus on additional aspects of this type of work, such as journalistic writing and editing, or business.
The specific path an individual follows to start a career in publishing will vary depending on his or her interests and career goals. An associate's degree in publishing, for example, may be sufficient to work for a small magazine, or to do online publishing and design for websites. For those who want to work for larger publishing houses or literary agencies, though, an associate's degree will almost never suffice. This does not necessarily mean that an individual needs to specifically pursue publishing degree programs, however.
Though bachelor's degrees in publishing do exist, they are very rare. It is much more common for an individual to get a degree in English, for instance, or journalism, and then apply for publishing jobs or go on to get a master's in publishing and editing. Some advanced degrees in publishing are more focused on the literature and editing side of things, while others are more focused on the business aspects of this field. The publishing degree programs an individual researches and chooses should again be based on his or her interests and career goals, but it is generally a good idea to be as well-rounded as possible.
Another variation among publishing degree programs is the method of education. Though traditional degree programs, in which students come to campus for classes, are still pretty common, there are a number of online degree programs as well. Students have the ability to simply log on to the class from their home computers, giving them more flexibility to work a full-time job and go to school simultaneously. It may be possible to earn a bachelor's or master's degree this way, and there are also a number of certificate options that will take less time to complete, but may not be as useful in a job market.