Professional and Technical Communication
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Bruce A. Austin, Department Chairperson
The bachelor of science degree program in professional and technical communication unites advanced education in the theory and practice of spoken, written, and visual communication with extensive instruction in one of RIT’s professional or technical programs. This unique combination fosters an understanding of the central concepts and processes associated with the field of communication and a working familiarity with the principles and practices of a particular professional/technical field.
Graduates are qualified for a number of different functions as communications specialists within a specific professional area. Their career opportunities are numerous and varied. The degree also prepares them for graduate work in communication and related academic disciplines.
The professional core
As part of their degree requirements, students enroll in a professional core—normally composed of five courses (for a total of 20 quarter credit hours)—focused on a professional or technical area of interest. These courses may be taken from programs within the College of Science, the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, the E. Philip Saunders College of Business, or another RIT program. Alternatively, an individually designed professional core, one tailored to a student’s specific study and career interests, is available with the approval of an academic adviser and the program chairperson.
Required communication courses (60 quarter credit hours)
0535-200 Foundations of Communications
0535-311 Rhetorical Theory
0535-315 Quantitative Research Methods
0535-317 Critical Research Methods
0535-412 Communications Law and Ethics
0502-444 Technical Writing
0535-445 Theories of Communication
0535-446 Writing the Technical Manual
0535-450 Visual Communications
535-462 Digital Design in Communication
0535-481 Persuasion
0535-482 Mass Communications
0535-501 Public Speaking
0535-532 Professional Writing
0535-595 Senior Thesis in Communication
General education electives (78 quarter credit hours)
| Other required courses: | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| Mathematics and Science Requirements | 20 |
| Computer Science | 4 |
| Liberal Arts Requirements | 52 |
| First-Year Experience | 2 |
Communication electives
Communication electives include:
0535-316 Qualitative Research Methods
0535-410 Computer-Mediated Communication
0535-411 Health Communication
0535-414 Interpersonal Communication
0535-460 Copywriting and Visualization
0535-461 Principles of Advertising
0535-463 Campaign Management and Planning
0535-464 Public Relations Writing
0535-465 Rhetoric of Political Campaigns
0535-470 Law and Ethics of the Press
0535-471 History of Journalism
0535-472 News Editing
0535-473 eJournalism
0535-474 Reporting in Specialized Fields
0535-534 Communication and Documentary Film
0535-580 International Media
0535-426 Archival Research
0535-420 Argument and Discourse
0535-422 Ethics in Technical Communication
0535-550 Film and Society
0535-520 Intercultural Communication
0535-525 Special Topics in Communication
0535-416 Newswriting
0535-415 Organizational Communication
0535-490 Persuasion and Social Change
0535-421 Public Relations
0535-483 Small Group Communication
0535-502 Speechwriting
0535-452 Uses and Effects of the Mass Media
0535-484 Rhetoric of Race Relations
Professional and technical communication, BS degree, typical course sequence |
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| Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | ||
First Year |
Foundations of Communication 0535-200 | 4 |
| Rhetorical Theory 0535-311 | 4 | |
| Public Speaking 0535-501 | 4 | |
| Digital Design in Communication 0535-462 | 4 | |
| Web Foundations 4002-206 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirement** | 16 | |
| First-Year Enrichment 1105-051, 052 | 2 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
Second Year |
Persuasion 0535-481 | 4 |
| Technical Writing 0502-444 | 4 | |
| Visual Communication 0535-450 | 4 | |
| Mass Communications 0535-482 | 4 | |
| PTC Elective | 4 | |
| Professional Core | 12 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 16 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
Third Year |
Theories of Communication 0535-445 | 4 |
| Communications Law and Ethics 0535-412 | 4 | |
| Professional Core | 8 | |
| General Education Electives | 16 | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirement** | 4 | |
| University-wide Elective | 4 | |
| Cooperative Education (two quarters) | 0 | |
Fourth Year |
Quantitative Research Methods 0535-315 | 4 |
| Critical Research Methods 0535-317 | 4 | |
| Professional Writing 0535-532 | 4 | |
| Writing the Technical Manual 0502-446 | 4 | |
| Senior Thesis in Communication 0535-595 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| University-wide Electives | 16 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 182 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information. **Please see Mathematics and Science General Education Curriculum for more information. †Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. |
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Cooperative education
Professional and technical communication students complete two quarters of cooperative education as part of the program. Co-op is paid, practical work experience that deepens students’ knowledge of their academic fields, allows them to determine their suitability for a particular professional position, and increases their chances for advantageous placement upon graduation. Many students use the extra income earned on co-op to help offset college expenses.
A broad range of co-op opportunities is available. There is no restriction on geographic location as long as the co-op position is related to communication. The Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services assists students in identifying co-op and permanent placements with a large and diverse number of employers. Students have held co-ops across the United States at such organizations as Greenpeace, Bausch & Lomb, the Memorial Art Gallery, the Chicago Hearing Society, Eastman Kodak Co., City of New York Parks & Recreation, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Students
The size of the program, averaging about 80 students, ensures close contact with the program’s faculty and other students. Every student has a mail folder and an e-mail account to increase communication between the college and the student. The program attracts energetic students who are actively involved in numerous communication-related extracurricular activities, including FM radio station WITR, the college’s Liberal Smarts newsletter, and RIT’s weekly magazine, Reporter. Many students have served as residence hall advisers as well as representatives to, and leaders of, student government.
Advisers
Every student in the program is assigned a faculty adviser who is available for both academic advising and career counseling. Students find that frequent consultation with their adviser is helpful in planning course scheduling, co-ops, professional core areas. and post-graduation work. In addition to their faculty adviser, students are assigned a co-op and placement adviser, located in the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services. Finally, peer mentors—other professional and technical communication students—are available to answer questions about classes, clubs on campus, student-run activities, and other matters, from the student’s perspective.
Faculty
The 15 faculty members in the department of communication hold the highest degrees in their fields, have proven teaching ability, and are committed to professional growth in their areas of expertise. In addition to their teaching, research, and other professional responsibilities, faculty members act as academic advisers for students in the program. The department also offers students the opportunity to participate in specialized course work and research with faculty members.
Transfer admission
Many students transfer into the professional and technical communication program from other colleges and universities. The program attracts transfer students from diverse liberal arts degree programs as well as other professional programs such as business, science, and computer science. Transfer students from most associate degree programs normally can expect to complete their requirements in two years.
Transfer credit is evaluated on a course-by-course basis; that is, each course completed as part of a previous degree program is compared to a specific program requirement. Transfer credit is assigned where most appropriate.
Careers
Upon graduation, students are prepared for immediate employment and long-term professional growth within the broad field of communication. Graduates qualify for positions in business, government, and the not-for-profit sector, and are employed as technical editors and writers, sales and marketing coordinators, document specialists, broadcast news and segment researchers, public relations practitioners, and staff members for various federal and state government officials.
The program prepares students for graduate study in law, public relations, communication, health services, and management. The department of communication offers a master of science degree in communication and media technologies. The MS degree is an interdisciplinary, advanced program of study combining courses in communication with course work in an applied or professional program. Visit the website www.rit.edu/cmt or consult the RIT Graduate Bulletin for more information.