Technical Communications (GC)

Summary

The graduate certificate program prepares participants for careers in technical communication, emphasizing current industry practice in the research, writing, editing, and publishing of (print or online ) technical documents. Required coursework emphasizes the development of student skills in audience analysis, problem solving, and collaboration within the workplace as well as the production of text and graphics for print and online publication. Special topics courses focus on industry practice in standards and documentation, document design, web development, usability testing, international communication, or other topics of importance to technical communicators. Although 500-level courses in the graduate certificate focus on skill development and industry practice, they also explore theory and research supporting industry practice. Admission Requirements Entrance requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication include a BA or BS degree and Technical Communication (ENG 271), Business Communication (ENG 272), or equivalent technical communication experience. The GRE is not required as part of the admissions material for this program. Candidates whose native language is not English must have a TOEFL score of 550 or above.

Catalog Year

2019-2020

Degree

Certificate

Total Credits

23

Locations

Mankato

Online

Program Requirements

Common Core

Analysis and training focused on concepts and practices of visual design as they relate to technical and professional communication.

Prerequisites: none

Editing the content, organization, format, style, and mechanics of documents; managing the production cycle of documents, and discovering and learning microcomputer and software applications for technical editing tasks.

Prerequisites: none

Documentation - Choose 4 Credit(s).

Introduction to the conventions and strategies for publishing on-line documentation and for managing on-line documentation projects. Topics include analyzing users and tasks, designing and writing documents to be published on-line, testing on-line documents, and managing on-line documentation projects.

Prerequisites: none

Creating both on-line and hard copy documentation for products, with emphasis on computer software and hardware documentation for users. Attention also to policies and procedures as written for a range of uses, e.g. employee handbooks, manufacturing processes, and usability testing.

Prerequisites: none

Choose 3 Credit(s).

Topics relating to rhetorical theory in the workplace, including examination of how workplace cultures shape writing assumptions and approaches. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Examination of instructional design principles and models, including research in theory and practice of instructional design for technical communicators in academic and industry settings.

Prerequisites: none

Theory and practice in the development and production of proposals, focusing on the researching, writing, and management of proposals by technical communicators.

Prerequisites: none

Restricted Electives

Choose 8 Credit(s).

Addresses theories of design and teaches students design strategies in typography, graphics, tables, color, and information architecture that will subsequently be applied to documents.

Prerequisites: none

Introduces students to theories of usability and teaches students various methods to evaluate design for usability including heuristic evaluations, card-sorting, task-based evaluations, and fieldwork.

Prerequisites: none

Students learn how to research and write technical information for multiple cultures, both locally and internationally.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to introduce students to technical project management. This introduction is achieved through participation in a simulated project management experience. Assignments include standard documentation associated with project management and reflective writing.

Prerequisites: none

Topics in theory and practice of technical communication. Hands-on course which implements the theories discussed. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of publishing and typography, conventions of desktop publishing, and hardware and software application tools for desktop publishing. Students need not have prior experience with DTP, but some word processing and microcomputer experience will be helpful. Course will meet in both PC and Macintosh labs.

Prerequisites: none

Practice in writing various types of reports for a variety of purposes and audiences. Includes study of primary and secondary research methods.

Prerequisites: none

Introduction to the conventions and strategies for publishing on-line documentation and for managing on-line documentation projects. Topics include analyzing users and tasks, designing and writing documents to be published on-line, testing on-line documents, and managing on-line documentation projects.

Prerequisites: none

Creating both on-line and hard copy documentation for products, with emphasis on computer software and hardware documentation for users. Attention also to policies and procedures as written for a range of uses, e.g. employee handbooks, manufacturing processes, and usability testing.

Prerequisites: none

Topics relating to rhetorical theory in the workplace, including examination of how workplace cultures shape writing assumptions and approaches. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Examination of instructional design principles and models, including research in theory and practice of instructional design for technical communicators in academic and industry settings.

Prerequisites: none

Theory and practice in the development and production of proposals, focusing on the researching, writing, and management of proposals by technical communicators.

Prerequisites: none

User experience is a more holistic, contextualized approach to understanding an individuals encounter with technologies, systems, and documents. The course addresses theory, research findings, case studies, and methods for conducting user experience research.

Prerequisites: none