BA in Technical Communication
Why major in technical communication?
You like writing and editing
Technical communicators help people communicate about and through technology. Doing so successfully requires careful attention to language and the design of documents, both in print and online. Technical Communication majors learn how to hone prose to give it the biggest possible impact on the world.You like working with people and helping to make their lives better
As a technical communicator, you will work in a team of experts to help solve complex problems for people from next door to across the globe. Technical communication majors learn how to find out what people want and need and create information that helps them get where they want to go. Doing so requires good people skills and a creative, flexible mindset.
You like working with technology
Technical communicators work primarily through digital media, including web sites, video, and social media. Even traditional technical documents, such as manuals, reports, and proposals, are created through digital tools. And most of the jobs in technical communication are in high-tech areas such as software development, manufacturing, government, and health care.
You want skills that will help you wherever life takes you
As a Technical Communication major, you will learn skills that transfer to nearly any job or industry where you might find opportunity knocking. Those skills include
- Understanding people - their needs, goals, and desires
- Helping people solve problems by explaining things to them clearly and efficiently
- Communicating effectively with people from all walks of life and from across the world
- Working effectively in teams
- Using technology to build understanding
These are skills that employers want and need. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, teamwork and communication are among the top skills employers seek. The Association of American Colleges and Universities agrees, in a study that found that 89% of prospective employers value "the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing" higher than any other skill.
You'd also like to make a living
According to the 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual salary for technical communicators was $61,620 in 2008. And employment opportunities in technical communication are likely to increase more quickly than other fields. Similarly, Money magazine recently ranked technical communication as one of their Best Jobs in America.
Interested?
Contact us!
Dr. Miles Kimball
Director of Technical Communication
English/Philosophy 363A
Email: miles.kimball@ttu.edu
Read more
Check out the links under BA in Tech Comm to the left.