+ 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 adviser 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)

• Communication core—required courses
  
  • ENG 388, 389, 486, 487, 488 (15)
  • ENG 489 (3-9)
  • A&S 250
• Computer science/technology requirements (9)
  (one each from three of the following)
  
  • CS 100; MIS 200
  • CS 101, 280; MIS 360; TCOM 451
  • CS 360; TECH 101; CONS 235; MFG 112
  • SOC 369; PSYC 270; STAT 200; MATH 115, 247
• Graphics and design requirements (choose two) (6)
  
  • DESN 104, 204; ART 102; ARTD 201; VCT 103, 208
• Project management requirements (choose two) (6)
  (These courses may have prerequisites, some of which may be taken as part of the Group IV requirements.)
  
  • PSYC 352, 452, 454, 455; MGMT 300, 305, 361; IPC 203, 207, 303, 304; SOC 301; TECH 428
    
• Cognate areas—suggested concentrations (18)
  
  • Biology; psychology; physics; mathematics; chemistry; computer science; geography; foreign languages; sociology; law-related studies; industrial technology; environmental studies; business-related studies; journalism-related studies

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—no minor required (57-63 hours)

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 adviser.

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.