EDIT410

Final Project: Editing

In this capstone course you will demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have acquired while completing the Editing Certificate.

You will perform a structural edit, stylistic edit, copy edit, and proofread of a non-fiction book that the instructor will provide. You will define a target audience for the book and communicate with a client in line with the audience’s needs. You will select photos and advise the client about their potential use in the book. Students will be encouraged to develop their own professional approach to client communications and project production. At the end of the course, you will have a package containing work samples that demonstrate your ability to recognize and solve editorial problems.

Prerequisite(s):

This course is available only to accepted Editing Certificate students who have completed all prerequisites listed above. 

Overview

Location: Online
Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
Duration: 6 weeks
Tuition: $668
Can be applied to:
Editing Certificate

Upcoming Offerings

Register for a course at any time, with the option to apply to a program later.

Start Date
Schedule
Location
Instructor
Cost
Seats Available
Action
Start DateWed, Jan 22, 2025
Schedule
  • Wed, Jan 22 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Jan 29 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Feb 5 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Feb 12 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Feb 19 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Feb 26 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorElizabeth Rains
Cost$668.00
Seats Available7
ActionRegister
Start DateWed, Mar 19, 2025
Schedule
  • Wed, Mar 19 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Mar 26 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Apr 2 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Apr 9 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Apr 16 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Apr 23 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorElizabeth Rains
Cost$668.00
Seats Available14
ActionRegister
Start DateWed, May 28, 2025
Schedule
  • Wed, May 28 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Jun 4 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Jun 11 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Jun 18 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Jun 25 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Jul 2 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
Instructor-
Cost$668.00
Seats Available20
ActionRegister
Start DateWed, Sep 10, 2025
Schedule
  • Wed, Sep 10 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Sep 17 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Sep 24 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Oct 1 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Oct 8 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Oct 15 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
Instructor-
Cost$725.00
Seats Available20
ActionRegister
Start DateWed, Oct 29, 2025
Schedule
  • Wed, Oct 29 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Nov 5 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Nov 12 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Nov 19 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Nov 26 (self-paced all week)
  • Wed, Dec 3 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
Instructor-
Cost$725.00
Seats Available20
ActionRegister

What you will learn

At the end of the course, you will be able to do the following:

  • Recommend an editing plan to a client
  • Analyze the audience for a book
  • Recommend a book title according to audience and topic
  • Construct a structural outline of a non-fiction book
  • Revise a book chapter according to stylistic editing standards
  • Revise a book chapter according to copy editing standards
  • Compare, select and categorize stylistic issues for a style sheet
  • Appraise visual editing components of a manuscript
  • Proofread a section of a book according to proofreading standards
  • Compare a typeset section of a book with an original manuscript

How you will learn and be evaluated

Prepare to spend 10–15 hours per week on coursework, including:

  • Class discussions through online forums
  • Independent assignments
  • Individual consultation

You will be evaluated on a final project that demonstrates application of professional editorial standards. 

Learning Materials

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.

Recommended reading:

The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition. University of Chicago Press, 2017. ISBN 978-0226287058

Note: Courses use the author-date style from the Chicago/Turabian (17th ed.) citation guide.

Once you begin the course you’ll be sent SFU library access information for this text. Alternatively, you may wish to access a 30-day free trial of the online version of Chicago Manual of Style.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, you will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. Canvas is the online system that will be used for the course. For more information and online support, visit Online Learning.

This course requires:

  • Microsoft Word (2010 or newer) and being comfortable with Track Changes function
  • A printer
  • A scanner or camera to create a digital copy of editing examples to be submitted for one of the assignments
  • High-speed internet access
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader

English Language Requirements

To succeed in this course, you will need an advanced level of written and spoken English. If you are unsure whether your English language skills are sufficient, we recommend you complete the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the following minimums:

  • Overall band score minimum 6.5
  • No band below 6.0
  • Writing band score minimum 8.0

Please note we can’t refund your registration fees after the course start date if you find your English language skills are not adequate.

If you have questions or concerns about your English language proficiency, we encourage you to contact your local IELTS Test Centre.