Its primary goal is to prepare students for careers as technical communicators. It also prepares students for further study in a doctoral program. Career opportunities in technical communication are strong in 2000, especially in computer-related fields. A typical job for a technical communicator is to prepare the manuals and online help for the new hardware and applications.
Graduates also work in website development.
Another strong field that employs technical communicators is health. Electives and minors in other departments allow students to specialize in such areas as management, telecommunications, instructional design, information systems, or marketing as well as to continue graduate work in an undergraduate major such as biology or computer science. An undergraduate specialization was established in 1976. Faculty have written textbooks and articles and hold positions in national professional associations. Document Design Thesis option students complete at least one additional technical communication course for a minimum of six courses in the field, and nonthesis option students complete at least two additional technical communication courses.