Technical and Professional Communication, Humanities and Technical Communication Faculty, Course Descriptions

The Master of Science program with a major in Technical and Professional Communication is designed for both experienced and beginning technical communicators.

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school. Because professionals in this field come from many different fields, no specific undergraduate major is required. Preferred (but NOT required) for admission is some relevant work experience.

The admission procedure is competitive in that students will be admitted only if their:

• academic accomplishments
• work experience
• and/or writing ability

Admission Procedure - The Humanities and Technical Communication Program accepts master's students for fall and spring.  Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Technical and Professional Communication must submit the following to the Humanities and Technical Communication Program:

• Three letters of recommendation (NOT the reference forms in the application packet) from supervisors, clients, professors, or professional colleagues
• An essay written on campus
• An essay written off campus

Applicants must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

• An application for admission to the program
• Two official transcripts from each college attended
• A certificate of immunization

Technical and Professional Communication

The Master's program in Technical and Professional Communication was developed in response to a growing need for professionals in technical communication.

The basic objectives of the program are:

• To educate those persons with diverse academic and work backgrounds who seek to begin their careers in the field of technical communication, and
• To provide a useful credential for current technical communicators who need advanced training to move ahead in their careers, either as employees or managers of a company or as independent consultants.

Plan A: Internship option - Students selecting this option must:

• Complete the six-hour Master's Internship
• Finish classroom work totaling thirty hours
• Take TCOM 6001, TCOM 6002, and TCOM 6030.

Plan B: Thesis Option - Students selecting this option must:

• Complete the Master's Thesis (six-hour minimum)
• Finish thirty hours of classroom work including TCOM 6001, TCOM 6002, and TCOM 6030.

Plan C: Class Work Option - Students selecting this option must complete thirty-six hours of classroom work including TCOM 6001, TCOM 6002, and TCOM 6030.
 

All Technical and Professional Communication courses are listed below.

NOTE:   TCOM 6001 must be taken the first semester of work in the Master's program, and TCOM 6002 must be taken as soon as possible after admission.
 

MSTPC students may take up to nine hours outside of the program with prior approval from both the MSTPC Graduate Coordinator and the Program Head.

NOTE:  A grade of "B" or better is required in all courses that are applied to graduation (with the exception of the internship and thesis, which require an "S").

* When taking the internship, students may enroll in a maximum of 9 hours per semester:

• 3 hours of internship plus two courses
• or 6 hours of internship plus one course

Humanities and Technical Communication Faculty