Signature program
Do you dream of working at a publishing house, indie magazine or scholarly journal? Then our publishing and editing major is for you.
You won’t find this kind of program at any other liberal arts colleges — or at many far larger colleges either. We offer one of the only publishing majors in the nation.
Publishing is all about connecting. Writers and readers. Art and business. Traditional and new technologies. Gain the knowledge and skills to navigate these interconnections, and reflect on the:
- Cultural role of publishing
- History of the book
- Implications of the shift to digital publishing
Our publishing and editing program is big enough that you’ll have access to a high-tech, dedicated lab and eight department student publications, and small enough that you’ll get hands-on, personalized attention from faculty. Our students have even helped produce a professional publication, which saw two pieces nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Nab prime internships and post-grad opportunities
Our track record for internships at top magazines, newspapers and presses and placements at the three most prestigious summer certificate programs is exceptional. Internships include:
- UrbanEdge Publishing
- Penguin Random House
- Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents
- Ingram Content Group
Each year we successfully place graduates in the Columbia Publishing Course and NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute. All five students from the Class of 2019 who applied to Columbia’s program, the most prestigious program in the country, were accepted.
Flexible skills for any field
You’ll be ready to succeed in publishing and editing when you graduate, and the skills you’ll gain translate to many industries including media management, marketing, library and information science, communications, and more.
Our interdisciplinary minors, like museum studies and arts administration, help you gain a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.
Student-Run Press
Susquehanna University this fall restarted the SU Press as an entirely student-run operation. The press provides hands-on experience in publishing and is a collaborative project with the Sigmund Weis School of Business. With this project, our undergraduate publishing program is the only one in the country affiliated with a business school.
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
English and Creative Writing Studies
Students in English and Creative Writing study literature from three different perspectives: as writers, readers, and editor-entrepreneurs. Foundational courses taken by all students in the first and second years show how literary history, literary theory, and literary diversity are integral to formal concerns and to emerging digital contexts. These provide a common learning experience. After the foundational courses, English-Literature and English-Secondary Education majors take advanced seminars in literary history and theory; English-Publishing & Editing majors take advanced courses in literary criticism and professional skills; and Creative Writing majors take advanced writing workshops. Coursework in each major is completed through a capstone experience. English-Literature and English- Secondary Education majors pursue an independent research project; English-Publishing & Editing majors take a course in which they reflect on the cultural, political, and commercial functions of publishing; and Creative Writing majors prepare a portfolio of their original work.
Learning Goals
- Critical thinking: originality and appreciation of nuance
- Interpretation: history, theory and criticism
- Literacy: reading, intertextuality and cosmopolitanism
- Style: rhetoric, genre and audience
English - Publishing & Editing
The English-Publishing and Editing major prepares students for careers in a digitally mediated publishing industry and for related careers in marketing, public relations, arts journalism, library and information science, and media management. Courses focus on both the intellectual and practical uses of literary study, especially the technologies of writing and reading, the businesses of literature, and craft.
Students in the English - Publishing and Editing major complete the following 42 - 46 semester hours with grades of C- or better.
4 ENGL-190 Introduction to Modern Publishing
4 WRIT-270 Small Press Publishing and Editing
4 COMM-331 Editing
2-4 ENGL-540 Internship
4 MGMT-280 Marketing
or ENGL-375 History of the Book
4 ENGL-388 Publishing: Ethics, Entertainment, Art, Politics
2-4 One course from:
ENGL-297 Writing and Editing Podcasts
COMM-211 Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations
ENGL- 298 Book Reviewing
ENGL-299 Professional Writing.
8 ENGL-265 Surveys in Forms of Writing (students may not repeat the same form)
2 ENGL-269 English Grammar and the Writing Process
4 ENGL-290 Aesthetics and Interpretation
4 One ENGL course at the 300 level other than ENGL-375 and ENGL-388
Major GPA Calculation
For the purposes of calculating the required 2.00 minimum GPA in any of the three majors offered by the department, the English and Creative Writing Department uses all of the major courses with the ENGL and WRIT prefixes.
Minor in Publishing and Editing
Students earning the minor in publishing and editing must complete five courses (a total of 18 semester hours) with a grade of C- or above. The required courses are ENGL-190 Introduction to Modern Publishing, WRIT-270 Small Press Publishing and Editing, COMM-331 Editing, ENGL-540 Internship, and ENGL- 388 Publishing: Ethics, Entertainment, Art, Politics.
English Courses
An intensive introduction to college reading and writing, intended to prepare students for the challenge of college writing and to empower them to become members of a larger writing community. Sections limited to 18 students. For elective credit only; not for credit in the English major or minor or the Central Curriculum. 4 SH.
An introduction to college writing, reading and discourse. Active discussion among students and instructors in sections limited to 18 participants. Seminars typically focus on a current social problem or a topic of particular interest to the instructor. Not for credit in the major or minor. 4 SH. CC: Writing and Thinking.
An introduction to the history of modern publishing, to the art and business of producing books (including current trends and problems), and to the practical knowledge and critical skills needed to pursue employment in the industry. 4 SH.
Specialized courses surveying a particular theme or topic of literary study and fostering in students the capacity for critical thinking. Texts are chosen according to the interest and expertise of instructors. Recent examples are Wilderness Literature, Beat Literature, Living Writers, and Travel Literature. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or second-semester students who have successfully completed the Writing and Thinking course. 4 SH. CC: Literary Expression, Writing Intensive.
An introductory, historical survey of prominent themes in literature including those related to national, transnational, and ethnic literatures. Course topics vary and may include coming of age, human-nature relations, war and revolution, technology, and publishing house culture. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or second-semester first-year students who have successfully completed ENGL-100. 4 SH. CC: Literary Expression.
Surveys the literature of one or more cultural groups, both within and outside the U. S., including African American, Native American, Latina/Latino, Asian American and others. In every case, factors of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and class will be of prime concern. Course selections and course topics vary according to instructor preference. Prerequisite: English and creative writing major or sophomore standing. Satisfies Multicultural/Non-Western requirement. 4 SH. CC: Diversity, Literary Expression.
Surveys the literature, primarily in translation,of both historical and contemporary world writers, emphasizing the global context of literature. Prerequisite: English and creative writing major or sophomore standing. Satisfies Multicultural/Non-Western requirement. 4 SH. CC: Literary Expression.
A variable topic survey, in English translation, of the texts, writers, histories and languages that describe Jewish literatures. The course is especially concerned with debates over definitions of “Jewish literature” (what makes Jewish literatures Jewish?), the significance of Jewish literary and cultural diversity and Jewish literary navigations between diaspora and homeland, secularism and religiosity. Readings may include Hebrew and Israeli literature, Yiddish literature, Sephardic literature, or Jewish literatures of Europe and the Americas. Same as JWST:255. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Satisfies Multicultural/Non-Western requirement. 4 SH. CC: Diversity, Literary Expression.
Courses designed to examine both the formal characteristics of a particular genre and its historical development. Focus of a particular section may be the novel, the short story, drama, poetry, the essay, memoir, epic, or popular writing. Prerequisite: English or creative writing major or sophomore standing. 4 SH. CC: Diversity Intensive, Literary Expression, Writing Intensive.
A descriptive study of American English grammar and the history of the English language. 2 SH.
Intensive and advanced study of reading and writing about literature. Includes close analysis of literary texts in historic, generic and cultural contexts; study of research methods and writing the research paper; and attention to traditional and recent critical theory. Prerequisite: English or creative writing major or sophomore standing. 4 SH. CC: Artistic Expression, Interdisciplinary, Writing Intensive.
This course introduces students to academic writing in English studies by exploring varied models of successful scholarly writing. Emphasis is placed on students developing the skills and strategies writers need in order to participate effectively in the diverse conversations that define this field. Prerequisite: ENGL-100 or HONS-100. 4 SH. CC: Writing Intensive.
Students gain hands-on experience in digital publishing and storytelling by contributing to Me/Us/U, a publicly circulated podcast. Working in teams and engaging a variety of analytical and writing practices, students brainstorm, record, edit, and publish a series of podcast episodes that circulate on Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms. Prerequisites: ENGL-100, ENGL-190, and WRIT-270. 4 SH.
An introduction to and an intensive, rigorous workshop in the basic forms of book reviewing: the short book review, the review essay, and the longer literary critical essay. The course builds on the writing skills students have learned in ENGL-100 and 200-level courses in literature, and it includes intensive reading in the forms listed above. Prerequisite: ENGL-100 or the equivalent and sophomore standing or instructor’s permission. 4 SH.
This course offers experience in the theory and practice of professional writing (writing that occurs in the workplace, especially in businesses, in government, and for nonprofits). While the course is required for students in the Publishing and Editing emphasis of the Department of English and Creative Writing, students from other majors are welcome. Students will first choose a company or organization for which they would like to write. They will then gain experience writing a wide range of genres such as letters and memos; feature stories, interviews, and biographical sketches; press kits; flyers and brochures; and proposals. We also will study the theory of professional writing, including how genres (generally seen as set formulas) evolve over time in response to changing situations; how genres engage power relations; and how genres can be made more open to divergent points of view. Prerequisite: ENGL-100 or HONS-100. 4 SH. CC: Writing Intensive.
The development of the language from its origin to the present. Includes standards of written and spoken English and the differences between English spoken in England and that spoken in various parts of America and elsewhere in the world. Partially satisfies early period requirement. 4 SH.
Readings in prose, poetry and drama from the sixth to 17th centuries. Sections may focus on a particular period or range across centuries, and topics vary according to instructor preference. The texts will be in English but will not necessarily have been composed in Great Britain. Partially satisfies early period requirement. 4 SH.
Readings in prose, poetry and drama from the late 17th century to 1900. Sections may focus on a particular period or range across centuries, and topics vary according to instructor preference. The texts will be in English but will not necessarily have been composed in Great Britain. Partially satsifies early period requirement. 4 SH. CC: Writing Intensive.
Readings in prose, poetry and drama from 1900 to the present. Sections may focus on a particular period or range across centuries, and topics vary according to instructor preference. The texts will be in English but will not necessarily have been composed in Great Britain. 4 SH.
Readings in prose, poetry and drama by writers representing various American cultures and literatures, from the pre-Colonial period through 1865. Sections may focus on a particular period or range across centuries, and topics vary according to instructor preference. Partially satisfies early period requirement. 4 SH. CC: Writing Intensive.
Readings in prose, poetry and drama by writers representing various American cultures and literatures, from 1865 to the present. Sections may focus on a particular period or range across centuries, and topics vary according to instructor preference. Prerequisite: 8 semester hours of English course work at the 100 and 200 levels. 4 SH.
A study of literary works by a single author or perhaps of two writers whose works may be studied in tandem. By reading a number of texts by a single author, students will come to understand individual works better and will gain insight into the author’s particular vision and sense of literary craft. Offerings are likely to include Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Twain, Austen, Dickinson and Morrison. 4 SH. CC: Writing Intensive.
A study of literature written originally in English by writers from countries other than the United States and Britain. The course may include writers from Canada, Ireland, the Indian subcontinent, the Caribbean and English-speaking countries in Africa. Satisfies Multicultural/Non-Western requirement. 4 SH.
Advanced courses designed to examine the formal characteristics of a genre as well as the historical factors influencing its development or manifestation at any given moment, and the theoretical approaches to understanding the genre. The focus of a particular section may be the novel, short story, drama, poetry, the essay, or autobiography. 4 SH.
Courses exploring such topics as women in literature, literature by women, literature and sexuality, the construction of gender in literature and feminist literary theory. Same as WGST-365. 4 SH. CC: Writing Intensive.
In this course we will study the book as a material object, a concrete text that is produced, sold, circulated, and read. More broadly, we will address the wider social and political pressures that have shaped book production as well as the social and political consequences of producing books and other media. We will first examine manuscripts and manuscript culture through a consideration of the New Testament’s publication history. We will then shift our attention to the medium of print. As a class, we will study the wider implications of the invention of the printing press. What effect, for instance, did print have upon literacy, the rise of natural science, the transformation of religion, and the twin concepts of authorship and literary property (copyright)? How did censorship constrain what writers, printers, and booksellers were able to publish? Finally, we will study the Internet as an engine of change. In many scholars’ estimation, the Internet will have a more profound impact upon society than did the printing press. We will try to gauge this impact and to appraise the ways in which hypertext is changing literature, journalism, and, what’s more, how we read and write. Early Period. 4 SH.
An interdisciplinary workshop course focusing on the environment. Students explore the way scientists’ knowledge, methods, and values have informed public rhetoric and scholarly rhetorical criticism, as well as the ways that rhetorical criticism and awareness have in turn had an impact on scientific discourse. Fundamental to the course is the crafting of students’ written arguments in response to readings and personal involvement with environmental issues. The process of writing these arguments is informed by research from the field of composition and models the best practices of that field, making this course useful for future teachers and professional writers, as well as to those who are interested in environmental issues. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. 4 SH. CC: Interdisciplinary, Writing Intensive.
Students explore the ways that difference impacts everyone’s–students’, instructors’, and others’–experiences of reading, writing, and teaching/learning. “Difference” includes, among other factors, gender, race, class, religion, ability, sexuality, and national origin. This interdisciplinary course uses readings and concepts from the fields of education, literature, and composition and rhetoric. Students will apply these concepts and readings to their own or to others’ reading, writing, and learning experiences inside and/or outside of the traditional classroom. Prerequisite: ENGL-100 and sophomore standing or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. CC: Interdisciplinary, Diversity Intensive.
In these polarized times, how can citizens learn to cooperate or communicate across political camps and parties? We will use the field of politics to understand the evolution of democratic ideals from ancient Greece to Contemporary America and to provide empirical means to explore actual trends in political behavior. We will also learn rhetorical concepts that help us create better dialog and more carefully judge the political claims made by others. Students will engage in hands-on community projects to help them implement what they learn outside of the classroom. Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and sophomore standing. 4 SH.
This course explores the cultural, political and commercial functions of publishing. We explore how published texts ask us to take on certain ethical roles as art critics, citizens and consumers. We start by reading Addison and Steele’s Spectator; next we examine Jurgen Haberma’s theory that newspapers’ publication of literary criticism helped enable democratic government; finally, we consider the ways changes in marketing, new formats like the Internet and increases in profitability have obscured the political purposes that may have been served in publishing. Pre-requisite: must be junior or senior Publishing and Editing major or minor, with at least 8 SH at ENGL-100- or 200-level; HONS-100 may be substituted for ENGL-100. 4 SH. Capstone. CC: Ethics Intensive, Writing Intensive.
Occasional offerings of specialized courses exploring subjects of serious interest to faculty members and to students. 4 SH. CC: Writing Intensive. When the topic being offered is Race and Identity in U.S. Literature, the course is Diversity Intensive and Ethics Intensive but not Writing Intensive.
The capstone course for the major focuses on post-graduate preparation and applying knowledge and skills to projects related to core subjects in the discipline: reading, writing, critical thinking, and producing and transmitting cultural knowledge. Prerequisites: Senior standing for literature track; junior or senior standing for secondary-education track; and at least eight hours at 200 level or above. 4 SH. Capstone. CC: Writing Intensive
Independent research and writing under the supervision of an appropriate member of the department. Prerequisites: 24 semester hours in ENGL-200 and 300-level courses, 48 total semester hours with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major and department approval. 2-4 SH.
Independent research and writing under the supervision of an appropriate member of the department. Prerequisites: 24 semester hours in ENGL 200- and 300-level courses, 48 total semester hours with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major, and departmental approval. 2-4 SH.
Applied projects in language, literature or craft, including supervised work in literacy projects, in writing projects, at public and school libraries, in shelters and in public institutions. The Susquehanna University Office of Volunteer Programs provides contacts. May apply for major or minor credit to a maximum of four semester hours, depending on the nature of the project. Prerequisites: 24 semester hours in ENGL 200- and 300-level courses, 48 total semester hours with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major, and departmental approval. S/U grade. 2-4 SH.
Research, writing and editing for various public and private organizations, and various on and off campus publications. Open only when positions are available. May apply for major or minor credit to a maximum of four semester hours, depending on the nature of the internship. Prerequisites: 24 semester hours in ENGL 200- and 300-level courses, 48 total semester hours with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major and department approval. 2-4 SH.
Creative Writing Courses
The social justice project prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion focuses on conversations and often leaves out consumption of media and literature. This course counters this omission by exploring what it means to create for these gazes of dominant cultures, and how lived experiences as diverse people can upend the canon and larger systems of power. This course uses readings and assignments that explore race, gender, sexuality, religion, dis/ability, and other identity markers to encourage students to examine their personal and professional connections as they relate to compassion, empathy, and justice in the classroom and beyond. 4SH. CC: First Year Seminar, Diversity.
In this course, students write stories, poems and creative non-fiction. As T.S. Eliot teaches us in “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” there is no ultimate separation between understanding and practicing an art. By studying published authors, we will learn about the forms, techniques, elements, and processes associated with writing a work of literature. By composing original creative work-in playing with form, voice, structure, character, image, setting, and in undertaking processes like idea development, writing first drafts, getting and receiving peer and professional feedback, and revision and editing-we will become more skilled readers and critics. This course should not be taken by creative writing majors. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or second-semester students who have successfully completed Writing and Thinking. 4 SH. CC: Literary Expression, Writing Intensive.
This workshop writing course introduces students to the craft of various types of writing, including screenwriting, children’s literature, and science fiction. Genres may vary, depending on semester and instructor expertise. 4 SH. CC: Artistic Expression when the topic is Experimental Writing.
In this hands-on course students will develop creative writing projects around specific, local, environmentally important/precarious sites. In doing so, students will perform both traditional academic (scientific/historical) and experiential (place-based/creative) research that evolves into works of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or cross-genre work. In this course you will dwell in the space between and including environmental studies and creative writing, developing your own voice and vision as witness to environmental change and trauma. 4 SH.
Introductory workshop course in the study and practice of genre topics other than fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. 4 SH. CC: Team Intensive, Writing Intensive. May be repeated as long as the topic changes.
Introductory workshop course in the study and practice of fiction. 4 SH. CC: Team Intensive, Writing Intensive.
Introductory workshop course in the study and practice of poetry. 4 SH. CC: Team Intensive, Writing Intensive.
Introductory workshop course in the study and practice of creative nonfiction. 4 SH. CC: Team Intensive, Writing Intensive.
Inspired by the original choreopoem by Ntozake Shange, this course introduces the choreopoem form, investigating the concept of the living text as it applies to collaboration across multiple disciplines. Using literary analysis, creative writing, and theatre, students research the choreopoem form, write one as a class, and publicly perform it, reflecting on the tension of intention vs. impact in performance spaces. Sophomore or higher standing required. (Same as AFRC-260 and THEA-260.) 4 SH. CC: Interdisciplinary, Diversity Intensive, Team Intensive.
An introductory workshop course in the study and practice of publishing and editing for small presses; includes both historical study of the industry and hands-on publishing and editing projects. 4 SH. CC: Artistic Expression.
An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere. This course builds upon what students learned in WRIT-250 Introduction to Creative Writing. It includes intensive reading of literature in the genre being studied. Special emphasis on the development of a body of work. Genre topics include all those other than fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Prerequisite: WRIT-250 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. CC: Literary Expression, Team Intensive, Writing Intensive. May be repeated as long as the topic changes.
An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere. This course builds upon what students learned in WRIT-250 Introduction to Fiction. It includes intensive reading of fiction. Special emphasis on the development of a body of work. Prerequisite: WRIT-251 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. CC: Team Intensive, Writing Intensive. May be repeated as long as the topic changes.
An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere. This course builds upon what students learned in WRIT-250 Introduction to Poetry. It includes intensive reading of poetry. Special emphasis on the development of a body of work. Prerequisite: WRIT-252 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. CC: Team Intensive, Writing Intensive. May be repeated as long as the topic changes.
WRIT-353 Intermediate Creative Nonfiction An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere. This course builds upon what students learned in WRIT-253 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction. It includes intensive reading of creative nonfiction. Special emphasis on the development of a body of work. Prerequisite: WRIT-253 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. CC: Team Intensive, Writing Intensive. May be repeated as long as the topic changes.
An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere, along with intensive reading in the genre. Special emphasis on the development of a significant body of work in preparation for an understanding of what is required to write a book in the genre being studied. Genre topics include all those other than fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Prerequisite: WRIT-350 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. May be repeated.
An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere, along with intensive reading in fiction. Special emphasis on the development of a significant body of work in preparation for an understanding of what is required to write a fiction book. Prerequisite: WRIT-351 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. May be repeated.
An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere, along with intensive reading. Special emphasis on the development of a significant body of work in preparation for an understanding of what is required to write a poetry book. Prerequisite: WRIT-352 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. May be repeated.
An intensive, rigorous discussion of student writing in a workshop atmosphere, along with intensive reading. Special emphasis on the development of a significant body of work in preparation for an understanding of what is required to write a creative nonfiction book. Prerequisite: WRIT-353 or instructor’s permission. 4 SH. May be repeated.
Independent research and writing under the supervision of an appropriate member of the department. 1-4 SH.
Applied projects in writing under the supervision of an appropriate member of the department. Prerequisites: 24 semester hours in WRIT 200 and 300-level courses, 48 semester hours with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major, and departmental approval. 2-4 SH.
Research, writing and editing for various public and private organizations, and various on and off campus publications. Open only when positions are available. 2-4 SH.
The capstone course for all creative writing majors (and interested creative writing minors). Students will prepare a portfolio of their written work with the expectation of the portfolio going “public,” that is, meeting the demands of graduate school, employment, or the marketplace. Required for senior creative writing majors; others by successful completion of WRIT-350. 4 SH.
Completion of a suitable portfolio of fiction, poetry, drama or creative nonfiction, by invitation of the department only, and in accordance with departmental honors guidelines. 4 SH.
Recent graduates are employed at:
Simon & Schuster
The Ross Yoon Agency
AfterShock Comics
Holiday House
Labyrinth Books
Leshne Agency
Penguin Random House (Publicity)
KAMA, IOS App
Pearson Education
Free Spirit Publishing
Harper Collins (HarperTeen)
Cengage Learning
Berkley Books/Penguin Random House
Penn Foster Education
Workman Publishing
The Pottsville Republican-Herald
Palgrave Macmillan
Highlights for Children
Business 2 Community
MacMillan Learning
So to Speak: A Feminist Journal of Language and Art
Ingram Content Group
Print: A Bookstore (Portland, ME)
Crayola
Touchstone Books
U.S. Pharmacopeia
The Vanguard Group
Stanford University
Recent internship placements:
Dzanc Books
Citizen’s Climate Lobbby
Her Campus Media
Penguin Random House
UrbanEdge Publishing
Overlook Press
Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents
Help the Rural Child Charity Bookstore, Maubray, South Africa
NEPA Scene
Harvey Klinger, Inc.
Logbuch KG, Bremen, Germany
Odyssey Online
Sunbury Press
Atticus Books
Judson Press
Llewellyn Worldwide (publisher)
San Diego Magazine
The Star Ledger
Artvoice: Buffalo’s #1 Newsweekly
Sacramento Book Review
The Hopkins Review
Business 2 Community
The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Susquehanna Life Magazine
W.W. Norton
Writ Large Management
Pretty Pictures Entertainment

John Gall
Title, Author and Maybe Some Kind of Image
Virtual lecture
April 21, 2022, 7 p.m.
John Gall is Senior Vice President, Creative Director for the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Gall was formerly creative director of Abrams Books, and prior to that, vice president and art director for Vintage and Anchor Books, both imprints of Penguin/Random House. A designer, artist, author, editor and teacher, Gall is famous for designing book covers for books by Jennifer Egan, August Wilson and Haruki Murakami.
Gall’s lecture “Title, Author and Maybe Some Kind of Image,” will take the audience through his career in book publishing. He will dig deep into his creative process and show how he translates words on a page into beautiful, eye-catching designs.
There will be an extended Q&A following the lecture to allow for a vibrant discussion.
High school students interested in attending, please register here.
SU community and the general public can join the event here.
Past lectures
- Jennifer Baker, managing editor at Random House Children’s Books, a contributing editor to Electric Literature, editor of Everyday People: The Color of Life — A Short Story Anthology and the creator and host of the podcast Minorities in Publishing — March 1, 2021
- Lisa Pearson, founder of Siglio Press — Sept. 12, 2020
- Cheryl Ball, director of the Digital Publishing Collaborative at the Wayne State University Library and editor of Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy — Nov. 2, 2018
- Jennifer Weis, executive editor and manager of content development at St. Martin’s Press — Feb. 6, 2018
- Christina Harrington ’12, assistant editor at Marvel comics — March 20, 2017
“Top 10 school for Publishing & Editing”
-Universities.com
I chose Susquehanna after attending the university’s one-of-a-kind Publishing and Editing Summer Institute for high school students. This experience introduced to me a unique undergraduate education in publishing and editing that equips students with the skill and experience necessary to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Specialized classes like History of the Book, Aesthetics and Interpretation, and Book Reviewing guide me in investigating the history, theory, and culture behind publishing as an art. A wealth of campus publications and organizations complement these courses by helping me apply the theoretical and study publishing as a business. I try out and experiment with different roles in the industry on the daily in jobs like laying out a printed chapbook, copyediting a literary magazine, coordinating student excursions to the annual AWP conference, editing a printed anthology, and conducting market research for the relaunch of SU’s student-run press. I even got the chance to return to the Publishing and Editing Summer Institute as an TA and share my knowledge with high school students.
Ellie Pasquale ’24
I chose Susquehanna University’s P&E program because of the boundless opportunities within the major. Not only are courses like Small-Press, and on-campus magazines like Rivercraft and Flagship, great ways of experiencing what it’s like to run a press, it all provides hands-on experience for students involved in the major, and snippets of what the P&E career can look like if students choose to pursue it. You make connections with other students that last can last a lifetime. It’s also great preparation for grad school or field experience if students wish to throw themselves straight in!
Hannah MacKey ’23
I committed to SU in 2018 because of how impressive the Publishing & Editing program is. It’s relatively rare to find an undergraduate program in publishing, and ours caught my attention because of the personable and knowledgeable professors, the diverse class selection, the department accommodations (s/o to the many hours I spent in the Letterbox), and, most importantly, the opportunities that are offered to students over the course of four years. The Publishing and Editing program also helped me immensely in achieving my career goals. Through my coursework and professor recommendations, I was lucky enough to get accepted into the Columbia University Publishing Course at Oxford. I spent the month of September in the United Kingdom networking with established professionals in the book publishing industry, creating/pitching/marketing my own book idea, and expanding my undergraduate education in publishing and editing through their exclusive lectures. Without the Susquehanna P&E major, I would never have had this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that continues to help me now in my job search.
DeannaJames Bunce ’22
SU’s Publishing & Editing program gave me the tools to excel in my career in book publishing. The program is meticulously curated, offering coursework focused on a variety of publishing aspects—intro to modern publishing, unpacking the bookstore, public relations/communications, and much more. Thanks to the internship requirement, securing a summer internship at The Overlook Press was my first taste of working in the industry. Upon graduation in 2017, I attended the Columbia Publishing Course and then accepted an assistant position at Simon & Schuster. Now, I just celebrated my 5-year anniversary at S&S with a recent promotion, where I continue to handle publicity campaigns for New York Times bestselling authors in the romance, rom-com and mystery genres (and any book about dogs). I am immensely grateful to the P&E program and its professors who laid the foundation for where I am today.
Megan Rudloff ’17, Senior Publicist, Atria Books, Simon & Schuster
Susquehanna’s Publishing and Editing program encouraged me to think broadly and critically about the industry. My classes not only exposed me to the roles that bookstores, literary magazines, publishing houses, printers, and other players have in the publishing ecosystem, but also allowed me to begin exploring the numerous career paths that are available, like marketing, publicity, design, and more. I was easily able to combine the program with another major and a minor, which allowed me to continue learning within other fields of interest and helped set me apart when I began applying for jobs. The connections made with professors, alumni, and my classmates were—and continue to be—valuable, and they have taught me time and again that there is no one way—or right way—to get into publishing. The program instilled in me an interest in patterns and systems, and a curiosity for how different parts of the industry work together, which has given me an advantage in my career.
Jessica Dartnell ’17, Sales Associate, Premium Literary Sales, Penguin Random House
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
Department Head of Art and Design
Email Address leniga@susqu.edu
Phone Number 570-372-4622
Asst Prof Pub & Media Entrepreneurship and Dir SU Press
Email Address masterton@susqu.edu
Phone Number 570-372-4378
Associate Professor of English & Creative Writing
Email Address robertson@susqu.edu
Phone Number 570-372-4630
Charles B. Degenstein Professor of English
Co-Department Head of English and Creative Writing
Director of Jewish Studies
Phone Number 570-372-4202
Associate Professor of English & Creative Writing
Email Address sirisena@susqu.edu
Phone Number 570-372-4755