As an undergraduate major in technical communication, you will study both the theory and practice of communication in written, oral, and nonverbal forms. Specifically, you will learn how to produce of a variety of technical documents. You will have experience with the process of project management in a user community and become adept in audience analysis, needs assessment, document design, and team building.

Major Requirements, 33 credit hours
TCH COM 240 Layout and Design (co-listed with ENGL 240): 3
TCH COM 260 Practicum in Technical Communication (co-listed with ENGL 260): 3
TCH COM 302 Research Methods in Technical Communication: 3
ENGL 281 Theory of Written Communication: 3
TCH COM 340 Theory of Visual Technical Communication: 3
TCH COM 385 Theory and Practice of Technical Communication: 3 (capstone)
Five courses from TCH COM electives, including ENGL 160 and 305: 15

General Education Requirements, 42 credit hours
ENGL 75, 80, 102, 105, 106, etc. (select one): 3
Speech 85: 3
ENGL 20: 3
TCH COM 65 (co-listed with ENGL 65): 3
Psychology 50: 3
Biology 110, 231, 235, 251 (select one): 3
Math 4: 3
Chemistry, Geology, or Physics: 3
Math or Statistics (select one): 3
History 175, 176, 111, or 112 (select one): 3
Micro Economics 121: 3
Political Science 90: 3
Humanities, Art, Theater, etc. (select two courses): 6

Interdisciplinary Requirements, 36 credit hours
In consultation with his or her advisor, the student will select 36 hours of interdisciplinary courses from only two of the areas listed below, with no fewer than 15 credit hours per area. At least 12 of the 36 hours must come from courses numbered 200 or above. The student's course selections must be approved by the technical communication committee of the Department of English and Technical Communication.

Areas:

• biological sciences,
• business,
• chemistry,
• computer science,
• economics,
• education,
• engineering management,
• English,
• finance,
• one foreign language,
• geology,
• history,
• information science and technology,
• management and information systems,
• mathematics,
• philosophy,
• physics,
• political science,
• psychology,
• speech and media studies,
• statistics,
• any area of engineering

Free Electives, 15 credit hours
To reach the minimum number of credit hours needed to graduate (= 126 for this B.S. degree), you will need to complete at least fifteen additional credit hours beyond the major requirements, general education requirements, and interdisciplinary requirements.

Departmental Contact

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

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