Journalism and Technical Communication (TPCJ)

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Journalism and Technical Communication TPCJ

Required Courses		Credit Hours
General Education
This degree requires completion of the General Education requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree. Details of these requirements are delineated on the General Education website. Courses listed below as program/major required courses with the indicators: C, S, Z, R, G, may also be used to satisfy some of these general education requirements.
Program
ENGL 311	Advanced Technical Writing	3
ENGL 323	Proposal Writing	3
COMM 121	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3
COMM 301	Interviewing	3
COMM 332	Persuasive Speaking	3
COMM 336	Technical & Professional Presentation	3
PTEC 153	Electronic Pagination	2
JRNL 234		3
*	(must take at least 2 times)
ENGL 280	Special Topics in Tech Com	1
*	(must take at least 3 times)
ENGL 380	History of Rhetoric & Style	3
ENGL 411	Prof Technical Communication	3
ENGL 491	Tech Communication Internship	3
ENGL 499	Tech Communication Seminar	3
Program Electives	12 credits
Portfolio Approval
Content Specialty Concentration
*	Technical Journalism
JRNL 121	Writing for Mass Media	3
JRNL 122	Reporting	3
JRNL 230	Publication Editing	3
JRNL 228	Feature & Opinion Writing	3
Approved grouping of 4-5 courses in a technical area 9 credit minimum.
* Other concentrations are possible. Course selection should be designed with faculty advisor.
Minimum credit hours required for B.S. degree:		120

Why Choose Journalism and Technical Communication?

Journalism and Technical Communication students learn about journalistic techniques applied to technical and professional communication. As with all concentrations in Technical and Professional Communication, they also learn the history and future of writing, understand the elements of writing and develop project planning skills. In addition, they analyze newspapers and print medium, contemporary news sourcces including the internet, journals, books, magazines, and speeches.

All TPC students identify a 'content specialty concentration', a 21-credit grouping of courses that builds on their interest in a specific career area. While many TPC students enter the program with an associate degree in a technical area - for example, electronics or plastics technology- many develop their technical specialty based on an established area of expertise in the field of technical communication. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to selct the best grouping of courses for their professional interests. The content specialty gives students a specialized background and typically opens the door to their first professional job.

Get a Great Job

Journalism and Technical Communication is a combination of writing, organizing and communicating information. Students gain an understanding of communication media, technical and expository writing, desktop publishing, verbal communication and a chosen technical or professional specialty.

Job opportunities continue to grow for graduates of this program. Nearly every industry needs employees who can communicate technical and professional information effectively to its customers and clients. Jobs also are expanding into marketing, advertising and public relations fields.

Admission Requirements

First year student admission is open to high school graduates (or equivalent) who demonstrate academic preparedness, maturity and seriousness of purpose with educational backgrounds appropriate to their chosen program of study. High school courses and grade point average, ACT composite score, and ACT reading and mathematics subscores will be considered in the admission and placement process. Transfer students must have at least 12 credits at the time of application with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA including an English and mathematics course, or they must provide their high school records and ACT scores for admission review.

Graduation Requirements

The Technical and Professional Communication program leads to a bachelor of science degree. Graduation requires a minimum 2.0 GPA overall and at least 120 credits including completion of all general education requirements as outlined on the General Education website. Students also must present a satisfactory portfolio for graduation.

More Information

Department of Languages and Literature
Ferris State University
820 Campus Drive/ASC 3080
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2225
Phone: 231-591-3988