• Which courses are considered advanced communication courses?
• What will I learn in 213?
• What are the differences among 302, 309, and 314?
• What is the difference between 314 for majors and 314 for nonmajors?
• What am I going to be able to do with these courses?
• Do I need computer experience to take 313?
• How can I acquire the basic computer skills necessary to prepare me for 313?
• Which courses have testouts available?
• How do I sign up for a testout?
• How do I prepare for a testout?
• Will the business or technical communication course that I took at the community college transfer for advanced communication credit in 302 or 314?
• How do I get my transfer course approved for advanced communication credit?
• Whom can I contact if I have questions about testouts or transfer credit evaluation?

Which courses are considered advanced communication courses?

Advanced communication courses are next courses:

• English 213: Computers in the Study of English,
• English 302: Business Communication,
• English 309: Report and Proposal Writing,
• English 313: Writing for the World Wide Web,
• English 314: Technical Communication.

What will I learn in 213?

English 213 invites you to consider the role of electronic communication in English studies and use computers on a regular basis, not just for word processing, but also for communicating electronically with classmates, designing a website, researching a writing project, and presenting material to the class.

What are the differences among 302, 309, and 314?

English 302 traditionally emphasizes such documents as memos, letters, proposals, and short reports, with a focus on customer-oriented, managerial, and employment-related writing. English 309 focuses on writing proposals and reports, where students can expect to research methods, analyze readers, design layouts, and study drafting and revision procedures. English 314 emphasizes such documents as letters of application and resumes, instructional and procedural manuals, proposals, and short and long reports, with a focus on technically-oriented and disciplinary writing for both expert and lay audiences.

What is the difference between 314 for majors and 314 for nonmajors?

English 314 for majors is the class you take to make sure this is the major you want. It introduces you to what technical communicators do. It gives you an overview of the editing process, proposal writing, documentation, and commonly used software. Course projects include preparing a resume, shadowing a professional at work, and writing an instructional document for a technical device. English 314 for nonmajors will introduce you to communicating in the workplace rather than for the classroom. You will investigate communication conventions and formats in your discipline and adapt specialized material for a variety of purposes and audiences.

What am I going to be able to do with these courses?

These courses help students develop written, oral, visual, and electronic communication skills that are useful in a wide range of professional and academic settings. Students in all advanced communication courses learn to analyze different types of audiences and rhetorical situations and practice composing and revising a variety of professional documents.

Do I need computer experience to take 313?

Before enrolling in English 313 you should possess a basic understanding of HTML code and be able to read and interpret basic raw code. Some time in class may be devoted to the fundamentals of HTML, but the course is primarily focused on the construction of Web pages, on information architecture, and on developing and analyzing rhetorical strategies for Web documents.

How can I acquire the basic computer skills necessary to prepare me for 313?

You can acquire the basic computer and HTML skills necessary to prepare yourself for English 313 by enrolling in English 213: Computers in the Study of English.

Which courses have testouts available?

Students may earn a T grade for English 213: Computers in the Study of English, English 302: Business Communication, and English 314: Technical Communication.

How do I sign up for a testout?

You must register with Testing Services by noon on the second Wednesday of the semester during which you want to take the test. A $100 fee will be placed on your university bill after the exam has been taken. You will have to print out the English 213 Registration Form available from the test-out information Web page.

Mail or take your registration form to:

Testing Services
Student Counseling Service
2030 Student Services Building, 2nd floor
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2223.

How do I prepare for a testout?

Students are responsible for obtaining and studying certain resources. To obtain the list of resources necessary for preparing for a certain testout, go to the Web page describing Test-Out Procedures.

Will the business or technical communication course that I took at the community college transfer for advanced communication credit in 302 or 314?

Only if they meet specific criteria. Check with your adviser for information.

How do I get my transfer course approved for advanced communication credit?

After checking with your adviser to see that the course you have already taken meets the basic requirements (see above), you should bring to the Director of Advanced Writing a completed transfer credit evaluation form, a course description (from the transferring institution's website), and a copy of your course syllabus listing assignments and textbook used. Courses will be approved for transfer credit only if they meet the criteria above and only after a grade of B or better has been transferred to ISU.

Whom can I contact if I have questions about testouts or transfer credit evaluation?

You can contact Director of Advanced Communication, Dr. Donna Kienzler at dkienzle@iastate.edu.