Real Degrees for Working Professionals

Master of Science in Technical Communication

Become a highly trained technical communicator with a master's degree in Technical Communication.  This graduate program provides a comprehensive curriculum that enhances written, oral and visual communication skills.

As a technical communicator, you have the ability to bridge the gap between technical experts and the users of technology. There is a wide variety of jobs available in this field,  including content developers, technical editors and writers, usability specialists and web designers. 

Thesis and non-thesis options available. The thesis degree requires a minimum of 33 credit hours of coursework (24 credit hours of coursework from the list of courses below, in addition to 3 hours of TCH COM 6600 and 6 hours of TCH COM 5099).  The non-thesis degree  requires 30 credit hours of coursework. 

Required Course:

  • TCH COM 6600: Foundations of Technical Communication.

The remaining courses should come from the following list and should be determined in consultation with the student’s academic advisors. Students must take 3 TCH COM courses at the 6000 level.

  • TCH COM 5001 Special Topics (Experimental course offering, TBD)
  • TCH COM 5510 Technical Editing
  • TCH COM 5520 Help Authoring
  • TCH COM 5530 Usability Studies
  • TCH COM 5540 Advanced Layout and Design
  • TCH COM 5550 Advance Proposal Writing
  • TCH COM 5560 Web-Based Communication
  • TCH COM 5610 History of Technical Communication
  • TCH COM 5620 Research Methods in Technical Communication
  • TCH COM 6001 Special Topics (Experimental course offering, TBD)
  • TCH COM 6070 Teaching of Technical Communication
  • TCH COM 6410 Theoretical Approaches to Technical Communication
  • TCH COM 6420 Project Management in Technical Communication
  • TCH COM 6440 Advanced Theories of Visual Technical Communication
  • TCH COM 6450 Advanced International Technical Communication

 

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in any field such as science, engineering, humanities, communication, journalism, or information technology.
  • Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0
  • International requirement: TOEFL ≥ 79,  or IELTS ≥ 6.5, or satisfactory completion of an approved English language Institute program.

Graduate Certificates

Your Pathway to a Graduate Degree

Start earning college credit toward a graduate degree. The GRE is not required to enter a certificate program, and credit earned may be applied toward your master’s degree.*

Graduate Certificate Program

*restrictions may apply 

Completion of a graduate certificate program does not automatically guarantee admission into a corresponding graduate degree program. To continue in a master’s degree program, you must apply. Check with the academic department for program specific details and requirements. Learn more about the certificate to master's program.

Program structure

This program is 100% online: no campus visits required.

Courses are semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes per semester and finish the program in about three years.

Delivery

100% online

Calendar system

Semester-based

Typical program length

About 3 years

Typical course load

1–2 courses a semester

Courses are offered asynchronously, meaning they do not have regular meetings. They may consist of various media and content — such as online discussions, videos, quizzes and recordings — that students review and complete at the time of their choice.

Accreditation

Missouri University of Science & Technology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.

Prior to acceptance into the program, you may enroll in up to 6 credit hours as a nondegree-seeking (in some cases, post-baccalaureate) student. Enrollment does not guarantee acceptance. Learn more about nondegree-seeking university student admissions.

If you live outside of Missouri and are thinking about enrolling in a program that leads to professional licensure, the University of Missouri System strongly recommends that you check with the relevant licensing board in your state or the state where you plan to work. This will help you obtain the most current information about state licensure requirements before you enroll in any academic program. While Missouri University of Science & Technology strives to provide current licensure information, it's important to note that licensure regulations are subject to change.

For more details, please visit our licensure and disclosure page.

States require that Missouri University of Science and Technology be authorized to deliver university-level distance/online education to their residents. The process for authorization varies by state.

For more details, please visit our state authorization page.

Authorized 

Students residing in all states are eligible to enroll in this program.

Internships are encouraged for explore real-life applications of teacher leadership. Find more about available opportunities on S&T's Career Opportunities page.

Our academic leaders are experts in their respective disciplines and bring extensive experience in higher education, industry, and departmental management. Learn more about the English and Technical Communication Faculty at S&T.

Questions?

Contact Us

Missouri S&T Online Education

Sylvia Skouby
Associate Director for Online Admissions

573-341-6903  |  stgrad@mst.edu

English and Technical Communication

Ed Malone, PhD
Professor and Assistant Department Chair for Graduate Studies

573-341-4311  |  malonee@mst.edu 
Department Website: english.mst.edu