English (MA) – Technical Communication

Track Description

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.

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.

Curriculum

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 will write a comprehensive examination and complete a thesis option, a nonthesis 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

Required Courses—15 Credit Hours

• ENC 6297 - Production and Publication Methods 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6217 - Technical Editing 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6261 - Technical Writing, Theory and Practice 3 Credit Hours
• ENG 5009 - Methods of Bibliography and Research 3 Credit Hours
• Choose one of the following:
• ENC 6338 - The Rhetorics of Public Debate 3 Credit Hours
• LIT 6435 - Rhetoric of Science 3 Credit Hours

Elective Courses—15 Credit Hours

Restricted—9 Credit Hours

• ENC 6257 - Visual Technical Communication 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6306 - Persuasive Writing 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6247 - Proposal Writing 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6292 - Project Management for Technical Writers. 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6296 - Interactive Design in Technical Communication 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6338 - The Rhetorics of Public Debate 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6425 - Hypertext Theory and Design 3 Credit Hours
• ENC 6335 - Rhetorical Traditions 3 Credit Hours
• LIN 5675 - English Grammar and Usage 3 Credit Hours
• LIT 6435 - Rhetoric of Science 3 Credit Hours

Unrestricted—6 Credit Hours

Students in consultation with the graduate adviser will choose two graduate-level English courses or approved courses from outside the department.

Thesis Option—3 Credit Hours

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 Options—3 Credit Hours

Students will enroll in directed research and complete a research project approved by an advisory committee. This project will be on a topic in technical communication and in a format other than that of a traditional thesis.

• ENC 6918 Directed Research (3 credit hours)

Or, students will enroll in an additional 6000-level course in technical communication taught by the Department of English.

Comprehensive Examinations

The comprehensive examination is a written exam based on four of the core courses (excluding ENG 5009).

Independent Learning

Both the thesis and special project options of the Master’s in English, Technical Communication Track require students to conduct original research and to produce a final paper detailing the subject, purpose, scope, methodology, and conclusions of the study, thus providing students the opportunity to engage in independent learning.

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

In addition to the Admissions , applicants to this program must provide:

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Official, competitive GRE score taken within the last five years.
  • NOTE: The GRE has been removed as an admission requirement for this graduate program for applicants applying Spring 2021 through the Fall 2021 term. This is a temporary measure in response to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or others familiar with applicant’s academic potential.
• One year of a foreign language at the university level (may be taken while in graduate residence).
• A one to two page goal statement addressing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study in English.
• A professional writing sample of approximately ten pages (or an equivalent amount of web-based work), with a cover memo of no more than one page that explains why you chose to submit this particular sample.
• A computer-based score of 233 (or 91 internet-based score) on the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) if an applicant is from a country where English is not the official language, or if an applicant’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, or if an applicant did not earn a degree in a country where English is the only official language or a university where English is the only official language of instruction. Although we prefer the TOEFL, we will accept IELTS scores of 7.0.
• A résumé is required for applicants seeking assistantship positions.
• Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant’s career/academic goals, and the applicant’s potential for completing the degree.

Application Deadlines

Financials

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.

Fellowships

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.