+ 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 2009-2010 course requirements
Minor—recommended
for students with science, technology or business
majors (21 hours)
- ENG
207, 388, 389, 486, 488
- 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
388, 389, 486, 488
- 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 2009-2010 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.
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