Technical Writing and Professional Communication Graduate Certificate

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Contact: Han Yu
E-mail: hyu1@ksu.edu
Home page: www.ksu.edu/english/programs/techwriting.html

Offered through the English department, the graduate certificate in technical writing and professional communication recognizes the complexities and demands of written, oral, and digital communication in the workplace as well as the interdisciplinary character of writing and communication studies in the academy. Thus, while centered on writing, the certificate includes course options in rhetoric, communication, design, digital media, speech, and group dynamics.

The certificate is available to any student with an undergraduate degree. A current undergraduate may take courses toward the graduate certificate if they enroll and pay for graduate credit. Classes for the certificate do not count toward their undergraduate degree. In some cases, courses may count toward a graduate degree. Interested students should meet with the program contact for advising and planning a course of study before taking any courses.

The certificate requires four courses (12 credit hours): one in writing and three electives.

At least one course must be from outside the student’s home discipline. Because of the wide variety of electives available, students can craft much of the certificate to meet their own career and educational goals. As with graduate degrees, participants are required to map out a coherent Program of Study with the certificate coordinator. The structure of the certificate is flexible enough so that most students, with advance planning, can pursue it without impeding regular degree progress.

Certificate Requirements:

This certificate recognizes the multiple demands of written, oral, and digital communication in the workplace, as well as the interdisciplinary character of writing and communication studies in the academy. Thus, while centered on writing, the certificate also includes course options in rhetoric, communication, design, digital media, speech, and group dynamics. It emphasizes the rich theoretical and rhetorical principles that govern effective communication across a range of contexts as well as the pragmatic skills needed in the workplace.

The certificate requires four courses (12 credits) in two categories: one in writing and three in electives.

Students map out a coherent plan of study with the certificate coordinator for submission to the Graduate School. The structure of the certificate is flexible enough so that most students, with advance planning, can pursue it without impeding regular degree progress.

To complete the certificate, students must submit sample work from their courses to be evaluated by graduate faculty in the area of Technical Communication.

Courses for the Graduate Certificate in Technical Writing and Professional Communication

The certificate requires four courses (12 credits) from among the categories below.

Writing

Students choose one

ENGL 759 - Studies in Technical Communication Credits: 3

Related Electives

Students choose three from the following:
(Students can petition to use additional courses as electives by discussing with the Certificate Director, preferably before they take the course, and by demonstrating that course meets Certificate SLOs)

AGCOM 610 - Crisis Communication Credits: 3
AGCOM 712 - Environmental Communication Credits: 3
AGCOM 810 - Scientific Communication Credits: 3
COMM 726 - Seminar in Persuasion Credits: 3
COMM 730 - Classical Rhetorical Theory Credits: 3
COMM 733 - Rhetorical Criticism Credits: 3
COMM 834 - The Rhetoric of Social Movements Credits: 3
EDACE 786 - Topics in Learning and Leadership Credits: 1-3
(Grant Writing)
ENGL 665 - Advanced Creative Writing: Nonfiction Credits: 3
or
ENGL 753 - Theories of Composition and Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENGL 755 - Studies in Composition and Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENGL 756 - Business Communication Credits: 3
ENGL 758 - Scientific Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 765 - Creative Writing Workshop: Creative Nonfiction Credits: 3
ENGL 797 - Professional Writing Internship Credits: 0-18
MC 750 - Strategic Health Communication Credits: 3
MC 712 - Environmental Communications Credits: 3
MC 760 - Issues, Risk, and Reputation Credits: 3
MC 765 - Communication Theory Credits: 3

Note:

Note: ENGL 510, AGCOM 590, ART 575, COMM 526, and MANGT 520 no longer count towards the Graduate Certificate Technical Writing and Professional Communication as a result of changes to the regulations governing Graduate Certificate Programs. See the Graduate Handbook Chapter 4 B.2 for information.

Kansas State University