Master of Arts in Technical Communication
The Master of Arts in Technical Communication equips students with the theory and practical skills to communicate complex information efficiently and effectively. This program is designed for multiple types of students:
- Those seeking careers or pursuing doctoral studies in technical communication.
- Established professionals from other fields seeking graduate-level development to enhance their skill-set and increase their value within their areas of expertise (including medical, industrial, and managerial).
Students in this program learn to analyze writing situations, design documents for print and digital media, produce texts for a variety of audiences, and manage large documentation projects. Technical communicators frequently consult with varied industries or find employment in medicine, petroleum/engineering, software/web development, or other fields that require superior communication skills.
Students applying for admission to the Master of Arts in Technical Communication should submit the following materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
- Graduate Application: the Graduate Application is an institutional application required by SHSU. Students must provide biographical and educational information and information relevant to determining State of Texas residency.
- Application fee: An application fee is required for all applications to graduate programs at SHSU.
- Transcripts documenting all prior degrees.*
- Expected undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in the undergraduate major. Applicants with a GPA of less than 3.0 in the undergraduate major are encouraged to submit additional information (e.g., GRE scores, a narrative explaining why the GPA isn’t indicative of the applicant’s academic/professional potential, etc.) to support consideration for admittance.
- 3 references: Provide a reference sheet containing the name, organization, job title, phone, and email address for each of 3 references.
- A personal statement of intent (750–1000 words) explaining the applicant’s perceptions of technical communication and thoughts about how the M.A. in Technical Communication might apply to the applicant’s professional goals.
- Résumé
*Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for review by the admissions committee. However, under university policy, admission decisions are contingent upon receipt of official transcripts.
The Admissions Committee will review applications for completeness before conducting a holistic review for competitive admission to the program. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts in Technical Communication | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 5384 | Rhetoric & Composition Theory | 3 |
| TCOM 5099 | Writing in the Field | 3 |
| TCOM 5310 | Technical & Prof Writing | 3 |
| TCOM 5320 | Managing Digital Documentation | 3 |
| TCOM 5330 | Technical Style and Editing | 3 |
| TCOM 5340 | Digital Literacies | 3 |
| TCOM 5350 | Professional Proposal Writing | 3 |
| TCOM 5360 | Ethics in Professional Writing | 3 |
| TCOM 5370 | Intercultural Technical Communication | 3 |
| TCOM 5380 | Document Design | 3 |
| TCOM 5395 | Internship and Practicum | 3 |
| TCOM 6300 | Portfolio | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Note: The portfolio review takes the place of comprehensive exam requirements.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The MA in Technical Communication is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Content creation and management.
- Process development and documentation.
- Usability research and development.
- Proposal and grant writing.
- Document and interface design.
