Package coordinator:

Dr Beth le Roux

(012 420 2426)

[email protected] 

What is "publishing"?

To publish is to produce and issue printed and electronic information for distribution and sale. Published matter includes a wide variety of printed and electronic information products, including books (trade, educational, and academic books) and corporate publications (newsletters, house journals, and annual reports). In this degree, we look at the publishing process as an interlinked value chain. The various role players in the chain all add value to the published product. The BIS (Publishing) equips the learner with the generic skills needed to tailor information products for different audiences, to manage publishing projects and to liaise with and brief specialist role players in the publishing value chain.

 

 What are the objectives of the package?

• To provide learners with knowledge of the publishing process (including market research; commissioning; copy-editing and proof reading; the visual and production dimensions of publishing; distribution, delivery and sales; marketing and promotion), key role-players as well as trends and initiatives in the local and international publishing industry.
• To provide learners with the skills needed to perform specific publishing tasks, including commissioning new publications; managing projects (by liaising with and briefing professional role-players such as copy-editors, graphic designers, reproduction specialists, printers, marketers and distributors); list building, editorial organization, and the financial and marketing dimensions of publishing.
• To enable learners to use technology add value to the production and dissemination of publications, for a variety of different audiences. 
• To make learners aware of the social, ethical and legal responsibilities involved in the publishing process.

 Which Career Opportunities are available?

There are a variety of career opportunities, in the publishing industry, the book retail industry and the corporate publishing environment (including government departments; banking and other financial institutions; the tourism industry; service industries; NGOs). Motivated and goal-orientated candidates can become part of this highly competitive environment. On-the-job experience is usually needed for further career development.

 

Some entrance-level career opportunities include: 

• assisting a specific role-player in the publishing chain:
  • ​ the MD of the publishing house or corporate publishing division;
  • a commissioning editor or publisher;
  • an editorial manager;
  •  a production manager ;
  •  a marketing manager;
• market or picture research;
•  copyright negotiations;
•  copy-editing and proofreading;
•   marketing and promotion;
• distribution and delivery.

 As your career develops within a company you can advance to duties and positons as:

•          commissioning and managing publishing projects (editor / commissioning editor);
•          liaising with / managing design and layout specialists;
•          liaising with / managing production specialists;
•          copy-editing and proofreading (copy-editor / proofreader);
•          marketing and promotion (marketer, public relations officer);
•          distribution and sales (distributor, salesperson);
•          managing publishing lists / programmes (list manager / publishing manager);
•          managing finances (financial manager);
•          managing production (production manager;)
•          managing legal issues (including copyright and reprint permissions);
•          managing market research and publishing information (marketing manager);
•          managing the publishing house (publisher / MD).

 Where are these career opportunities available? 

•          Local and international book publishing houses (editorial, production, marketing and sales divisions);
•          Book wholesalers, bookshops and e-commerce;
•          National and local government departments (in-house publishing programmes);
•          The corporate and business environment (newsletters, house journals, annual reports);
•          Civil society (newsletters, reports);
•          Community-based publishing initiatives;
•          Freelance copy-editing and proofreading;
•          Self-publishing and consultancy.

What are the limitations of this package? 

This course is not aimed at learners who want to become:

•          writers;
•          translators;
•          journalists at magazines and newspapers;
•          copywriters at publicity agents;
•          artists and graphic designers;
•          technical specialists (such as typesetters and printers).

What is the profile of a learner who wants to specialize in publishing? 

This course is aimed at learners who display skills and characteristics such as the following:

•          academic excellence;
•          exceptional language proficiency;
•          extensive general knowledge;
•          creative thinking ability;
•         good human relations;
•          the ability to work in a team;
•          project management skills;
•          business sense and entrepreneurship;
•          perseverance and diligence;
•         the ability to work under pressure;
•          time management skills;
•          enthusiasm and passion.

 

Is it possible to advance to postgraduate level?

The following postgraduate courses are available for those students who excelled at undergraduate level: BIS Hons (Publishing), MIS (Publishing) and a PhD (Publishing).

 

Admission requirements 

To obtain admission to this degree , a candidate should have obtained the following:

(a)      a valid National Senior Certificate with admission for degree purposes; and
(b)       a minimum APS of 28 in the final Grade 12 examinations; and
(c)       compliance with the NSC minimum requirements; additionally one of these languages must be Afrikaans or English at level 5 (60%-69%).

 

Duration of study 

Students registering for a three-year degree, must complete the degree in a maximum of five years.

Minimum credits required: 438	Year Level 1	Year Level 2	Year Level 3	Total
Fundamental modules	36	8	0	50
Core modules	70	80	120	300
Elective modules	24	40	30	94
Total	130	128	150	408

 

FIRST YEAR OF STUDY 
 

Foundamental modules for year level 1 (36 Credits)

Code	Module	Prerequisites		Credits	Period
AIM 101	Academic Information Management			6	S1
ENG 118	English for specific purposes			12	S1
VKK 111	Visual culture studies			12	S1
ALL 121	Academic Literacy for Information Technology			6	S2

Core modules for Year Level 1 (80 credits)

Code	Module	Prerequisites	Credits	Period
INL 110	Information Science: Introduction to Information Science		12	S1
INL 130	Information Science: Personal information management		12	S1
INL 140	Information Science: Information and communication technology		12	S2
PUB 110	Publishing: The book publishing environment		12	S1
PUB 120	Publishing: The South African book publishing environment		12	S2
BEM 120	Introduction to Marketing		10	S2

 

 Elective modules for Year Level 1 (24 credits)

Code	Module	Prerequisites	Credits	Period
Select a language up to Year Level 3, from one of the language module groups set out below, e.g. Afrikaans, English, German, French or an African language in consultation with the package organizer. A language for beginners may not be selected. Select modules to the level of 24 credits on Year Level 1 of the selected language. Refer to Regulations and Syllabi, Faculty of Humanities for information regarding the language modules.

 

SECOND YEAR OF STUDY

Fundamental module for Year Level 2 (8 credits)

Code	Module	Prerequisites	Credits	Period
JCP 202	Community-based Project		8	^

Note:

^ Consult the Department at the beginning of the year.

Core modules for Year Level 2 (100 credits)

Code	Module	Prerequisites	Credits	Period
INL 240	Information Science: social and ethical impact		20	S1
PUB 210^	Publishing: copy-editing		20	S1
PUB 220^	Publishing: The visual and production dimensions of publishing		20	S2
VKK 211	Visual Communication		20	S2

Note:  ^ Requires Departmental selection.

Elective modules for Year Level 2 (40 credits)

Code	Module	Prerequisites	Credits	Period
Continue with the same language as selected at Year Level 1 up to Year Level 3. Select modules to the value of 40 credits at Year Level 2 of the selected language. Refer to Regulations and Syllabi, Faculty of Humanities for information regarding the language modules.

 

THIRD YEAR OF STUDY

Core modules for Year Level 3 (120 credits)

Code	Module	Prerequisites	Credits	Period
PUB 310^	Publishing: publishing in the digital environment		30	S1
PUB 311^	Publishing: commissioning		30	S1
PUB 320^	Publishing: management in the publishing environment		30	S2
PUB 321^	Publishing: publishing in the magazine and corporate environment		30	S2

Note: ^ Requires Departmental selection.

Elective modules for Year Level 3 (30 credits*)

Code	Module	Prerequisites	Credits	Period
Continue with the same language as selected at Year Levels 1 and 2 and at Year Level 3. Select modules to the value of 30 credits at Year Level 3 of the selected language. Refer to Regulations and Syllabi, Faculty of Humanities for information regarding the language modules Students who wish to continue with Language Studies at postgraduate level should consult the specific department for the selection of their modules and may possibly have to select additional modules.

 
Click here for a description of all the modules that fall under the School of Information Technology.

For Postgraduate degrees click here