University Catalog 2023-2024

Technical Communication (MS)

Degree Requirements

Core Courses15
Theory and Research In Professional Writing
Rhetoric Of Science and Technology
Advanced Technical Writing, Editing and Document Design
Publication Management for Technical Communicators
Projects in Technical Communication
Methods or Theory Electives9-12
Select a minimum of nine hours of coursework from "Methods or Theory Electives" listed below *
Applications Electives6-9
Select a minimum of six hours of coursework from "Applications Electives" listed below *
Total Hours33
*

If a student chooses to take 9 credit hours of "Methods or Theory Electives", 9 credit hours of "Applications Electives" are required; if a student chooses to take 12 credit hours of "Methods or Theory Electives", only 6 credit hours of "Applications Electives" are required.

Methods or Theory Electives

Select a minimum of nine hours of coursework from the following:9-12
ENG 506Verbal Data Analysis3
ENG 508Usability Studies for Technical Communication3
ENG 519Online Information Design and Evaluation3
ENG 520Science Writing for the Media3
ENG 583Studies In Rhetoric and Writing3
ECI 716Design and Evaluation Of Instructional Materials3

Applications Electives

Select a minimum of six hours of coursework from the following:6-9
BUS 462Marketing Research3
BUS 465Traditional and Digital Brand Promotion3
COM 402Advanced Group Communication3
COM 411Rhetorical Criticism3
COM 421Communication Law3
COM 441Ethical Issues in Communication3
COM 442Communication and Conflict Management3
COM 456Organizational Communication3
COM 476Public Relations Campaigns3
COM 487Internet and Society3
COM 522Critical Approaches to Organizational Communication3
COM 523International and Intercultural Communication3
COM 527Seminar in Organizational Conflict Management3
COM 528Communication Culture and Technology3
COM 541Quantitative Research Methods in Applied Communication3
COM 542Qualitative Research Methods in Applied Communication3
COM 556Seminar In Organizational Communication3
COM 561Human Communication Theory3
CSC 442Introduction to Data Science3
CSC 454Human-Computer Interaction3
CSC 461Computer Graphics3
CSC 467Multimedia Technology3
CSC 501Operating Systems Principles3
CSC 510Software Engineering3
CSC 554Human-Computer Interaction3
EAC 540Foundations of Higher Education and Student Affairs3
EAC 559The Adult Learner3
EAC 580Designing Instructional Systems in Training and Development3
EAC 581Advanced Instructional Design in Training and Development3
EAC 582Organization and Operation Of Training and Development Programs3
EAC 583Needs Assessment and Task Analysis in Training and Development3
EAC 584Evaluating Training Transfer and Effectiveness3
EAC 585Integrating Technology into Training Program3
EAC 586Methods and Techniques Of Training and Development3
EAC 595Special Topics3-6
ECE 792Special Topics In Electrical Engineering (Information Theory)1-6
ECG 512
ECG 515Environmental and Resource Policy3
ECG 537Health Economics3
ECG 715Environmental and Resource Economics3
ECI 716Design and Evaluation Of Instructional Materials3
ENG 508Usability Studies for Technical Communication3
ENG 513Empirical Research In Composition3
ENG 514History Of Rhetoric3
ENG 516Rhetorical Criticism: Theory and Practice3
ENG 519Online Information Design and Evaluation3
ENG 520Science Writing for the Media3
ENG 524Introduction to Linguistics3
ENG 525Variety In Language3
ENG 527Discourse Analysis3
ENG 541Literary and Cultural Theory3
ENG 583Studies In Rhetoric and Writing (Gender and Medicine)3
ENG 583Studies In Rhetoric and Writing (Seminar on Communication in Health and Environmental Science)3
ET 460Practice of Environmental Technology3
GC 420Visual Thinking3
GD 417/517Information and Publishing Design Systems3
HI 581History of the Life Sciences3
HI 582Darwinism in Science and Society3
NR 571Current Issues in Natural Resource Policy3
PA 511Public Policy Analysis3
PA 512The Budgetary Process3
PA 513Public Organization Behavior3
PA 514Management Systems3
PA 515Research Methods and Analysis3
PA 525Organizational Development and Change Management3
PA 540Grant Writing for Public Administrators3
PA 550Environmental Policy3
PS 502The Legislative Process3
PSY 410Learning and Motivation3
PSY 420Cognitive Processes3
PSY 425Introduction to Cognitive Science3
PSY 500Visual Perception3
PSY 508Cognitive Processes3
PSY 511Advanced Social Psychology3
PSY 525Introduction To Cognitive Science3
PSY 704Learning and Motivation3
PSY 740Engineering Psychology of Human-computer Interaction3
PSY 745Human Performance Modeling3
PSY 757Innovation and Technology3
PSY 764Industrial Psychology3
PSY 768Organizational Psychology I3
PSY 770Organization Development and Change3
SOC 410Sociology of Organizations3
SOC 450Environmental Sociology3
SOC 514Developing Societies3
SOC 610Special Topics In Sociology1-6
SOC 752Work and Industry3
SOC 753Inequality in Work and the Economy3
SOC 754Economic Sociology3
SOC 762Sociology of Food Systems3

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelors/Master’s (ABM) degree program allows exceptional undergraduate students at NC State an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may double count up to 12 credits and obtain a non-thesis Master’s degree in the same field within 12 months of completing the Bachelor’s degree, or obtain a thesis-based Master’s degree in the same field within 18 months of completing the Bachelor’s degree.

This degree program also provides an opportunity for the Directors of Graduate Programs (DGPs) at NC State to recruit rising juniors in their major to their graduate programs. However, permission to pursue an ABM degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. Admission is contingent on meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program.

Full Professors

  • Kirsti Karra Cole
  • Huiling Ding
  • Jason Swarts

Associate Professors

  • Stacey L. Pigg
  • Douglas M. Walls

Assistant Professor

  • Michelle McMullin

Emeritus Faculty

  • David H. Covington
  • Robert S. Dicks
  • Susan M. Katz
  • Carolyn Rae Miller
  • Nancy Penrose

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