Program Overview

In 2004-2005, the Technical Communications program at Austin Community College (ACC) was renamed the Business & Technical Communications (BTCM) program and restructured to address the professional and career needs of information specialists in government and business.

This move was in response to the needs of professionals in government and business who do a lot of writing in their work but who are not trained as writers and whose job titles do not include "writer." It was also in response to the evolution of the technical communication field where the job title "information specialist" has become as common as "technical communicator" and "technical writer."

The program now consists of two categories:

• Business & Government Communications. For professionals in government and business who do a lot of writing in their work but who are not trained as writers and whose job titles do not include "writer."
• Technical Communications. For the traditional technical communicator/writer who develops new-product documentation in high-tech industries but who also writes technical reports and other documents in business and government.

More often called "information specialists," individuals in government write administrative rules (which proceduralize legislation), guidance documents (which translate administrative rules for the general public), write compliance and audit reports. Individuals in both government and business often write policy-and-procedure documents, a wide variety of reports, grant proposals, and business plans. The Business & Government Specialization addresses needs.

ACC's Business & Technical Communications program provides the knowledge and skills needed to enter these fields or the opportunity to update your skills if you're already there. Many of our instructors currently hold positions at places like IBM, Dell, Tivoli, Compaq, National Instruments, the Attorney General's Office, and the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality.