Required Courses

 

Online Learning We offer a variety of online learning options. Visit our learning formats page for more information.

 

 

Grammar and Punctuation Essentials
Brush up on basic writing skills. Review parts of speech, grammar and common grammatical mistakes. Explore sentence parts including words, phrases and clauses. Understand punctuation and common punctuation mistakes such as capitalization, abbreviations and numbers. Discuss commonly misused and misspelled words.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions

Required textbook: Practical Grammar: A Canadian Writer's Resource (3rd ed.). Ruvinsky, M. (2014). Oxford University Press Canada. Rental Option from Vital Source available to registered students. Also available at the Cougars Campus Store. Search by Term and Department (XCOM)

Subject (for registration):  Communications

Subject code: XCOM 20008	20 Hours Fee: $359
CRN 90179	Online	Sept. 12 - Oct. 24

 

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Editing Fundamentals
Discover the fundamentals of professional editing and the skills and standards common to all editors. Learn why editing matters and how editing skills can be developed and refined. Be introduced to different kinds of editing (copy editing, style editing and structural editing).

Recommended Preparation:  Grammar and Punctuation Essentials

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions

No textbook required.

Subject (for registration): Communications

Subject code: XCOM 20002

15 Hours Fee: $429

CRN 90392	Online	Nov. 7 - Dec. 12

 

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Copyediting and Proofreading
In this course, you will explore copyediting and proofreading—onscreen and on paper, learn how to use and create house style guides and style sheets and recognize the importance of copyright, citations and references. Using examples from a variety of non-fiction material, you will have the opportunity to develop your copyediting and proofreading skills.

Recommended Preparation:  Grammar and Punctuation Essentials and Editing Fundamentals

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions

Required Textbooks and Resources: The Copyeditors Handbook and Workbook Set, Einshohn, 2019. Purchase here. Also available at the Cougars Campus Store. Search by Term and Department (XCOM).

Subject (for registration): Communications

Subject code: XCOM 20003	20 Hours Fee: $459
CRN 90469	Online	Sept. 19 - Oct. 31

 

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Structural Editing
In this course, you will learn how to consider an entire document from the reader’s perspective and make decisions about organization (information architecture) and visual design (visual and physical features). Using practical examples, from print and online documents, you will tackle various comprehensive editing problems and find solutions.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions

Recommended Preparation:  Grammar and Punctuation Essentials and Editing Fundamentals

Required Textbook: Structural Editing: Meeting Professional Editorial Standards. Editors' Association of Canada. Register here.

Subject (for registration): Communications

Subject code: XCOM 20011	15 Hours Fee: $429
CRN 90471	Online	Sept. 26 - Oct. 31

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Stylistic Editing
In this course, you will learn how to consider an entire document from the reader’s perspective and make decisions about style (choices about words, their forms and their arrangement in sentences). Using practical examples, from print and online documents, you will tackle various stylistic editing problems and find solutions.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions

Recommended Preparation:  Grammar and Punctuation Essentials and Editing Fundamentals

Required Textbook:  Lessons in Clarity and Grace (13th edition). Williams, J. M. and  Colomb, G. G. (2021) Pearson Education. Available independently or at the Cougars Campus Store and search by Term and Department (XCOM).

Subject (for registration): Communications

Subject code: XCOM 20012	15 Hours Fee: $429
CRN 90473	Online	Oct. 31 - Dec. 5

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Editing Portfolio
Once you have completed all the other courses in this certificate, create a portfolio of work samples that demonstrate your ability to carry out copyediting, proofreading and comprehensive editing with proficiency and ease. Bring to class a range of documents that you want to include in your portfolio.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions

Recommended Preparation:  All other Professional Editing courses

Required Textbook: Stylistic Editing: Meeting Professional Editorial Standards Editors' Association of Canada. Register here.

Subject (for registration): Communications

Subject code: XCOM 20009	15 Hours Fee: $429
CRN 90495	Online	Nov. 14 - Dec. 19

 

Tentative Course Schedule
	Fall (Sept. - Dec.)	Winter (Jan. - April)	Spring/Summer  (May - Aug.)
Editing Fundamentals	•	•	•
Copyediting and Proofreading	•	•
Grammar and Punctuation Essentials	•	•	•
Structural Editing	•	•	•
Stylistic Editing	•	•
Editing Portfolio	•		•

Check the “Courses and fees” tab for more information. The schedule above is subject to change. Courses start on various dates within each semester. Fall schedule and registration available in June. Winter schedule and registration available in November. Spring/Summer schedule and registration available in March.

For course materials visit the Cougars Campus Store and search by Term and Department (XCOM). Some materials may be purchased independently.

 

Dr. Richard Erlendson 

Dr. Erlendson has the distinction of serving as a long-time professor in both the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies and the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension at MRU. In both faculties, he has taught professional writing, editing, reporting, design, publishing and visual communication. He is a career journalist and photojournalist, and he has received the Canadian Word Award for magazine writing. Richard has also twice been awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award at MRU. He holds master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Alberta with undergrad degrees in journalism and education.

Richard’s portfolio includes 11 published books, freelance editing for a variety of corporate clients and publishers, and freelance writing for a variety of magazines – including American Cowboy for which he once served as the Canadian Correspondent. Richard has been teaching in the Professional Editing and Technical Writing Certificate programs in the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension since 2013. Courses he has taught include Editing for Beginners, Editing for Technical Writers, Editing Fundamentals, Editing Portfolio, Effective Business Writing, Grammar and Punctation Essentials, Structural Editing, Stylistic Editing, and Writing and Editing for Digital Media.

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Michelle   Lomberg

Michelle is a freelance editor and writer with over 25 years' experience. Her portfolio includes substantive editing, copy editing, and proofreading of K-12 and higher-education resources, trade books and marketing materials, and she is the author of 19 educational books for young readers. She has worked for clients across Canada.

Michelle holds a bachelor's degree with first-class honours in English and a master's degree in environmental design. In addition, she is certified by the Editors' Association of Canada in structural and stylistic editing. She has been teaching in the Professional Editing Certificate program since 2015.

 

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Heather Matsune

Bio coming soon.

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