Graduate Programs
M.S. in Technical Communication
The M.S. in Technical Communication combines work in theory, writing, information design, and content production. Our students acquire knowledge of information and product usability, product design, rapid learning of electronic tools, and they gain practice with the information production skills needed to advance in a career as a technical communicator. Our graduates are equipped to keep up with rapid changes in information technology and in information design.
Graduates of the M.S. in Technical Communication gain design skills that resist obsolescence and the capacity to generate content for several electronically-based communication media. Whether producing webpages, multimedia tutorials, electronic wizards, or online help systems, graduates of the M.S. program enter sustained careers in industry.
Download a guide about the M.S. in Technical Communication:
 Master's Program Guide (.pdf, revised 04.09.2009)
To learn more about the M.S. in Technical Communication at Rensselaer, use our automated Inquiry Wizard. You can request further information be delivered to you as email attachments or by postal mail. You can also use the inquiry system to send an email directly to Kathy Colman, LL&C Recruitment Coordinator.
Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Technical Communication requires satisfactory completion of ten courses. Seven courses must be those offered by LL&C, while others may be chosen from courses offered by LL&C or by other departments. Students must also demonstrate competence with information technologies and gain practical experience as communication professionals.
Many students are able to complete the course requirements in a single academic year; others spend three or more semesters. The Office of Graduate Education allows up to two and a half years to complete this degree.
- Writing Requirement:
- Theory Requirement:
- Visual Design Requirement:
- Capstone Requirement:
- Open Electives:
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- two courses
- one course
- one course
- one course
- five courses
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To add depth to your communication knowledge and skills, you include either the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Certificate or Graphics Certificate to the required M.S. coursework, unless the your advisor and the M.S. advisory committee approve a different plan. Both certificates increase your skills and marketability.
Instead of these certificates, you may choose to take electives in communication, marketing and management (from Rensselaer's Lally School of Management and Technology), or software engineering (from Rensselaer's Department of Computer Science).
Students must take two courses in Writing and will meet this requirement with the following:
- Proposing and Persuading
- Science Writing (COMM-6xxx)
- Writing for Promotion and Marketing (WRIT-6xxx)
- Course designated as a graduate writing course
Students must take one course in Theory and will meet this requirement with the following:
Other courses may be designated for this requirement on a semester-by-semester basis.
Visual Design Requirement
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Students must take one course in Visual Design and will meet this requirement with the following:
Students with an academic background in layout and design may seek a waiver to select an alternative graduate graphics course.
To discuss waivers, please contact Pat Marra.
Students must fulfill the Capstone requirement.
Students earning the HCI Certificate can designate the following as their Capstone course:
Students earning the Graphics Certificate can designate one of the following courses as their Capstone course:
Or, with the approval of their advisor and of the instructor, students may elect to do their Capstone via an internship in design or an independent study focused on extending the portfolio of work they developed in other courses.
Students using a graphics course to fulfill the Capstone requirement must indicate the course as such on both their Office of Graduate Education Plan of Study and their Graphics Certificate Plan of Study. Students must make arrangements with the professor at the beginning of the semester to do appropriate-level projects.
Graduate Graphics Certificate Plan of Study (.doc, revised 08.21.2008)
Students must complete electives, chosen in consultation with their advisor, to meet the ten-course minimum requirement for graduation (at least half of which must be at the 6000 or graduate-level).
The Department strongly urges students to take either the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Certificate or Graphics Certificate as part of their elective courses.
This rotation indicates the availability of courses for upcoming semesters. Note that some courses are only offered alternate years.
You may wish to refer to this course rotation grid while developing your personal plan of study.
Fall 2008
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WRITING
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- Writing for Promotion and Marketing (WRIT-6xxx)
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THEORY
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VISUAL DESIGN
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CAPSTONE
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Spring 2009
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WRITING
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THEORY
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VISUAL DESIGN
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CAPSTONE
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Fall 2009
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WRITING
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- Writing for Promotion and Marketing (WRIT-6xxx)
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THEORY
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VISUAL DESIGN
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CAPSTONE
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Spring 2010
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WRITING
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THEORY
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VISUAL DESIGN
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CAPSTONE
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