Overview

Coursework is done as a hybrid mix of in-person and online lectures and is supported by an extensive guest speaker seminar program and in-person activities twice a semester. 

This ensures that we prepare students for the real-world expectations of various roles in the publishing industry, evaluated by submitting authentic assessments that evaluate industry-relevant skills competencies. 

Each unit requires 10-12 hours of attending lectures, reading, researching and completing assignments each week of the semester.

Three of these units for students who have not studied Publishing previously:

• AFRT7054A Context for publishing 1st semester (similar to AFRT4034A The publishing environment)
• AFRT7057A Acquisition, commissioning and finance for publishing 1st semester (similar to AFRT4030A Commissioning for publishers)
• AFRT7056A Marketing and sales for publishing (similar to AFRT4033A Sales and Marketing for Publishing) 2nd semester
• AFRT7055A Preparing manuscripts for production 2nd semester (similar to AFRT4031A Copy- editing for Publishers)
• AFAFRT7053A Publishing management and finance - 2nd semester when available (similar to AFRT4011 Management for Publishing Industry)

Three of these units for students who have studied Publishing previously:

• AFRT7049A Evolving forms of publishing - 1st semester
• AFRT7051A Advanced digital and multimedia publishing - 1st semester
• AFRT7050A Advanced copy-editing and manuscript preparation - 2nd semester
• AFRT7052A Selected topic in publishing for MA Publishing Studies - when offered

All MA coursework and research report students: Research report on an approved topic is compulsory for all coursework students.

• AFRT7058A Research Report in Publishing Studies

Recommended reading

Any prescribed titles will be available in the institutional or department library for registered students.

• Inside Book Publishing 6th edition – Giles Clark and Angus Phillips, Routledge 2020, 978-1-138- 57791-6 2020
• The Publishing Business – Kelvin Smith & Melanie Ramdarshan Bold, Bloomsbury, 9781474249515
• Publishing for Profit, Woll, Thomas. Chicago Review Press, 5th edition 2014

Curriculum

Full time students do all their coursework, the research proposal and the research report in one year. Full time study is strongly discouraged for working students. Part time students ideally do 2 course modules on the 1st semester in the 1st year and 1 course in the 2nd semester of the 1st year. The research proposal and the research report are done in the second year.

足球竞彩app排名s who have not studied publishing previously will complete 3 of these 5 modules. Selection will be done in consultation with the Publishing Studies academic coordinator. Detailed descriptions are found under the BA Honours curriculum entry.

The following modules are for students who have studied Publishing previously, for example the BA Honours Publishing Studies. 足球竞彩app排名s must complete three of the modules.

AFRT7049A Evolving forms of publishing - 1 st semester

Prerequisite - AFRT4034A/AFRT7054A This course examines the nature of evolving publishing business forms, focusing on the examination of current industry and reader trends in South Africa. Engaging with competitors and practice in the South African book publishing landscape, this course trains graduates in the identification of new trends and enables innovative solutions to meet reader needs. 足球竞彩app排名s will become familiar with changing technologies available for book production, trends in readership, and the ethical and legal implications of new title development as a publishing entity.

Set texts:

• An Introduction to Book History – David Finkelstein, Alistair McCleery, Routledge
• The Book History Reader – ed by David Finkelstein, Alistair McCleery, Routledge 2nd ed 2006

AFRT7051A Advanced digital and multimedia publishing - 1st semester

Prerequisite - AFRT4034A/AFRT7054A This course trains students in the creation of digital book products, including the understanding of the market for digital formats, reader expectations and market conditions in South Africa. This course includes both the theoretical understanding of ethical and legal obligations with regard to creating eBooks and the practical skills of content ideation and creation. It shares insights on the digital transformation of the publishing industry globally and asks students to engage in current ethical and industry debates regarding the creation and distribution of digital book products.

AFRT7050A Advanced copy-editing and manuscript preparation - 2nd semester

Prerequisite - AFRT4031A/AFRT7055A This module teaches advanced skills and the theoretical background necessary to work with a complex manuscript and prepare it for typesetting for either electronic or paper production. It includes high level language, content and copy editing for specific audiences, proofreading, preparing artwork briefs and preparing briefs for editors, translators and typesetters. Preparing all front and end matter, including imprint and contents page, forewords, glossaries and indices are dealt with. Advanced skills for editing on screen as well as on hard copy will be covered. As well as hands on work with manuscripts, management of the editorial department in a publishing company provides the overview of managing and briefing the people involved at every stage in the process.

AFRT7052A Selected topic in publishing for MA Publishing Studies – when available

The selected topic would be made up of a series of lectures by publishing experts on their fields of expertise. Content will focus on how local publishing is adapting to international trends, accessing of information on a variety of reading platforms and trends in local publishing including publishing in all official languages.

All MA coursework students

AFRT7058A Research report – full year

Research report on an approved topic is compulsory for all coursework students. It comprises half of the credits for the degree. Over a full academic year, you will complete a research report on a topic of particular interest to you. The first part of the year will be spent writing the research proposal, in academic style, with research questions, a literature review, methodology, and reference list.

When the proposal is complete, you will submit it for approval from the research ethics committee. The final essay is intended to be about 25 000 words, including the proposal, results, and discussion of the results. 

Entry Requirements

Masters by Coursework and Research Report:

• A bachelors degree with honours from Wits or another university with a 65% total mark aggregate.

University Application Process

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. The University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.