Technical and Professional Writing

 

The Technical & Professional Writing Minor (TECW) is delivered 100% online and asynchronously. The program’s concepts and skills can be applied to most majors on campus. The Minor is especially relevant to students who want to improve their research, writing, and communicative competencies in practical and applied contexts.

The field of technical and professional writing has fundamentally changed in recent years. Digital technologies, mobile tech, and multimodal authoring tools have shifted the forms and functions by which professionals research, understand, and communicate technical concepts. From written reports and proposals, to explainer videos and YouTube tutorials, to usability research and design, the democratization of media has paved the way for new and exciting opportunities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of technical writers is projected to grow 8% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Market demand is high—and expected to increase—for individuals that can adapt complex information for specific target audiences across sectors and industries. Our students go on to work as technical writers, grant writers, journalists, video production specialists, and content managers in the for-profit, not-for-profit, and government sectors.

Required Core Courses (9 credits)

  • TECW 2100: Introduction to Technical and Professional Writing*
  • TECW 3132: Digital Texts and Networked Worlds
  • TECW 3134: Digital Research and Writing

*TECW 2100 is the only pre-requisite for all of the other TECW courses. However, TECW 3132 can be taken in the same semester as TECW 2100.

Advisor-Approved Electives (9 credits)

Choose from the following; at least one upper division TECW course must be chosen.

  • TECW 3150: Writing in the Sciences
  • TECW 3200: Technical Editing and Style
  • TECW 3250: Usability Research and Design
  • TECW 4100: Writing for Government
  • TECW 4200: Introduction to Grant and Proposal Writing
  • TECW 4989: Technical and Professional Writing Internship (w/approval of TECW Director)
  • TECW 4900: Independent Study
  • ARTA 2202: Layout and Production
  • MCOM 2400: Multimedia Production
  • COMM 2700: Professional Communication and Technology
  • ENTC 3030: Technical Communication
  • MGMT 3300: Written Organizational Communication
  • COMM 4117: Introduction to the Digital Humanities: Interdisciplinarity and Digital Culture
  • COMM 4346: Business and Professional Communication

Technical & Professional Writing minors have the unique opportunity, in partnership with ETSU’s Department of Media & Communication, to train and test to become Adobe Certified Professionals—in Photoshop, InDesign, and/or Premiere Pro—at no cost to the students (~$5000 market value).

You can find more information about the Technical and Professional Writing minor on the catalog page.

Contact:

Chase Mitchell, Ph.D. | Director | mitchella@etsu.edu

Darryl Haley, Ph.D. | Associate Director | haleyd@etsu.edu