Graduate Technical and Professional Communication Course Descriptions
Required Courses (6 courses, totaling 18 semester hours):
COM6103 Foundations of Technical Communication
COM6453 Research Methods and Applications
COM6443 Rhetoric of Technical Communication
COM6473 Advanced Publication Design
COM6553 Advanced Interpersonal Communication
COM7203 Technical Communication Practicum
Electives (4 courses, totaling 12 semester hours):
Students may select from the following courses:
COM5963 Web Site Design
COM6543 Technical and Professional Editing
COM6963 Multimedia Design and Analysis
COM6123 Professional Presentation Strategies
COM6563 Advanced Nonverbal Communication
COM6483 Managing Organizational Communication
COM6493 Communicating Across Cultures
COM6463 Team Problem Solving and Decision Making
Special Topics (COM7103):
Examples include the following:
Publication and Graphic Design Software Applications
Medical Writing
Proposal Writing
Legal Writing
Rhetorical Analysis and Presentation
Advanced Business and Professional Communication
TOTAL: 10 courses, 30 semester hours
COM6103 - Foundations of Tech Comm
This course offers an overview of the fundamental techniques, theories, and research from a variety of fields that inform the study and practice of technical communication. It covers the historical and social context of technical communication, the aims of technical discourse, readability, usability, invention and audience, audience analysis, technical style, and graphics. Theoretical information is put into practice through individual, collaborative, and oral presentation scenarios.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6453 - Research Methods and Applications
This course provides an examination of the basic materials available for research in technical writing: analysis and application of qualitative and quantitative methods of research in technical communication; evaluation of the application of research results within professional workplace settings; and practice in the conventions of reporting research results for publication.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6443 - Rhetoric of Tech Comm
This course addresses the rhetorical dimension and rhetorical impact of technical communication upon various audiences. The rhetorical aspects of technical communication are explored with special attention given to verbal technical communication (both written and oral), visual technical communication, web-design, and other electronic media for formatting issues in technical communication.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6473 - Advanced Publication Design
May need permission of program director. This course provides techniques for the analysis and practice of the basic techniques and principles required for the effective management of technical publications and professionals. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6553 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication
May need permission of program director. This course advances the student's knowledge of the theories and practices of interpersonal communication, focusing on its use and importance in the professional world. The course emphasizes effective listening skills, perception, language, conflict management, leadership, and relationships. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM7203 - Technical Communication Practicum
May need permission of program director. This course is the culminating requirement of the MSTC degree program. It offers students the opportunity to pursue one of three alternative approaches in technical communication:(1)an internship, (2)a project or (3)a thesis. The student works under the direction of a full-time technical communication faculty member who serves as the student's supervisor. The course culminates in an oral defense of the student's work before a committee of at least three members - the supervisor(who serves as chair) and at least two others. In the case of internships or projects completed in organizational settings, one member of the committee may be a knowledgeable representative of the organization. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 TO 6.000 Credit Hours
3.000 TO 6.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM5963 - Web Site Design
Undergraduates need permission of program director. A comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of effective content and graphic design for web sites. Application of techniques and software tools for organizating web site information and for writing and editing texts presented in this digital communication medium. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
2.000 Lecture hours
2.000 Lab hours
Levels: Undergraduate, Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6543 - Technical and Professional Editing
May need permission of program director. This course focuses on the fundamentals of editing, enabling students to apply a variety of editing skills to the specific rhetorical situations of technical communication. Students experience the challenges of editing inherently complex technical material for a variety of audiences. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6963 - Multimedia Design and Analysis
This course covers techniques for extending basic web sites through multimedia techniques, and it offers opportunities for hands-on applications of multimedia techniques (integration of text, sound, graphics, animation, and video) as they can be applied to technical communication situations. Students also examine the communication value of these multimedia technologies, their potential strengths and shortcomings, and the role of the technical communicator in realizing the potential of multimedia techniques. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6123 - Professional Presentation Strategies
This is an advanced speech course that will focus on storytelling techniques, rhetorical analysis, presentations with professional sytle, and dynamic oral skills. Not only will you design a final presentation that you can use, but you will also receive coaching.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6563 - Advanced Nonverbal Communication
May need permission of program director. This course advances an understanding of the theories, practices, and power of nonverbal communication. The course examines the dynamics of nonverbal communication, including body language, proxemics, chronemics, facial cues, paralanguage, and environment, emphasizing the workplace and understanding different cultures. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6483 - Managing Organizational Communication
This course emphasizes the role and function of communications as a key to understanding organizational frameworks and practices. Students learn traditional and innovative approaches to viewing and participating as technical communicators within a variety of organizational structures, managerial and communication styles. They also analyze the various organizational roles and responsibilities of technical communications, as well as the impact of technologies on the communication within corporate environments. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6493 - Communicating Across Cultures
May need permission of program director. In this course, students will review and discuss current readings in multicultural studies. Once students are familiarized with the conceptual and theoretical framework supporting studies in multiculturalism, the focus of the course will shift to how technical communicators can use such scholarship in multicultural studies to better adapt to the multicultural aspects of their audiences. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM6463 - Team Problem Solving and Decision Making
This course introduces students to the principles of problem solving and decision making as it is accomplished by workplace teams of technical communicators. Practice in applying theoretical approaches to case studies is emphasized. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Lecture
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate
COM7103 - Special Topics
May need permission of program director. Topics offered will depend on student needs and research interests of the faculty. Lecture 3 hours.
3.000 Credit Hours
3.000 Lecture hours
Levels: Graduate
Schedule Types: Special Topics
College of Arts and Sciences College
Academic Division
Humanities, Soc Sci, Comm Department
Course Attributes:
Arts - Graduate