Technical Communication
Associate Professor: C. Renguette (TCM Undergraduate Program Director)
Associate Professor: M. Hovde
Visiting Lecturer: J. Stella
Rapid advances in technology increase the need to communicate complex technical information effectively to a variety of audiences and users. Technical communicators use technology to create necessary resources such as user manuals, online help, websites, training materials, specifications, etc.
Technical Communication Bachelor of Science Degree
The B.S. degree in Technical Communication requires 120 credit hours in four core areas to prepare students for professional practice in technical communication and related careers. All courses in Core Area 1 must be completed with a grade of C or better; overall GPA must be 2.0 to graduate.
Core Area 1. Technical Communication - 60 credit hours (36 required, 24 elective)
Core Area 2. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) - 18 elective credit hours
Core Area 3. General Education - 30 credit hours
Core Area 4. Relevant Electives - 12 credit hours
The Certificate in Technical Communication requires 19 credit hours. Students will complete 13 hours of required courses and 6 hours of selected courses.
Required Courses: 13 credits hours
- TCM 23000 - Principles and Practices of Technical Communication - 3 credit hours
- TCM 24000 - Tools for Technical Communication - 3 credit hours
- TCM 31000 - Technical and Scientific Editing - 3 credit hours
- OLS 37100 - Project Management - 3 credit hours
- TCM 43500 - Portfolio Preparation - 1 credit hours
Elective Courses: Choose 6 credits hours from this list:
- TCM 18000 - Exploring Intercultural Technical Communication - 3 credit hours
- TCM 32000 - Written Communication in Science and Industry - 3 credit hours
- TCM 35000 - Visual Technical Communication - 3 credit hours
- TCM 38000 - Technical Communication in the Healthcare Professions - 3 credit hours
- TCM 39500 - Independent Study - 3 credit hours
- TCM 42500 - Managing Document Quality - 3 credit hours
- TCM 45000 - Research Approaches for Technical & Professional Communication - 3 credit hours
Technical Communication 5-year B.S./M.S. Program
The TCM 5-year B.S./M.S.Program provides academically successful students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in five years. Students with a 3.2 overall GPA may apply to the accelerated BS/MS in their junior year. Students will complete the first three years of undergraduate degree requirements (about 90 credit hours), take both undergraduate and graduate courses in the fourth year (about 30 additional credit hours), and finish the master's degree graduate courses in the fifth year of study (at least 141 credit hours). Students must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in all graduate courses. The timeline for completion is based on full-time enrollement (15 or more credit hours per semester). However, part-time students are eligible to apply. Students may apply to receive the bachelor's degree prior to completing the graduate degree requirement.
To apply for the combined degree program, interested students should submit the online TCM 4+1 application in the spring term of their junior year. Full admission to the M.S. program is contingent upon successful completion of TCM B.S. program and meeting minimum grade and GPA requirements.
