Technical Writing Certificate
Collaboration software is transforming the way international businesses communicate in the global workforce. Technical communicators use synchronous and asynchronous communication technology to assign team roles and responsibilities, organize document production, plan documentation strategies, and develop tactical solutions to problems of production. To work effectively in these virtual environments, they require current theoretical knowledge in how to successfully negotiate difference in virtual spaces, how power manifests itself in these spaces, and how the tools they use to construct these spaces shape them in interested rather than neutral ways. Teaching technical communication online models the collaborative virtual workspaces that writing professionals currently inhabit. Online collaboration projects provide students with a familiar environment in which to hone their skills and self-reflexively examine their online participation by consulting archives of collaborative work sessions.
An online graduate certificate in Technical Writing would meet the needs of working professionals by providing them with a distance education opportunity to learn advanced theoretical and practical approaches to:
- Composing documents and other information products for local and global translation
- Writing collaboratively online in increasingly more diverse virtual workspaces;
- Developing best practices for new online writing workspaces that are informed by current technical communication research.
This graduate certificate program reaches out to workplaces across the state of Ohio whose growing reliance on technology to enhance their productivity requires the expertise of technical communicators.
By affording continuing education opportunities to these working professionals, our certificate program will directly enhance the productivity of the industries in which they work.
This four-course, online graduate certificate program in Technical Writing is for students who want to learn new skills, but who do not require a degree. The certificate can be earned in one year. Students will complete 12 hours of graduate level coursework.
Core Courses (12 hours)
Practical application of technical writing in industry, business, and the sciences. Uses workshop approach. Extra fee. Approved for Distance Ed.
Resources and current research in the field of technical writing. Development of skills, awareness of reference and research tools relevant to technical communication.
Practical application of technical editing in industry, business, and the sciences. Uses workshop approach. Extra fee. Approved for Distance Ed.
A survey of ethical issues in technical communication. Includes the study of Codes of Ethics for technical communicators and their influence on the profession of technical communication. Study of ethical situations which affect technical communicators providing information globally. Approved for Distance Ed.
Submit Your Graduate College Application Online
Apply Now or Return to Existing Application
Note: All graduate level programs use the same Graduate College Application. A $45 nonrefundable application fee is assessed for domestic applications. The international application fee is $75.All graduate level programs use the same Graduate College Application. Note: There is a non-refundable application fee.
Submit Transcripts and Test Scores
As part of the online application process, you will upload scanned copies of transcripts from all institutions attended. Upon admission, final official transcripts from each degree-granting institution must be submitted to the Graduate College.
If required by the Graduate College, international applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Those applicants with TOEFL scores below 100 (or equivalent score for the IELTS or PTEA) will rarely be admitted. Please visit this page to determine if the TOEFL is required for you.
Request that transcripts (and test scores, if applicable) be sent directly to:
Graduate College
120 McFall Center
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
Letters of Recommendation
As part of the online application process, you will request three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should come from instructors who have taught you within the past three years, from employers, or from other individuals qualified to evaluate your potential for success in a graduate program. You will submit names and email addresses within the application system and the system will contact recommenders and give them directions for submitting their letters of recommendation. Before completing this step in the application, please communicate with your recommenders and confirm their agreement to write letters of recommendation.
Please contact the program advisor for more information.
For more information about the certificate program or about the application process, please contact:
- Program advisor, Professor Jennifer Warnke,
jkwarnke@bgsu.edu | 419-372-7551
- Graduate Coordinator, Professor Neil Baird, nbaird@bgsu.edu | 419-372-7540
- Graduate Secretary Ms. Danielle Burkin, dburkin@bgsu.edu | 419-372-7541
Updated: 11/29/2021 09:54AM