Missouri University of Science and Technology, Department of English & Technical Communication

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English and Technical
Communication
236 Humanities-Social Sci.
1870 Miner Circle
Rolla, MO 65409
(573) 341-4681
english@mst.edu

Master of Science in Technical Communication

The technical communication degree, housed in the Department of English and Technical Communication, offers you an entry into a growing profession that communicates information about the purpose and operation of human tools and systems. Technical communicators work at the interface of technical experts and users of technology. Consequently, technical communicators provide an essential service to national and global societies by facilitating technology transfer.

In Missouri S&T's unique environment, you will have opportunities to work alongside engineers and scientists in research and design projects. Also, you will be strongly encouraged to do summer internships or co-ops with companies before you graduate. At Missouri S&T you will work with first-class faculty, associate with excellent students from around the country and world, and benefit from the world-class technology.

What are the requirements for the M.S.?
Specific requirements for the M.S. in Technical Communication include a minimum of 30 credit hours. All students must complete the 9-credit-hour core, take 6 credit hours of out-of-department courses, and submit a portfolio before graduating. Students pursuing the non-thesis option must also take 15 hours of TCH COM electives and pass a comprehensive exam, while students pursuing the thesis option must take 9 credit hours of TCH COM electives, 6 credit hours of research, and write a thesis.

Core Courses, 9 credit hours
TCH COM 402 Foundations of Technical Communication: 3
TCH COM 411 International Technical Communication: 3
TCH COM 420 Advanced Theories of Visual Technical Communication: 3

TCH COM Electives, 9 credit hours (thesis) or 15 credit hours (non-thesis)
English 302, 305, or 306: 3
TCH COM 301 Special Topics: 3
TCH COM 302 Research Methods in Technical Communication: 3
TCH COM 331 Technical Editing: 3
TCH COM 361 History of Technical Communication: 3
TCH COM 380 Internship: 3
TCH COM 401 Special Topics: 3
TCH COM 403 Theoretical Approaches to Technical Communication: 3
TCH COM 404 Teaching of Technical Communication: 3
TCH COM 410 Seminar: 3
TCH COM 450 Information Management in Technical Communication: 3

Out-of-Department Electives, 6 credit hours
For the out-of-department courses, candidates are advised to construct a module that fits their special interest--e.g., information systems, industrial organization, industrial management, global economics.

Research, 6 credit hours (thesis option only)
Students pursuing the thesis option as opposed to the non-thesis or "exam" option must take 6 hours of TCH COM 490 Research.

Departmental Contact

Dr. Ed Malone
573-341-4625
malonee@mst.edu

Return to Technical Communication Index

IN THE WORDS OF ...

Malcolm Hays
Graduate Student in Technical Communication

"I see technical communication as both the art and science of reducing extraordinarily complex ideas into terms that are easily understandable to the 'common man.' Typical examples of technical communication include instructions, user guides, manuals, product specifications, training, business papers, reports, and more. Technical communicators can become involved in virtually any discipline from the hard sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology to business, industry, and computer-science related fields.

"My current job as IT Communications and Training Specialist has required me to add content to online Knowledge Base systems (such as the current Missouri S&T system located at help.mst.edu as well as create web sites such as braintrax.mst.edu and the new versions of the IT web sites (it.mst.edu helpdesk.mst.edu, and ittraining.mst.edu). I also maintain the IT Press blog itpress.mst.edu/.

"A large part of technical communication, based on my own personal experience, seems to be serving as a liaison between the keepers of highly technical knowledge (in my case, Information Technology) and those who need to use it in order to conduct their business, but do not need to know all of the nuts and bolts that hold the technology together. For instance, I have to inform the general public about the changes to the Missouri S&T e-mail addresses that will occur during the rebranding efforts to MS&T. However, the end user does NOT need to know everything that goes on behind the scenes in order to get the new e-mail address to work properly in January. I am also serving as a facilitator for an Open Forum between IT and the general public with regards to DMCA, P2P, and network traffic shaping—policies that significantly impact (with very good reason) the student body and have just been put into place."