MSTC Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Technical Communication degree requires a minimum of 33 semester credit hours that includes 2 required courses (6 hours), 3 skills courses (9 hours), 4 elective courses (12 hours), a final experience (6 hours), and a graduate portfolio (0 hours). Please see the degree plan below for detailed information.
Minimum Grade Point Average
Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Grades of C or lower do not count toward graduation, and two course grades of C or lower are cause for dismissal from the program. Any single grade of D or lower is cause for dismissal from the program.
Degree Plan
2 Required Courses
SCH
TCOM 5304: Foundations of Professional and Technical Communication
3
TCOM 5317 Rhetorical Theory & Criticism
3
3 Skills Courses (9 hours) and 4 Elective Courses (12 hours)
At least 1 course from each "Skills" group: Theory (Th), Application (App), Research
(R)
Plus 4 more courses from this list:
SCH
R
App
TCOM 5325: Advanced Medical Writing
3
App
TCOM 5330: Visual Design Theory
3
App
TCOM 5340: Project Management
3
App
TCOM 6303: Public Relations and Media
3
R
App
TCOM 6310: Intercultural and World Communication
3
R
App
TCOM 6311: Social Justice Issues in Technical and Professional Communication
3
App
TCOM 6312: Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Communication
3
App
TCOM 6318: Stylistics and Editing
3
App
TCOM 6322: Instructional Design
3
App
TCOM 6323: Communications and Technology
3
App
TCOM 6324: Writing in the Professions Using Plain Language
3
App
TCOM 6328: Hypermedia Theory & Design
3
R
TCOM 6330: Usability Research
3
App
TCOM 6331: Grant Writing for Nonprofit Management
3
R
TCOM 6350: Research Methods in Technical Communication
3
TCOM 6360: Special Topics in Technical and Professional Communication
3
Final Experience – Choose 1 from below 6
SCH
TCOM 6391
Thesis
After completing at least 15 semester credit hours in the MSTC program, candidates
opting for the thesis must complete 3 hours of directed research (TCOM 6390) in order
to propose/develop their thesis. After approval from the Graduate Advisory Committee,
candidates must then complete the thesis through 3 hours of thesis (TCOM 6391) and
sit for an oral defense of the thesis.
6
TCOM 6392
Capstone Project
After completing at least 15 semester credit hours in the MSTC program, candidates
opting for the capstone project must choose either 3 hours of directed research (TCOM
6390) or field experience (TCOM 6380) in order to propose/develop their project. After
approval from the Graduate Advisory Committee, candidates must complete the project
through 3 hours of capstone project (TCOM 6392) and sit for an oral defense of the
project.
6
TCOM 6094
Exam
After completing at least 18 semester credit hours in the MSTC program, candidates
opting for the final exam must complete an additional 3 hours of an elective from
the list of courses enumerated under “Electives” in the degree curriculum, 3 hours
of directed research (TCOM 6390), and enroll in final comprehensive examination (TCOM
6094).
6
TCOM 6095
Additional Coursework (formerly Graduate Seminar Paper)
Students may fulfill the final experience by registering for TCOM 6095 and taking
two additional elective courses.
6
Graduate Portfolio
TCOM 6099
Graduate Portfolio
33