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Technical Communication Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit Hours:
120
Write. Design. Code. Get paid.
Technical communicators are in high demand because they make technical topics understandable
and use technology to make information usable. The Department of Technical Communication
emphasizes evidence-based approaches to preparing students with the technical communication
skills required in modern workplaces: writing, designing and coding.
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Request More InfoWhy Earn a Technical Communication Degree?
Our B.A. and B.S. programs prepare students for entry-level positions as technical writers/editors, content developers, or usability professionals, most commonly working on teams to create user guides, web content, and proposals in companies within the information technology, consulting, and healthcare industries. Students earning the B.S. will be especially well-qualified for technology-heavy positions (e.g., front-end web developer, business analyst, etc.) in information technology and software companies.
A unique feature of the curriculum is the completion of several client-based classroom projects, which allow you to collaborate professionally with customers and other colleagues. Past projects have included:
- Creating promotional materials for an art gallery
- Creating style guides for companies
- Designing websites for local businesses and nonprofit organizations
- Editing engineering manuals
- Redesigning logos
Marketable Skills
- Content strategy
- Usability/user experience testing
- Proposal and grant writing
- Content creation and management
- Web and mobile app development
Technical Communication Degree Highlights
You can pursue the B.A. by completing the college's standard foreign language requirement,
or opt for the B.S. by substituting the foreign language courses with courses in computer
science, business computing, data analysis or information science.
Our Technical Communication Lab is equipped with the technology and software needed
to complete course work, and Lab staff will help you learn the software skills – such
as word-processing, desktop publishing, photo manipulating and web designing – required
for technical and business documents.
Our faculty members are outstanding teachers with diverse backgrounds and years of
experience as writers, editors, creative directors and consultants for various companies
and organizations.
Many faculty members are also active participants in professional organizations such
as the Society for Technical Communication and the Association of Teachers of Technical
Writing.
Internship and job opportunities abound because of the university’s location in the
Dallas-Fort Worth region, which employs the sixth most technical writers in the nation.
We also offer exceptional undergraduate students a five-year pathway to a combined
B.A. or B.S. plus M.A. in Professional and Technical Communication.
What Can You Do With a Technical Communication Degree?
By earning a degree in this field, you can work as a(n):
- Editor
- Information architect
- Proposal writer
- Usability tester
- Website designer
Texas employs more technical communicators than any other state except California, and the DFW metroplex employs the sixth most technical communicators among metropolitan areas in the United States.
- U.S. News & World Report recently ranked technical writer as #1 in Best Creative & Media Jobs
- Employment of technical writers is expected to grow 11% between 2016 and 2026, which is nearly twice the 6% increase expected for all media and communication workers (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- For 2018, the median wage of technical writers was $71,850 per year, compared to $57,530 for all media and communication workers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- The lowest 10% of tech writers in the DFW Metroplex were paid $47,988 per year or $21.50 per hour in 2017.
Technical Communication Degree Courses You Could Take
The Profession of Technical Communication (3 hrs)
Provides a foundation for understanding technical communication as a profession. Focuses
on the competencies required for information product creation; the tools used by technical
communication professionals; collaboration techniques for effective team-based projects;
and professional development through interaction with industry professionals.
Content Strategy in Technical Communication (3 hrs)
Introduction to the theories and methodologies associated with content strategy for
online media in professional communication settings. Covers how technical communicators
can use social media in their work and how professional communicators can plan, organize
and develop online content.
Visual Technical Communication (3 hrs)
Learning and applying theoretically-driven strategies for producing commercial publications
for high-tech industries. Designing visual information using industry-standard software.
Information Design for Electronic Media (3 hrs)
Focuses on the fundamentals of web design and explores the practical and theoretical
issues that professional and technical communicators face as they manage and distribute
the content they create.
Usability and User Experience in Technical Communication (3 hrs)
Introduction to the theories and methodologies associated with assessing and measuring
the usability and user experience of documents, software, web sites, mobile applications
and other technical or professional interfaces. Methods may include card sorting,
think aloud protocol, interviews, observations, cognitive walkthroughs, task analysis,
heuristic evaluations and eye tracking, among others.
Technical Writing (3 hrs)
Expository writing, especially for science, pre-engineering and business students.
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