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 214 | Introduction to Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 310 | Rhetorical Analysis | 3 |
| ENGL 313 | Rhetorical Website Design | 3 |
| ENGL 314 | Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 415 | Business and Technical Editing | 3 |
| ENGL 416 | Visual Aspects of Business and Technical Communication | 3 |
| Electives: 9 credits (with at least 6 credits from 400 or above courses) | 9 | |
| Descriptive English Grammar | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| Proposal and Report Writing | ||
| Business and Professional Speaking | ||
| Communicating Science and Public Engagement | ||
| Rhetorical Traditions | ||
| Seminar in Argumentation | ||
| 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 field | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Technical Communication Major Requirements
Technical Communication majors are required to have, in addition to ISUComm foundation courses (ENGL 150 Critical Thinking and Communication and ENGL 250 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 150 Critical Thinking and Communication and earn at least a C (not C-) in ENGL 250 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. 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 300/400 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 150 (or ENGL 250 by placement or transfer credit) | 3 | Social Science Choice | 3 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Natural Science Choice | 3 |
| World Language/Elective | 4 | Humanities Choice | 3 |
| MATH or STAT | 3 | World Language/Elective | 4 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ENGL 250 (if not in Fall); or ENGL 310 | 3 |
| ENGL 214 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 310, 313, or 250 | 3 | Technical/Scientific/Design Course | 3 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | ENGL 314 | 3 |
| U.S. Diversity Choice | 3 | ENGL 313, 310, or TComm Elective | 3 |
| Natural Science Choice | 3 | Humanities Choice or elective | 3 |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | TComm Elective/Minor | 3 |
| LAS 203 | 1 | Natural Science Choice | 2 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| TComm Choice: ENG 416, 477, or other 400-level TComm course | 3 | ENGL 415 | 3 |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| International Perspectives Choice | 3 | TComm Elective from List (ENGL 300+) | 3 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Technical/Scientific/Design Course | 3 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Technical/Scientific/Design Course | 3 | ENGL 487 (recommended) | 3 |
| TComm Elective from List – ENGL 400+ | 9 | TComm Elective from List – ENGL 400+ | 3 |
| Electives/Minor | 3 | Electives or Minor | 6 |
| 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 314 | Technical Communication | 3 |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Content Management | ||
| Technical Editing and Publication Management | ||
| Multimedia and Interaction Design | ||
| 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. 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 400+ courses.