The graduate program in at cultivates media-savvy writers who are prepared to lead the future of serious intellectual publishing. Our unique curriculum—blending rigorous academic coursework and hands-on design practice across traditional and digital platforms—provides a new pathway for students who want to contribute meaningfully to contemporary cultural dialogue.

You can complete this 30-credit master of arts program on a full-time or part-time basis, during the day or in the evenings. And you can enhance your studies by choosing from a wide range of electives in other graduate programs at the university.

Guided by a faculty with extensive industry experience, you’ll

• Investigate the different facets of contemporary print and online publishing in New York City, including books, magazines, journals, alternative media, and print-on-demand small batch publications
• Acquire a foundation in the history, tradition, and styles of cultural criticism, critical theory, and fine writing
• Develop an understanding of the process of designing, editing, and distributing journals and books containing intellectually serious work across print and online platforms
• Gain hands-on experience in visual communications and new media technology, drawing on the expertise of Parsons, a world-class art and design school that is also part of The New School
• Establish relationships with industry professionals and build a professional network

The University and New York City

New York City is home to many major publishers, news outlets, and other literary organizations, making The New School’s location ideal for aspiring writers, editors, designers, journalists, and publishers. The program’s faculty, board of advisors, and visiting lecturers include individuals who have created leading platforms for journalism and publishing, including the Village Voice, Simon and Schuster, Lapham’s Quarterly, n + 1,Slate, the New York Times, OR Books, the New York Review of Books, and Gawker Media.

Career paths

Students emerge from the program with a portfolio of work created independently and collaboratively that demonstrates preparedness for careers in contemporary journalism and publishing. These projects reflect a wide range of skills relevant to conceptualizing, creating, designing, and distributing serious writing in traditional and new media.