English (MA) – Technical Communication

The Technical Communication track in the Master of Arts in English program is completely online and provides students with theoretical and applied skills in such areas as technical writing, visual design, usability, ethics, stylistics, computer documentation, international communication, and the rhetoric of science.

Students in this program come from a variety of educational backgrounds such as Psychology, Computer Science, and English. The program's faculty members have won prestigious awards, are well published in the field, and have considerable experience in teaching online courses.

Our graduates hold a variety of jobs in the central Florida region; they have found work as technical writers, technical editors, information designers, web designers, corporate trainers, consultants, information developers, educators, documentation specialists, or have other communication-related jobs.

Each student must complete at least 33 credit hours of coursework including 15 credit hours of required courses and 15 credit hours of elective courses. Near the end of the degree program, each candidate must complete a Capstone Course and complete a thesis option, a non-thesis option with a research project approved by the faculty, or a nonthesis option consisting of an additional 6000-level three-credit-hour Technical Communication course taught by the Department of English.

Total Credit Hours Required: 33 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Please note: English (MA) - Technical Communication may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit http://global.ucf.edu/. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at 407-823-2337.

UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.

Track Prerequisites

Admission to the English MA Technical Communication Program.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

• Complete all of the following
  • Complete the following:
    • ENC6217 - Technical Editing (3)
    • ENC6261 - Technical Writing, Theory and Practice (3)
    • ENG5009 - Methods of Bibliography and Research (3)
  Choose one of the following:
  • Complete at least 1 of the following:
    • ENC6338 - The Rhetorics of Public Debate (3)
    • LIT6435 - Rhetoric of Science (3)
  • Complete the following:
    • ENC6951 - Technical Communication Capstone (3)

Elective Courses

• Complete all of the following
  Restricted - 9 Hours
  • Complete at least 3 of the following:
    • ENC6257 - Visual Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6306 - Persuasive Writing (3)
    • ENC6247 - Proposal Writing (3)
    • ENC6292 - Project Management for Technical Writers. (3)
    • ENC6296 - Interactive Design in Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6338 - The Rhetorics of Public Debate (3)
    • ENC6425 - Hypertext Theory and Design (3)
    • ENC6335 - Rhetorical Traditions (3)
    • LIN5675 - English Grammar and Usage (3)
    • LIT6435 - Rhetoric of Science (3)
    • ENC6225 - User-Centered Design for Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6931 - Topics in Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6297 - Production and Publication Methods (3)
    • LIN5137 - Linguistics (3)
  Unrestricted - 6 Hours
  • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Students will select 6 credit hours of 6000-level electives. Courses from these prefixes may be used with permission from the Program Director: ENC, LIN, LIT, CRW, ENG, DIG. This requirement encourages students to choose two graduate-level courses or independent research or study best suited to develop their academic and professional goals.

Thesis/Nonthesis Options

• Complete 1 of the following
  Thesis Option
  • Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Students complete a formal thesis written in consultation with an advisory committee and will meet both departmental and university requirements for the thesis. ENC 6971 Thesis (3 credit hours)
  Nonthesis Option
  • Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Students will complete 3 additional hours with a 6000-level Technical Communication course or conduct independent study using this option. Courses with the following prefix are permitted: ENC, ENG, LIT.

Grand Total Credits: 33

Application Requirements

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.