Technical Communication & Rhetoric Undergraduate Course Descriptions
| Course | Course Description |
|---|---|
| ENGL 3085: Writing for the Computer Science Workplace Tues, Thurs 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM and 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM |
This class will introduce you to professional and technical writing situations common in computer science workplaces, as we cultivate adaptive communication strategies and ethical professional behaviors. You will design and write professional documents, synthesize and evaluate arguments on technology and society, and collaborate in teams to present technical information. In person Logan |
| TCR 2100: Introduction to Technical Communication Tues, Thurs 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM |
This course introduces you to the field of technical communication as an iterative, problem-solving activity you can use in any organization with communication needs. Working independently and collaboratively, you will plan, draft, design, and revise a variety of workplace documents, including resumes, memos, instructions, and proposals. During the semester, you will also read and evaluate arguments about technology and society that affect technical communicators and think critically about how these important controversies impact professional communication. Online & In person Logan |
| TCR 2110: Digital Writing Technologies |
Technologies are always changing, so it's important that you know how to learn new technologies. That's what you'll do in this class. Employers will expect you to be adept at using a variety of technologies and know how to select the best tool(s) to accomplish a particular task. In this course, you will gain experience learning and using Adobe's Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop; as well as content management practices and podcasting. We will also interrogate AI tools related to these technologies. By the end of the class, you should have a sense of adventure, tenacity, and confidence in evaluating, learning, and using technologies relevant to the workplace. Online |
| TCR 3120: Rhetorical Theory Mon, Wed 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM |
This course introduces you to rhetoric as the art and study of persuasion and meaning-making, and an analytical research method. We will study classical and contemporary theories of rhetoric in this course to discuss how people are persuaded through language to act, how language makes meaning, the role of language in organizing human activity, and how rhetoric influences our view of the world. You will learn to define and understand rhetorical situations and to evaluate rhetorical strategies. Virtual |
| TCR 3220: Technical Editing |
Whether or not your job title includes the word "editor," you will find that good editing skills are an excellent way to move ahead in your workplace. In this course, you will experience first-hand what it means to be an editor by learning and applying the skills of copyediting, proofreading, and comprehensively editing, while also considering the context in which editing currently exists, and moving toward considering what editing could be by engaging in critical frameworks and theories that can inform our conceptualizations of editing. Online |
| TCR 3230: Community Grant Writing Mon, Wed 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM |
If you aspire to land a job in a nonprofit, governmental, or educational organization, or you want to be a civically-minded member of your future communities, grant writing is a skill that you will need. This course will focus your abilities on this particular type of writing as we collaborate with nonprofit organizations to craft grant applications that they can submit after the semester is over. We discuss nonprofit funding realities, audience, program development and evaluation, all while working with clients. Virtual |
| TCR 4250: Careers in Professional Communication Mon, Wed, Fri 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM |
In this class, we will study how to successfully negotiate the job market in fields related to English: content writing, technical communication, usability and user experience (UX), editing, publishing, and more. You will practice developing effective application materials such as a portfolio website, resume, and cover letter; using social media for networking, job seeking, and career development; and preparing for job interviews. In person Logan |