Technical Communication - Seminar Paper Track, MS

Major in Technical Communication

Mike Duncan, PhD, Graduate Director
S1035, 713-226-5576

The Master of Science in Technical Communication, an outgrowth of our well-established undergraduate program in Technical Communication, will provide graduates with writing, design, and management skills based on rhetorical principles. Students will gain publication and production skills, study project management and the ethical and global implications of professional communication, participate in research, conduct audience analyses and usability tests, and create on-line help.

This program is valuable for a range of candidates:

• Professional writers and communicators seeking promotion to managerial positions.
• Professionals interested in teaching technical writing in high schools or community colleges.
• Professionals in science and technology, public relations, or corporate training with the goal of expanding employment options.
• Undergraduates interested in an applied master’s level degree to increase their employability or pursue a doctoral degree in technical communication.

Program Objectives

Students graduating with an MS in Technical Communication will demonstrate professional-level skills or knowledge in the following areas:

• Document production: Write, design, and edit effective and ethical documents in print and electronic genres
• Rhetorical literacy: Apply rhetorical literacy principles to evaluate and produce documents.
• Global and social justice awareness: Analyze and respond to multicultural and social justice implications of technical communication.
• Research methodologies: Conduct and report research using appropriate methods and critical theories.
• Technological aptitude: Use current technology to produce effective documents.

Admissions Criteria                        

The Admissions Committee will consider several factors when determining admission eligibility into the Master of Science in Technical Communication program, including the candidate’s:

• Experience and interest in the field
• Proven academic ability
• Demonstration of skills necessary to complete the program successfully
• Ability to contribute to the fields of professional writing or technical communication

Applicants to the program must meet the following criteria:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.
• A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in prior undergraduate and graduate coursework. (Applicants who do not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement may be granted conditional admission when the combined strength of their application and supporting documents provides compelling evidence that they will be successful in the program).
• Proficiency in English (if a graduate of a university in which English is not the native language) provided by an adequate TOEFL score. Preferred TOEFL scores are as follows:
  • internet-based score of 86
  • computer-based score of 250
  • paper-based score of 600

Admissions Materials

Applicants must complete and submit all of the following items in order to be considered for admission: Resumes, personal statements, and writing samples can be uploaded through the myUHD portal, emailed to gradadmissions@uhd.edu, or mailed to:

Office of Admissions - Graduate Admissions
University of Houston-Downtown
One Main Street, Suite GSB 308
Houston, TX 77002-1001

• Submit an application through the www.goapplytexas.org
• Pay the application fee.
• Request/submit to the email or mailing address above official transcripts from the institution where applicant received a bachelor’s degree as well as any graduate schools attended. (Community college coursework will not be considered in the admission process and need not be submitted).
• Provide a personal statement of approximately 1,000 words that addresses the following questions in detail:
  • Why do you want to study professional writing and technical communication?
  • What topics or issues in the field might you want to study further and why?
  • What qualifies you to embark upon this field of study?
  • What experience do you have in this field?
  • How do you plan to use your degree?
• Provide a professional/personal resume detailing your work experience and education.
• Have two recommendations sent directly from personal and/or professional contacts to the email or mailing address provided above. Suggested recommenders are individuals with knowledge of your work and who are able to address your academic potential. This can include work supervisors and former professors.
• Provide TOEFL scores as outlined above (if a graduate of a university in which English is not the native language).

Admissions Process

Once an application is complete, the Admissions Committee will evaluate candidates using a matrix based on required application materials to determine if the applicant will be “admitted,” “conditionally admitted,” or “denied admission” to the program. Applicants may be considered for conditional admission in cases in which candidate materials do not meet established program criteria. The committee may also ask for further information from the candidate before making a final admission decision. The Program Director or the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies will notify prospective students, in writing (via email), of the committee’s decision. This written notification will contain pertinent information and next steps for students, as applicable. Specifically, for conditionally admitted students: this written notification will detail the stipulations of the “conditional” status and the necessary steps/actions required to receive full admission to the program.

Admissions Appeals

Admissions decisions may be appealed through the process found in the CHSS Graduate Student Handbook linked on this page.

Final Experience

After having completed at least 18 semester credit hours in the MSTC program, complete TCOM 6095 - Graduate Seminar Paper  option, which requires six semester credit hours of coursework and the completion of two 25-page seminar papers, in total.