Minor in Technical and Professional Writing
Certificate in Technical and Professional Writing
Technical and professional writers work in almost every field of industry and public life, including high-technology industries, business, government, and research, and non-profit organizations. These career writers not only write and edit many types of documents in different media, but they also sometimes manage documentation and communication projects.
To be best prepared for success in such work, students will need to start with strong writing skills, then learn how to adapt them for the workplace and for changing technology and employment needs. Students will also need an intellectual framework for continuing professional growth and responsibility throughout their careers.
TPW students will combine TPW courses--which expose them to workplace forms, methods, and issues--with interdisciplinary electives that further develop related communications skills and attitudes. Students also can target a potential employment interest: majors choose a specialized concentration (the subject matter focus); minors and certificate students can use TPW studies to complement their education and experience in other fields.
After completing the TPW program, students can begin their writing careers with important accomplishments and advantages: an academic degree or certificate in the field, improved and focused skills, an understanding of professional expectations for writers, and a portfolio of relevant writing samples.
Units
TPW 400 Fundamentals of Technical and
Professional Writing 3
TPW 402 Professional Editing 3
TPW 500 Desktop Publishing for Profes-
sional Writers 3
TPW 600 Individual and Team Writing 3
TPW 695 Internship in Technical and
Professional Writing 3
Any other TPW-prefix course (except TPW 698) 3
Total for core 18
Courses selected either from a single depart-
ment in a communications track or tech-
nical track described below, or from a
single interdisciplinary program or theme. 18
Courses selected from any one of these depart-
ments: Design and Industry, Instructional
Technologies, Speech and Communication
Studies, Journalism, or Broadcast and Elec-
tronic Communication Arts.
Courses selected from any department in
Science and Engineering, any depart-
ment in Business, or any TPW director
approved department in Health and
Human Services.
Courses selected from any interdisciplinary
program or independently developed
theme that is approved by the TPW
coordinator as relevant for technical or
professional writing.
Units selected from a skills electives list available
in the TPW office or TPW director approved 9
Total for major 45NOTE:Any TPW-prefix courses already counted for the core or chosen for the subject matter focus are noteligible as skills electives. Skills electives cannot be from the department chosen for the subject matter focus.
Skills electives include these TPW courses:
TPW 460 Grantwriting
TPW 510 Writing Technical Documentation
and Procedures
TPW 530 Writing for On-Line Presentation
TPW 590 Advanced Topics for Technical and
Professional Writers
TPW 600 Individual and Team Writing
(elective for minor/certificate)
TPW 685 Projects in the Teaching of TechnicalAdditional skills elective courses offered by other departments treat communications fundamentals, editing/production, graphic design, training/non-print media, and specialized forms of workplace writing.
and Professional Writing
Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult Index for page references).
Units
TPW 400 Fundamentals of Technical and
Professional Writing 3
TPW 402 Professional Editing 3
TPW 500 Desktop Publishing for Professional
Writers 3
TPW 600 Individual and Team Writing or
TPW 695 Internship in Technical and
Professional Writing or
TPW 698 Supervised Writing Project 3
Any other TPW-prefix course (exceptTPW 698) 3
Total for core 15
Skills electives courses as described under the
B.A. program. 9
Total for minor/certificate 24NOTE:Any TPW-prefix courses already counted for the core are not eligible as skills electives.