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About the Department and TC
Q: What is technical communication?
A: The goal of Technical Communication is to make technologies more useful and meaningful and scientific information more accessible. Technical communicators are often involved from the very beginning of a product's design, through its development, and to its final testing for usability and user support. For more information about the field of Technical Communication and the TC Department, see About Technical Communication.
About Undergraduate Program (BSTC)
Q: I'm in high school. What course should I be taking?
A: TC is an interdisciplinary field and as such almost any combination of high school coursework will work for prospective TC students. Our admissions committee will be interested in strong written abilities as well as a mix of math and sciences. High school students are encouraged to take upper-division composition courses and math and science classes in the student's area of interest. Computer application courses will also be helpful. About Graduate Programs
Q: Can I register for a single TC graduate course before I am admitted to the program?
A: Yes. Visit Single Course Enrollment for more information Q: How strict is the required 3.0 GPA for admission purposes?
A: The TC admissions committee takes all application materials into consideration. If your undergraduate GPA is below the required 3.0 then the TC admissions committee will look to your other admission materials for evidence for success in our graduate program. If the TC admissions committee wants to admit an applicant with a GPA below 3.0 then they petition the UW Graduate School to do so. Q: What is the average GRE score of admitted students?
A: The TC department does not keep statistics on GRE scores for admitted students. However, the TC admissions committee is most interested in the Verbal score of the GRE general test. Applicants should aim for about a score of 600 on the Verbal section of the GRE. Q: Will you accept GRE scores that are more than five years old?
A: No. If your GRE scores are more than five years old you should plan to retake the GRE. Check their website (www.gre.org) for registration information. Q: Will you accept TOEFL scores that are more than two years old?
A: No. If your TOEFL scores are more than two years old you should plan to retake the TOEFL. Q: Will you accept other English test other than TOEFL??
A: University of Washington requires international students take either TOEFL or MLT (Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency). Q: Do international students need to take GRE?
A: Yes, all international students who want to study in our Master's or Ph.D. program must take the GRE. Q: Can I substitute the GMAT for the GRE?
A: No. Q: If I start in the Master's program, can I still pursue a PhD in TC?
A: Yes. Much of the core curriculum for our master's and doctoral programs is the same, so transitioning to the PhD from the MS program is quite natural. Q: What is the best undergraduate major to have in order to be accepted?
A: Since the field of technical communication is interdisciplinary the TC admissions committee admits students from all types of undergraduate backgrounds. Q: What is the difference between the daytime master's program and the evening master's program?
A: The evening master's program began in Autumn 2000 and in many respects is a mirror image of the daytime master's program. The curricula for both programs are nearly identical. The same faculty teach for both the day and evening master's program. The number of credits required and the degree completion options are the same in both programs. There are three main differences between the TC master's programs:
1) the day master's is state-supported while the evening master's is self-sustaining and therefore there is a cost differential, and
2) the evening program holds classes in the evening and the day program holds classes in the day, and
3) because the evening program is not state-supported, students are not able to select courses outside of TC course offerings to complete their degree. The tuition for the evening master's program is approximately $400/credit (for Washington State Residents and non-residents). The day master's tuition is approximately $313/credit for Washington State Residents and $740/credit for out of state residents. Q: If I am in the daytime master's program can I take evening master's classes (or vise-versa)?
A: No. Even though the day master's and evening master's are similar in many ways, the two programs are quite different from an administrative viewpoint. Because of this evening students are permitted to take evening classes only and day students are permitted to take day classes only. Applicants should apply to the program the plan to graduate from. About Campus Life
Q: Where do students live normally?
A: Students have a variety of housing choices. Some students apply for on-campus apartment; most students live off-campus, such as University District, Capital Hill or Lake Union. Please check hfs.washington.edu for more information. Q: Is it safe to live near UW and Seattle in general?
A: Yes, University District (where UW is located) is safe and provides an academic atmosphere to students. Q: How about Seattle's tr ansportation?
A: Seattle is a city with a public transportation system comprised mostely of buses. Many students take a bus to get places around Seattle and to the UW campus. Students who purchase a UPASS card can use it toward bus, printing, and campus shopping. Please check http://www.washington.edu/upass for UPASS information. Q: What are the entertainment resource available near UW?
A: The University District is a multi-cultural community. There are several shopping centers, theaters, restaurants and so on near UW. Try University Way, Northgate Mall, University Village, etc. Q: Are there many recreational and sports resources at UW?
A: UW has advanced recreational and sports facilities. Located besides the Lake Washington, UW provides fitness center (IMA), Intramural Sports, Golf Range, Club Sports, and Health care. IMA is free for all registered students. Q: What health care facilities are there for students?
A: There are plenty of medical resources available for students. Please check Hall Health Center, UW Medical Center, Sports Health Center, etc. Many services are free for students. Please check UW Medicine for complete coverage of UW medical resources.
About Logistics
Q: Where is the TC Department located?
A: Our office is located at 14 Loew Hall on the University of Washington campus. For more details on how to reach the TC Department Office, see the Visitor Info. Please also check campus map. Q: Where is the LUTE located?
A: Go to Visitor Info Q: Is the TC lab open on weekends and holidays?
A: The TC lab is open as long as Loew Hall open. The hours of the lab are the same as the hours of the building as long as you have an entry code.
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