The need to communicate technical and business-related information has never been greater. Technology has become an integral part of our lives, especially in the workplace. Business and industry need individuals who have outstanding communication skills with basic knowledge of specific technical and management areas that can function as the link between the expertise of managers and technical personnel and the needs of various audiences such as customers, employees, suppliers, and the general public. In today’s industry, individuals may have excellent communication skills, but lack business or technical knowledge of the products or services offered and utilized by their company.

Course Content

• Meet the technical literacy or business comprehension needs required in specific fields.
• Enhance your previously acquired communication skills.
• Develop, design, and deliver written documents and oral presentations conveying technical or business descriptions, operating instruction pamphlets, employee training seminars.
• Develop materials, productions, annual reports and business plans.

Who Should Attend

Sales/marketing employees, copywriters, graphic designers, teachers, and technical writers would all benefit from this certificate. This certificate is designed for individuals with liberal arts or other degrees and good organizational, writing and speaking skills that want to develop their technical IQ and increase their business acumen. This certificate will be especially helpful to those who wish to jump-start their career or work in the rapidly increasing technology fields.

This certificate will help you if you would like to enter the growing and marketable field of technical communication and work as any of the following:

• Technical Writer
• Technical Trainer
• Software Specialist
• Multimedia Developer
• Systems Analyst
• Software Documentation Specialist

Schedule/Courses

Three courses are required for the TC Certificate. Courses are offered on a quarter system as described on the MSOE Academic Calendar. For individual course offerings and starting dates, please see the Timetable of Classes or contact Graduate and Professional Education at (800) 321-6763 or via email at gpe@msoe.edu. Courses for the TC Certificate include:

• TC 261 - Research Methods   
• TC 3320 - Professional Technical Writing  
• TC 4320 - Writing and Editing Across Media   
• TC 4540 - Online Help Authoring   
• TC 172 - Desktop Publishing   
• TC 321 - Visual Design Techniques  
• TC 342 - Professional Presentation Techniques    
• TC 433 - Knowledge Management  
• TC 4400 - Foundations of User Experience  
• SS 492 - Educational Methods: Instructional Design   
• EN 432 - Business Communication   

Prerequisites

An associate degree, a bachelor’s degree or three years work experience. Prerequisite courses may be required for the bachelor’s degree, even if the course requiring the prerequisite has already been taken as part of the certificate program. Determination of prerequisite requirements for students transferring from the TC certificate into the TC bachelor’s degree rests with the academic advisors.