Skip to Content

2013-2014 Catalog

This is an archived copy of the 2013-2014 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, pleae visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

Technical Communication

View PDF

Technical Communication Major Requirements

Technical Communication majors must take 34-36 credits within the major and 6 hours in a designated area of concentration related to technology, science, or design (an acceptable minor will also fulfill this requirement). Majors develop advanced skills in multiple aspects of technical communication and apply their knowledge of technical communication to a specific discipline.

ENGL 310Rhetorical Analysis3
ENGL 314Technical Communication3
ENGL 350Rhetorical Traditions3
ENGL 487Internship in Business, Technical, and Professional Communication1-3
Choose 3:9
(Note: Students planning to take ENGL 415 Business and Technical Editing in the future should take ENGL 220 Descriptive English Grammar for 3 of these credits.)
Descriptive English Grammar
Business Communication
Report and Proposal Writing
Biological Communication
Rhetorical Website Design
Visual Communication of Quantitative Information
Choose 5:15
Technology, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication
Business and Technical Editing
Visual Aspects of Business and Technical Communication
Seminar in Argumentation
Seminar in Technical Communication
Multimedia Content Management
Production Processes for Technical Documents
Multimedia Design in Professional Communication
Designated Area of Concentration (DAC) in technical, scientific, or design field6
Total Credits40-42

Designated Area of Concentration Courses

The Designated Area of Concentration (DAC) is a student-designed grouping of related courses in a technical, scientific, or design field that will meet the student's professional or academic interests. Courses for the 6-credit DAC must be taken outside the English Department and approved by the Technical Communication Program Adviser. A second major or a minor in areas such as computer science, social science, natural science, entrepreneurial studies, design studies, engineering studies, or another technical, scientific, or design field may substitute for the DAC.

See also the 4-year plan of study grid for Technical Communication showing courses by semester.

Technical Communication Minor Requirements

The department offers a minor in Technical Communication, which students may earn by completing the following:

ENGL 314Technical Communication3
Choose 4:12
Business Communication
Report and Proposal Writing
Rhetorical Analysis
Biological Communication
Rhetorical Website Design
Visual Communication of Quantitative Information
Rhetorical Traditions
or with the appropriate prerequisites
Technology, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication
Business and Technical Editing
Visual Aspects of Business and Technical Communication
Seminar in Argumentation
Seminar in Technical Communication
Multimedia Content Management
Production Processes for Technical Documents
Multimedia Design in Professional Communication
Total Credits15

Nine of the 15 credits must be 300 level or above and students must earn a grade of C (not C-) or higher in each course taken in the minor. Up to 6 of the 15 credits taken for the minor may be used to meet other degree program requirements. Students may design their minor programs around their own interests but are encouraged to work with the Technical Communication Program Adviser.

Note: Students should check the ISU catalog to be sure that they meet prerequisites if they intend to register for 400+ courses.