The Certificate in Technical Communications provides preparation essential for careers in technical communications. Courses include developing print and online materials, online helps, web sites, and graphics; working within the documentation process as writers, editors, reviewers, designers, and coordinators; exploring industry developments involving single sourcing, content management, and document control; using software applications most in demand by employers to develop portfolio-quality documents; and, most importantly, practicing clear succinct direct writing that is carefully adapted to its intended audience. Coursework in this certificate program can be applied to the Associate of Applied Science degree in Technical Communications.

Please note that there is a great deal of flexibility in this degree. While the composition, speech, math, humanities, and social and behavioral science courses are required, you can substitute any ETWR course for another that you prefer. You can also take any combination of computer and Visual Communication electives that you prefer—even to the exclusion of one or the other.

Note: To see catalog descriptions for courses that are in the major, move your mouse pointer over the ETWR and ENGL course titles below.

Use the online form to keep track of your progress toward your TCM Certificate and to show the program coordinator.

Semester 2		Hours
+ENGL 2311	Technical & Business Writing	3xxxx
+ETWR 2472 or +ETWR 2476	Book-Length Documents with Adobe FrameMaker or Book-Length Documents with MS Word	4xxxx
+ETWR 2473	XHTML and CSS for Information Specialists	4xxxx
+ETWR 2374	Online Helps and Help-Authoring Tools	3xxxx
	Business & Technical Communications Elective4	3-4xxxx
+ETWR 2379	Editing Government, Business and Technical Information	3xxxx
xx	Capstone Portfolio Examination5	xxxx
xx		19-21xxxx

TOTAL

31-35xxxx

+ Prerequisites: See Course Descriptions.

# Capstone course

1. Students lacking computer skills should take COSC 1300, COSC 1301, or BCIS 1305; students with limited experience with Microsoft Word should take POFT 1329. Students with skills in these areas should take a Semester II course such as ENGL 2311 or ARTC 1402.

2. Students are encouraged to take a course focusing on computer networks, databases, operating systems, or programming from Computer Information Technology or Computer Science departments.

3. Students are encouraged to take a course focusing on web design, graphics, automated drafting, and multimedia from Visual Communications or Engineering Design Graphics departments.

4. Please select from: ETWR 1377, ETWR 2478, or ETWR 2477.

5. Second semester capstone requirement - Portfolio Examination.