Master of Science in Technical Communication Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Technical Communication degree requires a minimum of 33 semester credit hours that includes 2 required courses (6 hours), 3 skills courses (9 hours), 4 elective courses (12 hours), a final experience (6 hours), and a graduate portfolio (0 hours). Please see the degree plan below for detailed information.
Minimum Grade Point Average
Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Grades of C or lower do not count toward graduation, and two course grades of C or lower are cause for dismissal from the program. Any single grade of D or lower is cause for dismissal from the program.
Degree Plan
TCOM 5304: Foundations of Professional and Technical Communication
TCOM 5317 Rhetorical Theory & Criticism
3 Skills Courses (9 hours) and 4 Elective Courses (12 hours)
At least 1 course from each "Skills" group: Theory (Th), Application (App), Research (R)
Plus 4 more courses from this list:
TCOM 5325: Advanced Medical Writing
Th
TCOM 5330: Visual Design Theory
TCOM 5340: Project Management
TCOM 6303: Public Relations and Media
Th
TCOM 6310: Intercultural and World Communication
Th
TCOM 6311: Social Justice Issues in Technical and Professional Communication
Th
TCOM 6312: Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Communication
TCOM 6318: Stylistics and Editing
Th
TCOM 6322: Instructional Design
TCOM 6323: Communications and Technology
TCOM 6324: Writing in the Professions Using Plain Language
Th
TCOM 6328: Hypermedia Theory & Design
TCOM 6330: Usability Research
TCOM 6331: Grant Writing for Nonprofit Management
TCOM 6350: Research Methods in Technical Communication
TCOM 6360: Special Topics in Technical and Professional Communication
Final Experience – Choose 1 from below 6
Thesis
After completing at least 15 semester credit hours in the MSTC program, candidates opting for the thesis must complete 3 hours of directed research (TCOM 6390) in order to propose/develop their thesis. After approval from the Graduate Advisory Committee, candidates must then complete the thesis through 3 hours of thesis (TCOM 6391) and sit for an oral defense of the thesis.
Capstone Project
After completing at least 15 semester credit hours in the MSTC program, candidates opting for the capstone project must choose either 3 hours of directed research (TCOM 6390) or field experience (TCOM 6380) in order to propose/develop their project. After approval from the Graduate Advisory Committee, candidates must complete the project through 3 hours of capstone project (TCOM 6392) and sit for an oral defense of the project.
Exam
After completing at least 18 semester credit hours in the MSTC program, candidates opting for the final exam must complete an additional 3 hours of an elective from the list of courses enumerated under “Electives” in the degree curriculum, 3 hours of directed research (TCOM 6390), and enroll in final comprehensive examination (TCOM 6094).
Additional Coursework (formerly Graduate Seminar Paper)
Students may fulfill the final experience by registering for TCOM 6095 and taking two additional elective courses.
