Auburn University

Program Information

Degree Offered

Master of Technical and Professional Communication, Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication

Program Description:

In Auburn's Master of Technical and Professional Communication (MTPC) program--the only one of its kind in Alabama and one of only a few in the US-- --you will learn the theory and practice of workplace communication and prepare yourself for a job as a writer, editor, information analyst, Web developer, proposal specialist, and a number of other interesting and often well-paid positions. The program was started in 2000, and since then, more than 90% of graduates have found jobs within three months of graduation. To keep up with the demands of the workplace and to provide the most opportunities for students, the MTPC program has recently opened two usability testing labs—one is a usability lab for teaching, and the other is a design, usability, and focus-group lab for faculty- and graduate-student research. Further, with an increasing number of applicants, the program has become highly selective in the students it accepts. The faculty members who teach in the MTPC program want to keep the program small--admitting no more than 10 students per year--so that we can continue to provide personal attention to students and at the same time ensure that jobs are available for our graduates. In addition to preparing you for the workplace, the MTPC program also will prepare you for doctoral study in technical and professional communication.
The MTPC requires 30 hours of course work beyond the bachelor's degree. (Your bachelor's degree does not have to be in English.) These include:
Four required courses (12 hours):
1) Technical and Professional Editing;
2) Document Design in Technical and Professional Communication;
3) Web Development;
4) Technical and Professional Communication: Issues and Approaches.

Three elective courses in English (9 hours) approved by your advisory committee.

Three courses in a coordinated minor (e.g., communication, adult education) or three courses in technical and professional communication, rhetoric and composition, or linguistics (9 hours).

The MTPC also requires that you develop a professional portfolio and pass an oral examination about that portfolio and your coursework. The MTPC does not require a foreign language.

The Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication comprises four courses selected from the MTPC program—three core courses and one elective course.
The required courses for the Graduate Certificate are:
1) Technical and Professional Editing;
2) Document Design in Technical and Professional Communication;
3) Technical and Professional Communication: Issues and Approaches.

Accreditation:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

# of Credits Required:

30 / 12

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Format: Campus

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Small City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above