Technical Communication
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 310 | Rhetorical Analysis | 3 |
| ENGL 314 | Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 350 | Rhetorical Traditions | 3 |
| ENGL 487 | Internship in Business, Technical, and Professional Communication | 1-3 |
| 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 field | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 40-42 | |
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 314 | Technical Communication | 3 |
| 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 Credits | 15 | |
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.
