General Requirements
The Master of Science degree in Technical Communication requires completion of a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate credit. Although the program is centered in the Department of English, the curriculum is interdepartmental, drawing on the diverse resources of the University.
The MSTC program offers a foundation of courses in theory and practice supplemented by elective courses in technical disciplines. The required core courses are designed to emphasize technical writing and editing, teamwork, audience analysis, document usability and field testing, and publication management. The courses also give students principles and strategies to apply in technical fields such as engineering, computer science, medicine, and environmental science.
| Courses Type | Total Courses | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | 5 courses | 15 credits |
| Application Courses | 3 or 4 courses | 9 or 12 credits |
| Theories and Methods Courses | 2 or 3 courses | 6 or 9 credits |
Additional requirements:
- 15 of the core credits are taken in the Department of English.
- 18 credits can be taken in English and in other disciplines.
- Complete a comprehensive project as part of the capstone course (ENG 675).
- Complete a semester equivalent of Professional Work Experience.
- Finish the MS graduation timeline as they progress through the program.
- Complete the degree in 6 years.
Professional Work Experience Requirement
The equivalent of one semester of relevant professional work experience is required of all students. Previous work experience may satisfy this requirement. Students who do not have previous work experience can fulfill this requirement with a cooperative education experience, an internship, or part-time work. Students can also complete the work experience requirement by completing an internship as part of ENG 522 Writing in Nonacademic Settings. Cooperative education work experiences give graduate students opportunities to integrate academic study and workplace experience. In turn, such experience provides many benefits to industry, which gains access to affordable, well-prepared support staff.
The M. S. program receives a steady stream of requests from business, government, and educational institutions for cooperative, internship, and part-time student assistance, so completing this requirement is rarely a problem. Several area companies routinely employ M.S. students as interns and part-time employees, which often leads to full-time job offers upon graduation (and sometimes before).
Typical work experiences of cooperative education students in Technical Communication include technical editing, online editing, developing and updating web sites, writing user’s guides and reference guides, updating existing documents with new material, indexing, marketing, negotiating deadlines, and motivating others to meet deadlines. Contact either the University’s Cooperative Education Program:
Cooperative Education Program
Dr. Arnold S. Bell
Interim Director of Cooperative Education
212 Peele Hall, Box 7110
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7110
919-515-2300
or consult with the Director of the MS Program in Technical Communication, for information about positions available through Cooperative Education or through direct contact with potential employers.