The Department of Technical Communication (TC) offers a wide variety of degree programs, certificate programs, and other courses for undergraduates, graduates, and working professionals. These programs give students the opportunity to pursue areas of specialization, attend classes while working,, or earn a degree in the evening. The programs include (all links):

• Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication (BSTC)
• Master of Science in Technical Communication (MSTC) offered both day and evening
• PhD
• Technical Japanese interdisciplinary MS degree
• Certificate in Technical Writing and Editing
• Certificate in User-Centered Design
• Multimedia Certificate

Since the TC Department is part of the College of Engineering, TC students start with a strong foundation in math and science that is increasingly important in industry. The TC Department itself offers a wide range of courses, some required and some elective. Class sizes are small, so students get to work closely with faculty members and with students in other programs. TC enhances course offerings with carefully selected joint listings from other departments across campus, and offers students special learning-through-design projects and internships, in which students work with a client and actually design and deliver a product. TC also offers students a directed research program in which students work in small teams side by side with faculty to do hands-on research and often publish the results.

Topics taught include rhetorical theory and the skills of audience analysis and task analysis; theories of human perception of text and graphics; style in technical writing; technical editing; document design; human-machine interface design and human-computer interaction (HCI); empirical research into theory and practice; project management; and technology assessment.