+ Scientific and Technical Communication

212 East Hall, 419-372-2576

Technical communication clearly and accurately conveys scientific and technical information. Technical communicators interpret specialized information for their readers' practical use. A technical communicator may be expected to create brochures, prepare research reports, manuals, instructions, news stories, scripts, and speeches. Although technical communicators are not expected to be scientists or engineers, they are expected to have a good background in at least one technical, scientific, or business area. Technical communication is a rapidly growing profession needed in all industries, and technical communicators are in world-wide demand.

Curriculum
The technical communication majors for the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees develop technical communication skills by offering courses in technical writing, technical editing, computer science, visual communications, and project management. In both degree programs, a technical, scientific, or business cognate area is determined by students' career interests and planned with and approved by the undergraduate advisor for scientific and technical communication. Also included in both degree programs is an internship which gives the student practical work experience. Both programs combine in one comprehensive course of studies all of the requirements for both a major and a minor.

Enrollment in scientific and technical communication major
Before being fully accepted as a scientific and technical communication major, the student must have completed 30 hours of coursework and achieved an overall grade point average of 2.7; waivers of the grade point average requirement may be granted on the basis of the student's unique educational or work experience.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in scientific and technical communication are expected to:

• Use writing effectively—including current modes and evolving techniques and technologies—to explore subject matter and to communicate;
• Develop understanding of subject matter in relation to larger historical and/or cultural contexts, including multicultural contexts;
• Make connections between theory and practice. Students apply theory to understand texts, solve problems, and teach effectively, and/or students generalize from experiences with texts, communication situations, and teaching situations;
• Develop skills of creative and/or critical thinking.

Major, Bachelor of Arts (60-66 hours) — click for Fall 2013 course requirements

Minor—recommended for students with science, technology or business majors (21 hours)

• ENG 2070, 3880, 3890, 4860, 4880
• Any two courses chosen from computer science/technology, graphics and design, and project management groups above

Minor—recommended for students with humanities majors (21 hours)

• ENG 3880, 3890, 4860, 4880
• Any three courses chosen from computer science/technology, graphics and design, and project management groups above

The bachelor of science program is similar to the bachelor of arts program except that a total of 45 hours of coursework is required in math and science. The courses may be distributed among college math and science requirements, the computer science courses in the computer science/technology group, and the cognate area.

Major, Bachelor of Science (57-63 hours) — no minor required — click for Fall 2013 course requirements

The course of study for the bachelor of science in scientific and technical communication is the same as that for the bachelor of arts except that appropriate courses from the science or technology cognate and from the computer science/technology group may count toward the 45 hour Group III (mathematics and sciences) degree requirement for the bachelor of science degree. A plan for these courses is established in consultation with the program advisor.

Before full acceptance into the major, the student must have completed 30 hours of coursework and achieved an overall grade point average of 2.7; waivers of the grade point requirement may be granted on the basis of the student's unique educational or work experience.

Minor
See descriptions under bachelor of arts degree.