MPub 2025: Dr. Hannah McGregor Explains the Program’s New Direction

As we head into a new year, we also head into a new MPub! We recently chatted with SFU’s Publishing Director, Dr. Hannah McGregor, about the new direction and how the stream approach will provide MPub graduates with even more access and opportunities in the industry. 

What inspired the redesign of the Master of Publishing in 2025?

HM: When the Master of Publishing was created thirty years ago, the publishing industry looked very different. While the actual content of our courses has been keeping up with industry transformations and new technologies, it was time to rethink the structure of the degree as a whole. These changes aren’t just about updating what we teach – we also want to reenvision how we teach, including offering part-time pathways through the degree and, eventually, a low residency option for folks who aren’t able to relocate to Vancouver for the full degree.

What are some of the changes or additions to the curriculum that students can expect with this new direction?

HM: In addition to now offering a part time option and beginning the shift to offering more hybrid and online courses, we’ve also created new streams that allow students to specialize in the area of publishing that interests them most and takes advantage of our faculty’s areas of expertise. So students can still come and study trade publishing – that’s traditional book and magazine publishing – with experienced publishing professionals, but now they can also choose to specialize in scholarly communication or innovation and entrepreneurship. The scholarly communication stream will give students the chance to learn from Dr. Juan Pablo Alperin, an award-winning scholar in open science, and to get involved with the work of the Public Knowledge Project. The innovation and entrepreneurship stream is for people who are excited about non-traditional and new media publishing and who want to create their own thing, whether that’s a podcast network, a subscription box, a digital newsletter, or a new publication form that we haven’t even thought of yet! 

What opportunities does the MPub provide for students to engage with industry leaders and gain practical experience?

HM: The intersection of industry experience and research is a core value of the Master of Publishing. Every student who joins our program gets to meet and learn from leaders across the publishing industry, many of whom are alumni of our program. With the new streams, students will also get to choose whether they want to complete their degree with a professional placement in the publishing industry, a research project, or a self-directed project. That means that, whether you want to do research into the publishing industry, start a career in the industry, or create your own thing, there’s an option for you. 

What impact do you hope the changes to the MPub will have on the careers of MPub graduates?

HM: We’re really excited for how these new streams will expand the kinds of careers our graduates can pursue, whether that’s editing a scholarly journal, creating new media publishing start-ups, or pursuing a trade publishing career. The greater flexibility in courses and pathways through the program will also let students focus on the areas they’re most excited about. One of our strengths has always been that we’re a generalist program, but the changes we’re making will allow for a bit more specialization into, say, editorial or design or new media. That means that we can work with you to find a pathway through the MPub that will best prepare you for the career you want.

How does the MPub program incorporate elements of social change and accessibility in publishing?

HM: Our goal is for the Master of Publishing program not just to stay abreast of changes in the industry but to take a leading role in these vital transformations. The creation of accessible ebooks for visually impaired readers, for example, is both important from an equity perspective and an increasingly in-demand skill. We want MPub graduates not just to learn about the publishing industry as it currently exists but to think critically about how it needs to change, whether that’s continuing to push for greater diversity in traditional publishing or creating innovative new publishing ventures.

How will the program continue to adapt and stay relevant in the rapidly changing publishing industry?

HM: One of the next big changes coming down the pipeline is making more of our courses available online and making individual courses available to publishing professionals looking to upskill. We’re exploring the possibility of creating micro-credentials for people who don’t necessarily want to do an entire degree, but who want some additional training in an area like accessible publishing or online journal management. Our core offering will continue to be the Master of Publishing degree, with its unique combination of research and practice-based courses, but we’re excited to think flexibly as the industry, and the needs of students and professionals working in the industry, continues to transform.

What advice would you give to prospective students considering the MPub program?

HM: HM: When people think of publishing, they often focus on book editing, but there’s so much more to it. Marketing, design, production management, sales, journal management, podcast production, accessible ebook design – there are tons of opportunities for people with publishing skills within and beyond the publishing industry!

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