A major in Technical Communication from Iowa State University prepares you to help those who create ideas to communicate better with those who use them. As a technical communication major, you learn to compose a wide range of print and electronic documents for use in business, industry, schools and other institutions, and communities. Coursework for the B.S. in Technical Communication helps you to understand scientific and technical information and teaches you strategies for producing texts to communicate that information to others. To meet the needs of this demanding profession, you take courses in the following areas.

Theory and History

By taking theory and history courses in various disciplines for 9 credits, you learn about the theories that help to explain print and online documents, collaboration, organizational activities, and various technologies.

Principles, Practices & Technologies

You also take 21 credits in courses dealing with principles, practices, and technologies in the workplace. These classes introduce you to the concepts of organizational culture and visual communication while they increase your computer literacy. As a technical communicator, you develop skills in an array of computer applications, equipment, and platforms.

Linguistics and Literature

To learn more about the structure and conventions of written and oral language, you enroll in 9 credits of linguistics and literature courses.

Related Field & Internship

You strengthen your understanding of related disciplines by taking 3 credits in an elective field related to technical communication. In addition, you improve your technical communication skills on the job by enrolling in a semester-long internship, which helps you to develop skills that you cannot learn in the classroom alone.

Concentrated Study in a Technical, Scientific or Design Field

Taking 12 credits in a related technical, scientific, or design field ensures that you have a specialty to which you can apply your communications. You will design a concentration to meet your career interests and goals in consultation with the Technical Communication Program Coordinator.