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    Dec 06, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Professional and Technical Communication, BA


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The Bachelor of Arts program prepares students for entry-level positions as technical writers/editors, content developers, or usability professionals, most commonly working on teams to create user guides, web content, and proposals in companies within the information technology, consulting, and healthcare industries.


Degree requirements

The following requirements must be satisfied for a Bachelor of Arts with a major in professional and technical communication (TECM).

General Requirements


A minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified in the University Core Curriculum  in the Academics  section of this catalog and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences degree requirements  (excluding foreign language).

Major requirements


Other course requirements


A minimum grade of C is required in all TECM courses counting toward the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in professional and technical communication. 

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all TECM courses is required for graduation. 

For more information, see department advisor. 

Minor


Optional.

Electives


Hours required for electives may vary based on course selection and the University Core Curriculum requirements . Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirements (42) and/or the minimum total hours required for the degree. For specific information, see an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS).

Other requirements


A minimum grade of C is required in all TECM courses counting toward the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in professional and technical communication.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all TECM courses is required for graduation.

For more information, see the undergraduate advisor.

Four-year degree plan (example)


The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years, and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

Year 1

Semester 1 Semester 2
PSCI 2305 - US Political Behavior and Policy   3 hours   PSCI 2306 - US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions   3 hours  
Communication core    3 hours  TECM 2700 - Technical Writing   3 hours  
Mathematics core    3 hours Creative Arts core    3 hours
Social and Behavioral Sciences core    3 hours CLASS Foreign Language-elementary   3 hours
CLASS Foreign Language-elementary    3 hours Elective 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 2

Semester 1 Semester 2
HIST 2610 - United States History to 1865   3 hours   HIST 2620 - United States History Since 1865   3 hours   
TECM 3010 - The Profession of Technical Communication   3 hours   TECM 3200 - Information Design for Electronic Media   3 hours   
Component Area Option A core    3 hours TECM 3550 - Content Strategy in Technical Communication   3 hours  
Life and Physical Sciences core    3 hours Life and Physical Sciences core    3 hours
CLASS Foreign Language-intermediate   3 hours CLASS Foreign Language-intermediate   3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 3

Semester 1 Semester 2
TECM 3100 - Visual Technical Communication   3 hours    TECM 4100 - Proposal Writing   3 hours  
TECM 4180 - Advanced Technical Communication    3 hours   TECM 4190 - Technical Editing   3 hours   
Language, Philosophy and Culture core    3 hours Component Area Option B core    3 hours
TECM elective-advanced 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Elective 3 hours Elective-advanced 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 4

Semester 1 Semester 2
TECM 4500 - Content Analysis in Technical Communication   3 hours   TECM 4300 - Usability and User Experience in Technical Communication   3 hours   
TECM elective-advanced 3 hours  Elective 3 hours
Elective 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Elective 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Elective-advanced 3 hours Elective-advanced 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

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