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Technical Communication

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The Technical Communication major (and additional major or minor) prepares students for careers that involve information—particularly scientific or technical information. Students learn to write and design workplace texts, including responsive digital content (such as websites). They are taught to make complex scientific, business, and technical content clear and usable for its audiences. Courses emphasize writing, editing, design (print and online), organization, research, critical thinking, and collaboration (especially with subject-matter experts). Some students double major in Technical Communication and a technical or scientific field; Technical Communication is also often an additional major or minor for students who major in English.

BS in Technical Communication Learning Outcomes

Students who major in Technical Communication will be able to

  • Compose a wide range of print and online documents for use in business, schools, and communities.
  • Understand technical and scientific information and strategies for producing texts to communicate that information to others.
  • Describe and use the theories that assess print and online documents, collaboration, organizational activities, and various technologies.
  • Demonstrate mastery of concepts from organizational culture and visual communication, including collaborative writing and clear, responsive professional and technical documents.
  • Identify specific audience needs in rapidly changing digital and print environments.
  • Identify and create user-friendly interfaces; understand and put into practice strategies to enable the optimal usability of documents.

Technical Communication Major Requirements

Majors develop advanced skills in multiple aspects of technical communication and apply their knowledge of technical communication to a specific discipline. Technical communication majors must take 33 credits within the major and 6 hours in a designated area of concentration related to science, technology, or design (an acceptable minor will also fulfill this requirement).

ENGL 2140Introduction to Technical Communication3
ENGL 3100Rhetorical Analysis3
ENGL 3130Rhetorical Website Design3
ENGL 3140Technical Communication3
ENGL 4150Business and Technical Editing3
ENGL 4160Visual Aspects of Business and Technical Communication3
Electives: 9 credits (with at least 6 credits from 4000 or above courses)9
ENGL 2220XArtificial Intelligence and Writing3
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Business and Professional Speaking
Communicating Science and Public Engagement
Literature and the Environment
Seminar in Technical Communication
Internship in Business, Technical, and Professional Communication
Technical Editing and Publication Management
Multimedia and Interaction Design
Designated Area of Concentration (DAC) in technical, scientific, or design field6
Total Credits36

Technical Communication Major Requirements

Technical Communication majors are required to have, in addition to ISUComm foundation courses (ENGL 1500 Critical Thinking and Communication and ENGL 2500 Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition), at least 33 credits in TComm (including 6 credits in a designated area of concentration). Majors transferring from other institutions must take at least 18 of their credits in TComm while in residence at Iowa State.

To graduate with a major in Technical Communication and meet the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, a student must have credit for ENGL 1500 Critical Thinking and Communication and earn at least a C (not C-) in ENGL 2500 Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition as well as in each of the courses taken to fulfill the program of study, including one advanced communication course.

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 Advisor. An additional 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.

Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity) and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan. 

LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Technical Communication students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.

Technical Communication, B.S.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 1500 (or ENGL 2500 by placement or transfer credit)3Social Science Choice3
Humanities Choice3Natural Science Choice3
World Language/Elective4Humanities Choice3
MATH or STAT3World Language/Elective4
LIB 16001ENGL 2500 (if not in Fall); or ENGL 31003
ENGL 21403 
 17 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 3100, 3130, or 25003Technical/Scientific/Design Course3
Social Science Choice3ENGL 31403
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) Choice3ENGL 3130, 3100, or TComm Elective3
Natural Science Choice3Humanities Choice or elective3
Elective/Minor3TComm Elective/Minor3
LAS 20301Natural Science Choice2
 16 17
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
TComm Choice: ENG 4160, 4770, or other 4000-level TComm course3ENGL 41503
Elective/Minor3Minor3
International Perspectives Choice3TComm Elective from List (ENGL 3000+)3
Humanities Choice3Technical/Scientific/Design Course3
Social Science Choice3Electives3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Technical/Scientific/Design Course3ENGL 4870 (recommended)3
TComm Elective from List – ENGL 4000+9TComm Elective from List – ENGL 4000+3
Electives/Minor3Electives or Minor6
 15 12

Students may double-count some courses to complete the degree requirements in 120 credits.

Technical Communication Minor Requirements

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

ENGL 3140Technical Communication3
Choose 4:12
Introduction to Technical Communication
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Rhetorical Analysis
Communicating Science and Public Engagement
Rhetorical Website Design
Visual Communication of Quantitative Information
Literature and the Environment
or with the appropriate prerequisites
Technology, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication
Business and Technical Editing
Visual Aspects of Business and Technical Communication
Seminar in Technical Communication
Content Management
Technical Editing and Publication Management
Multimedia and Interaction Design
Total Credits15

Nine of the 15 credits must be 3000 level or above and students must earn a grade of C (not C-) or higher in each course taken in the minor. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. Students may design their minor programs around their own interests but are encouraged to work with the Technical Communication Program Advisor.

Note: Students should check the ISU catalog to be sure that they meet prerequisites if they intend to register for 4000+ courses.