University of Minnesota
Department of Writing Studies
612-624-3445
writ@umn.edu


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Major

B. S. in Scientific & Technical Communication

Our department is one of about 70 programs in the U. S. that offers a bachelor's degree in scientific and technical communication (S&TC). We are leaders in educating and training scientific and technical communicators. Our graduates are in demand. Our placement rate is high, and our program is growing.

Overview

People who choose this program tend to be interested in communication as well as science or technology. The degree provides a sound background in both areas.

Learning Objectives

  • Conduct audience analysis
  • Write effective print and electronic documents and messages in a variety of genres
  • Edit documents for clarity, conciseness, voice, and correctness
  • Design attractive and useable documents based on visual rhetoric theories
  • Integrate visuals and text
  • Select and design media for particular audiences, messages, and purposes
  • Test for usability
  • Select appropriate research methods, evaluate sources, and conduct research
  • Conduct informational interviews
  • Understand and apply information and project management principles
  • Design and deliver effective oral presentations
  • Collaborate on team-written documents
  • Identify and understand major theoretical movements and figures within rhetorical theory
  • Apply rhetorical theory to professional practice
  • Place technical skills into broader social contexts, drawing upon literary, historical, and theoretical works that speak to the intersections among people, technologies, and their environments
  • Recognize how issues of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and religion can affect scientific and technical communication
  • Review and reflect on current controversies in scientific and technical fields, working to shape personal ethics and public policy
  • Understand the implications of the global contexts in which we live and work

New Curriculum (effective Spring 2009)

Program Requirements

Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
Required credits within the major: 50

The Department of Writing Studies offers a B.S. in Scientific and Technical Communication (S&TC). This degree offers a unique combination of written, oral, and visual communication theory and practice as they apply to interdisciplinary areas of science and technology.

This program examines how communication is a complex process that involves both the robust principles of audience, persuasion, clarity, accuracy, and ethical integrity, and a command of the knowledge of scientific and technical topics that one communicates. Students have the opportunity to examine social, legal, ethical, and political implications of communication as they relate to science, environment, gender, technology, diverse cultures, and workplace practices.

Students will study theories of rhetoric and communication and apply principles of audience analysis, writing and editing, information design, oral communication, and visual rhetoric. They will learn to engage in writing as a process and examine writing within communities of practice.

Students need to complete a minimum of 35 credits of Writing Studies (WRIT) courses, plus 15 credits within one of four sub-plan areas.


WRIT Required Courses-35 credits

All required courses must be taken A-F, (except for the internship, which is taken S-N) and students must earn a grade of at least C-. Equivalent transfer courses are accepted in all areas (except for required WRIT courses).

Sub-plans-15 credits

Students are required to take 15 credits of coursework in one of four sub-plans. When students enroll in the major, they must identify one sub-plan and receive approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Note: In all sub-plans, at least 6 courses must be at the 3000-level or higher. Courses in Writing Studies that have been used to fulfill major requirements or electives may not be counted again to complete sub-plan requirements.

Program details from the Undergraduate Catalog

Advising

As an S&TC major, you will have two advisers:

  1. A CLA adviser in B16 Johnston Hall who advises you on your Liberal Education Requirements, APAS issues, petitions, and graduation clearance. You are encouraged to meet with your CLA adviser once per year to track your progress on completing all requirements for graduation.
  2. An S&TC major adviser who advises you on your  S&TC Major Requirements, course and sub-plan choices, and academic and career decisions. (Barbara Horvath will be your adviser for your first S&TC semester. After that you will be appointed a faculty adviser from S&TC faculty members.) You are encouraged to  meet with your major adviser once each semester or academic year  to track your progress on the S&TC Major Requirements.

All of your advisors are part of your CLA student community (Communications and Media) and are available to help you with understanding course requirements, academic difficulties, finding opporunities to learn outside the classroom, and more. Learn more about making the most of your student community.

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