Information on Graduate Degree Programs in Technical Writing
Majors Overview July 4, 2015This article talks about different graduate degree programs in technical writing and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, and job and wage outlook.
Information on Technical Writing Programs
Students enrolled in degree programs in technical writing, also called technical communications, may obtain a Ph.D., graduate certificate or master’s degree. They gain an in-depth training – classroom and practical – in rhetorical structure, theory, editing, and style.
Graduate Certificate Programs in Technical Writing
Coursework in a graduate certificate program in technical writing is devised to teach students the basics of technical writing, including editing, information design, production, and software. Their editorial responsibilities are developed including technique, grammar, and style. Certificate students are given classroom instruction in software usage and writing concepts.
The complexities and demands of oral and written communication in a professional setting are also discussion topics. Apart from writing, the dynamics of design, rhetoric, media and speech are explored by students.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree, in addition to prior technical communication knowledge. The TOEFL must be taken by international applicants to prove competency in English.
Coursework
Coursework covers the practical and technical applications of writing, in addition to a technical writer’s roles and responsibilities. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Rhetorical theory
•Document design
•Visual communication and graphic design
•Scientific communication
•Editing techniques
Job and Wage Outlook
Technical writers can seek employment in numerous industries including science, computer and electronics systems, and publishing. Employing wireless Internet technology and laptop computers, technical writers can work from any location. Over the 2010 – 2020 decade, a job growth of 15% has been predicted for technical writers in all fields (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, salaried technical writers brought in an average annual wage of $65,500 (BLS).
Master’s Programs in Technical Writing
Students enrolled in master’s degree programs in technical writing become adept at producing documents through the use of current international and national technical communication techniques and practices. Communication and rhetorical theories are learned by students. Students receive a comprehensive hands-on experience with technical editing and writing. They gain experience in traditional and digital media, in addition to style and visual design.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. Incoming students are required to submit writing samples, in addition to TOEFL, GMAT, and GRE test scores.
Coursework
Coursework covers editing, communication theory, publications and communication issues. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Specialized documents
•Proposal writing
•Digital media
•Reading theory
•Rhetorical theory
Career Choices
Program graduates can seek various career options including:
•Proposal Writer
•Technical Writer
•Editor
Ph.D. Programs in Technical Communications
Those seeking senior professional positions such as researcher or professor would benefit from enrolling in Ph.D. programs in Technical Communications. A dissertation, seminars, and independent training are completed by graduates in order to examine the complex issues in communication and rhetoric. Students explore approaches to writing; these include social and cultural perspectives. Students are challenged to analyze the changing roles of representation and communication in a digital society.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a master’s in technical communications or related major. Applicants for admission to the program are also required to submit a writing sample to demonstrate writing techniques and competence, in addition to providing letters of recommendation.
Coursework
Coursework in a technical communications degree program covers core coursework in literacy studies, technical communication and rhetoric, and technical editing. Core coursework may also cover topic areas such as:
•Writing nonfiction
•Pedagogy techniques
•Publication writing
•Document design
•History of Rhetoric
Career Choices
Ph.D. holders gain the knowledge and professional expertise necessary for assuming senior positions in technical communications such as:
•Documentation specialist
•Tenured professor of technical communication
•Publisher
