Technical and Professional Communication
TCOM 2000 Business Communication Prerequisites:  ENGL 1102, SPCH 2400	3-0-3	Introduction to the communication skills needed in the business world, learned through exposure to mock business situations. The job search is covered, and emphasis is placed on writing business correspondence and delivering business-related oral presentations.
TCOM 2010 Technical Writing Prerequisite:  ENGL 1102	3-0-3	Introduction to organization, style, and mechanics of technical and professional writing.  Includes practice in writing such typical documents as technical descriptions, instructions, proposals, and recommendation reports.  Emphasis placed on planning, organizing, and writing reports; designing visual aids; and editing.  Among other assignments, at least one complete technical report is required.
TCOM 2020 Foundations of Technical Communication Prerequisite:  ENGL 1101	3-0-3	Introduction to technical communication through a survey of the field’s evolution and current status; its theoretical foundations, key concerns and issues, core competencies and specializations, and the technologies and societal trends that will impact the work of technical communicators in the future.  Emphasis is placed on devloping a strong professional identity and in beginning the process of career planning.
TCOM 2030 Research in Technical Communication Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010	3-0-3	Introduction to research methods used by practitioners and scholars in technical communication.  Students explore the relationship between theory and research and learn how to design and carry out empirical studies using both quantitative and qualitative methods.  Emphasis is placed on the research methods used in workplace settings to design user-centered information products and to test their usefulness and usability.
TCOM 2060 International Communication Prerequisites:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Study of international cultural differences, especially as they influence oral and written communication in the workplace.  Cultures will be analyzed using established models.  Special topics will vary depending on faculty teaching the course.  Required for B.A. in International Technical Communication.
TCOM 3000 Advanced Grammar and Editing Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Study of standard English grammar and contemporary usage, with emphasis on traditional and transformational theories of sentence structure.  Students also learn how to apply editing principles and techniques to technical subject matter with special emphasis on copy editing and working with authors and editors.
TCOM 3010 Science Writing Prerequisite:  ENGL 1102	3-0-3	Examination of the types of writing produced in various scientific professions.  Depending on the semester, possible topics may include one or more of the following:  environmental writing, public policy documents, and other scientific documents.
TCOM 3015 Environmental Writing Prerequisite:  ENGL 1102	3-0-3	Close study of global and more localized environmental issues, including air, water, soil, biotic communities, and impact on and by humans.  Students will read works on the relationship between technology, human population, and the environment and will write essays, give an oral report, and complete a research project on environmental topics.
TCOM 3020 Proposal Writing Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Theory and practice of writing proposals for business, industry, and non-profit organizations, with emphasis on in-house planning and external grant-seeking proposals.  Course covers persuasion theory and strategies while leading students step-by-step through the proposal development process.  Students develop skills in gathering and evaluating information, analyzing audiences, collaborating with peers and clients, building persuasive arguments, writing clearly and cogently, and designing visually effective documents.
TCOM 3030 Technical Training Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Course introduces and applies systematic instructional design and instructor-led training.  Students will study a major model of instructional design and apply it to develop and refine a unit of instruction.  Students will prepare and deliver a training lesson, participate in team instructional design activities, and evaluate the training developed and presented by other students.
TCOM 3040 Writer's Workshop Prerequisites:  ENGL 1102	3-0-3	Course that gives students practice in writing for various audiences, purposes, and contexts. In addition to a workshop forum, this class provides an introduction to contemporary, practical theories of writing.
TCOM 3050 Journalism Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Study of technical and scientific reporting, including mass media theory. Emphasis on making technical information understood by a general audience.  Students practice many in-house and external forms of writing such as news releases, feature articles, bulletins, brochures, and pamphlets.
TCOM 3901-3903 Special Topics Prerequisite:  Consent of the department chair	1 to 3 hours	Special topics in communications. Offered by the program at its discretion.
TCOM 4030 Foundations of Graphics Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	An introduction to the fundamental elements and principles of graphic design and application of these concepts to page design and layout.  Study of elementary color theory.  Introduction to production techniques and current software applications.
TCOM 4035 Fundamentals of Website Design Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Study of effective information design and delivery for websites.  Covers principles and best practices for creating usable websites and teaches students fundamentals of HTML, use of HTML authoring tools, web page writing and editing, web graphics and multimedia elements, and website architectures and content management. Students work individually and in teams to design and develop websites. Some classroom instruction is provided in basic HTML and XHTML coding, the composition of cascading style sheets, and the use of Dreamweaver and FrontPage.
TCOM 4045 Foundations of Multimedia Prerequisites:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	A study of the foundations of multimedia including theory, planning, scripting, storyboarding, and production. Students will submit research work on the theory of multimedia.
TCOM 4070 Manuals Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Introduction to the process and principles of writing manuals, with emphasis on user manuals.  Students write and produce all or part of a manual.  Course includes study of structured writing.  Course also includes discussion of (1) production issues and (2) theory relevant to designing usable, readable manuals.
TCOM 4100 Small Group Communication Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Study of the theory and practice of group interaction and teamwork as it applies to group process. Focuses on such topics as the function of roles in groups, conflict resolution, leadership in the small group, gender differences, listening and negotiation skills, and managing meetings.  A collaborative project and workshop activities reinforce these principles.
TCOM 4130 Online Documentation Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Study of the design and development of effective online Help systems and web-based documentation.  Presents principles of usable online information design, task-based user analysis, and advanced tools and technologies for developing and delivering online information products, including single-sourcing, SGML, and XML.  Students design and develop an HTML Help system.  Instruction will be provided in the use of RoboHelp and alternative HTML Help authoring tools.  Students entering the course without basic HTML knowledge will be expected to learn the basics of HTML on their own.
TCOM 4160 Rhetoric:  History, Theory, and Practice Prerequisite:  TCOM 2010; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Introduction to rhetoric as the relationship between thought and expression.  Examines connections between rhetoric and writing, between a public act and a personal thinking process, by exploring classical and contemporary accounts of rhetorical history and theory.  Students apply theory to their own writing as they explore the relationship between writers, readers, and subjects and the range of options they have available to them as communicators.
TCOM 4170 Video Production Prerequisites:  TCOM 2010, TCOM 4030; either TCOM 2020 or 2030 or concurrently	3-0-3	Introduction to the role and use of video production for technical and professional communication.  Topics include scripts, storyboards, shot selection, continuity, lighting, sound, in-camera editing, and fundamental post-production techniques.  Students will complete at least two assigned videos as individual or team projects. This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application. Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.
TCOM 4600 Independent Study	3-0-3	A directed study for an undergraduate student who wishes to pursue a special interest in technical and professional communication not covered in the curriculum.  The student submits to the TCOM Undergraduate Program Coordinator a proposal that clearly defines the course of study and the benefits to be obtained.  The proposal, which must be submitted at least one semester prior before taking the course, must be approved by the student’s advisor and the TCOM faculty committee.  Upon approval, the student is assigned a faculty advisor.
TCOM 4700 Internship Prerequisite:  Junior standing	3-0-3	An opportunity for students to apply principles and techniques of technical and professional communication in a specific organization.  The student is responsible for finding an internship, but the program will help in the effort.  The student must submit a written proposal describing the internship according to program guidelines.  Each internship is monitored by the student's advisor.
TCOM 4800 Project Portfolio Prerequisite:  Senior standing, completion of 24 hours of TCOM courses	3-0-3	Course examines portfolios as professional tools for technical communicators.  The course includes portfolio and writing theory along with a collaborative workshop environment.  Students develop a professional portfolio of sample documents based on course project, internship experiences, and/or work history.  In addition, students write a reflective paper examining their growth and maturity as technical communicators.  Interviewing techniques, resume writing, and the job search process are included in the course.
Technical and Professional Communication Graduate
TCOM 6001 Technical Writing and Editing	3-0-3	Overview of technical writing and editing.  Emphasis on drafting and editing many documents that reflect the variety of writing done in the field of technical communication.  Both experienced and inexperienced writers will benefit from this course, which must be taken the first semester of enrollment in the master's program.
TCOM 6002 Document Design and Research Prerequisite or Co-Requisites:  TCOM 6001, TCOM 6030	3-0-3	Study of the main design elements in technical communication, with emphasis on theoretical underpinnings and research.  Provides an introduction to research methodologies that flow largely from practical issues related to information design.  Requirements include a report on document design that demonstrates solid application of theoretical principles. Should be taken as soon as possible after admission.
TCOM 6003 Advanced Editing Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course examines the responsibilities of an editor, including the skills and talents necessary to become a successful editor. Focus is on developmental editing, copyediting, editing graphics, and editing electronic documents. Also covers (a) interpersonal skills relative to editing, (b) organizational aspects of editing, and (c) production issues such as selecting paper stock, bidding jobs, binding documents, and inspecting presses on site for major jobs.
TCOM 6004 Advanced Research Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course prepares students to write a journal-quality article or a master's thesis. Introduces methods of quantitative and qualitative inquiry used in technical communication research, develops the skills for conducting a search and review of literature, teaches techniques of collecting and analyzing data, and covers the elements of a formal research report. Strongly encouraged for students who choose the thesis option.
TCOM 6030 Foundations of Graphics Prerequisite: TCOM 6001	3-0-3	An introduction to the fundamental elements and principles of graphic design and application of these concepts to page design and layout. Study of elementary color theory. Introduction to production techniques and current software applications. This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application. Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.  Students who took TCOM 4030 Foundations of Graphics as undergraduates must take TCOM 6040 Applied Graphics as their required graphics course instead of TCOM 6030.
TCOM 6040 Applied Graphics Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course examines the role of graphics in technical and professional communication. Students develop competency in desktop publishing, digital image editing, and vector-based graphics applications. Students complete practical projects that use typography, photographs, illustrations, engineering drawings, and data graphics. Projects focus on the role of graphics as both an independent communication and as support for text-based media used in business, industry, education, and training.
TCOM 6045 Foundations of Multimedia Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	A study of the foundations of multimedia including theory, planning, scripting, storyboarding, and production. Students will submit research work on the theory of multimedia. This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application. Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.  MSTPC students who took TCOM 4045 Foundations of Multimedia as undergraduates may not count TCOM 6045 for credit toward their graduate degree.
TCOM 6050 Applied Multimedia Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001, TCOM 6030, TCOM 6045; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Study of specific applications of multimedia in technical and professional communication, education, marketing, and training, including authoring for Web pages.  Projects emphasize hypermedia, hyperlinks, and interactive design for use in technical manuals, proposals, informational kiosks, marketing presentations, resumes, and electronic information systems.
TCOM 6060 International Technical Communication Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Survey of the major issues that affect technical communication from a global perspective.  Topics may include cultural influences on communication, challenges associated with technical translation, differing uses of graphics, communicating within multinational organizations, and theoretical issues related to international communication.
TCOM 6070 Manuals Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Introduction to the process and principles of writing manuals, with emphasis on user manuals.  Students write and produce all or part of a manual.  Course includes study of structured writing. Course also includes discussion of (1) production issues and (2) theory relevant to designing usable and readable manuals. This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application. Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.  MSTPC students who took TCOM 4070 Manuals as undergraduates may not count TCOM 6070 for credit toward their graduate degree.
TCOM 6080 Professional Oral Presentations Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course designed to enhance students' presentation skills in a technical and business environment.  Students practice various speech types such as briefings, interviews, formal technical presentations, panels, and impromptu presentations.  Course also includes an overview of communication theory as it applies to oral presentations.
TCOM 6090 Medical Communication Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course examines the scope of medical communication, with emphasis on opportunities for technical communication professionals.  Students will analyze, edit, and revise various medical document types, such as medical research abstracts, patient education materials, professional medical training documents, medical advertisements, and pharmaceutical package inserts.  Students will independently study medical terminology and develop a portfolio of medical writing samples.
TCOM 6100 Small Group Communication Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Study of the theory and practice of group interaction and teamwork as it applies to group process.  Focuses on such topics as the function of roles in groups, conflict resolution, leadership in the small group, gender differences, listening and negotiation skills, and managing meetings.  Workshop activities reinforce these principles. This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application. Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.  MSTPC students who took TCOM 4100 Small Group Communication as undergraduates may not count TCOM 6100 for credit toward their graduate degree.
TCOM 6110 Communications Project Management Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course introduces and applies the literature, tools, and techniques of professional project management.  Includes major online course elements.  Students will choose a project in technical communication and apply the major phases of project management:  definition, planning, execution, and closing.  Topics of emphasis include communication skills, project management software tools, and project team dynamics.
TCOM 6120 Usability Testing Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Study of the relevant research and practical application of usability testing as part of product development. Includes strategies for planning, conducting, and analyzing a test.  Teams will perform tests and report results from an actual test in a usability lab.
TCOM 6130 Online Documentation Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Study of the design and development of effective online Help systems and web-based documentation.  Presents principles of usable online information design, task-based user analysis, and advanced tools and technologies for developing and delivering online information products, including single-sourcing, SGML, and XML.  Students design and develop an HTML Help system.  Instruction will be provided in the use of RoboHelp and alternative HTML Help authoring tools.  Students entering the course without basic HTML knowledge will be expected to learn the basics of HTML on their own.  This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students.  Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application.  Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.
TCOM 6135 Website Design Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Advanced theoretical study and application of best practices for the design and delivery of information on the World Wide Web.  Students learn the fundamentals of HTML, use of HTML authoring tools, web content writing and editing, page layout, design of web graphics and multimedia elements, and website architecture and content management.  Students work individually and in teams to design and develop websites.  Some classroom instruction is provided in basic HTML and XHTML coding, the composition of cascading style sheets, and the use of Dreamweaver and FrontPage.  Course includes a theory and research component.
TCOM 6140 Instructional Design Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course introduces and applies the literature, tools, and techniques of systematic instructional design.  Includes substantial online course elements.  Students will study major models of instructional design and apply them to develop and refine a unit of instruction.  The course addresses the literature and theory underlying formal instructional development -- particularly cognitive psychology -- and provides practice in goal analysis, team instructional development, formative evaluation, and evaluation.
TCOM 6150 Marketing Communication Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course examines those aspects of technical communication that include advertising, brochures, catalogs, press releases, and other means of marketing in both print and other media.  Includes analysis of web pages and the uses of the World Wide Web for marketing purposes.
TCOM 6160 Rhetoric:  History, Theory, and Practice Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Course introduces rhetoric as the relationship between thought and expression.  Explores connections between rhetoric and writing, between a public act and a personal thinking process, by examining classical and contemporary accounts of rhetorical history and theory.  Students apply theory to their own writing as they explore the relationship between writers, readers, and subjects and the range of options available to communicators. This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application. Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.
TCOM 6165 Writing Style in the Workplace Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	This course examines writing style in the workplace.  Topics include grammar, paragraphs, sentence structure, diction, spelling, and revision, as well as some larger issues surrounding style (persuasion, discourse communities, appropriateness, tone, bias, ethos).  The objective of the course is to make students better writers of technical prose by understanding how to make effective stylistic choices.
TCOM 6170 Video Production Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	Introduction to the role and use of video production for technical and professional communication.  Topics include scripts, storyboards, shot selection, continuity, lighting, sound, in-camera editing, and fundamental post-production techniques.  Students complete at least two assigned videos as individual or team projects. This course is double-listed for both undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students will be required to complete additional work that emphasizes theory and research over application. Thus they must demonstrate a higher level of learning than undergraduates.  MSTPC students who took TCOM 4170 Video Production as undergraduates may not count TCOM 6170 for credit toward their graduate degree.
TCOM 6901-6903 Special Topics Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	1 to 3 hours	A course on a special topic of Importance and relevance to the field of technical and professional communication not covered in the graduate curriculum.  Offered when needed.
TCOM 7503 Independent Study Prerequisite:  TCOM 6001 and TCOM 6030; Co- or Pre-Requisite: TCOM 6002	3-0-3	A directed study for a graduate student who wishes to pursue a special interest in technical and professional communication not covered in the curriculum.  The student submits to the TCOM Graduate Program Director a proposal that clearly defines the course of study and the benefits to be obtained.  The proposal must be submitted at least one semester prior to registration for independent study hours.  Once the proposal is approved, the student is assigned a faculty advisor and registers for 3 credit hours.
TCOM 7601-7603 Master's Internship Prerequisites:  Completion of 27 hours of TCOM coursework or consent of the department chair, confirmation of approved internship	1 to 3 hours	Course provides student with hands-on experience in technical communication in a professional environment. Work should be typical of technical communicators.  Work may be either an extended project or a variety of shorter assignments.  (Total of 6 hours of Master's Internship required.)
TCOM 7801-7803 Master's Thesis Prerequisites:  Completion of 30 hours of TCOM coursework or consent of the department chair, approval of thesis proposal	1 to 3 hours	Intensive research project that results in a formal written thesis.  Usually flows from an area of interest discovered by the student in early stages of the Technical and Professional Communication program or through work experience.  Thesis work will be closely supervised by the student's advisor.  Students may enroll for a maximum of 3 hours per term for thesis credit, with exceptions at the discretion of the department chair.  (Total of 6 hours of Master's Thesis required.)