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To access information about registration, click here . 

The courses listed below are taken by both Certificate and MA students. Whether you are enrolled as a non-degree, non-degree Certificate, or MA student, you will have the same faculty, content, and projects. If you are earning a Certificate, you cannot take the internship or directed reading courses as part of your plan of study. Note that web-based means that the course is available online; you do not attend class on campus at a set time.

     Graduate-level Courses in Technical and Professional Communication (TPC)

Engl  6700: Technical Editing & Production (same as 5770: Advanced Editing). [spring semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: writing core or elective. For PhD students, see adviser but probably not suitable.] Although copy editing is reviewed, the focus is on substantive and production editing. As part of producing a document, such as a brochure or basic website, students will learn about planning documents and usability testing. 

Engl 6715: Technical Writing. [fall semesters -- web-based --  For MA tpc students: writing core or elective. For PhD students, see adviser but probably not suitable.] This course is an introduction to the field of technical and professional communication. It has three major components:

1. We will examine the process of developing technical documents, including strategies for planning, drafting, editing, and testing.
2. We will gain experience in preparing three common forms of technical and professional communication: reports, procedures, and proposals.
3. We will consider technical and professional communication as a career, including work environments, collaboration and teamwork, ethics and professional practices, and life on and off the job.

The course requires regular participation in student-led discussion, as well as three major written assignments (a technical report, a procedure, and a proposal).

Engl 6721: Copy editing in Professional Communication. [fall semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: writing core or elective. For PhD students, see adviser but probably not suitable.] Study of copy editing theory and basics, covering a variety of genres, both print and electronic. Review of electronic editing and style manuals. 

Engl 6725: Directed Readings in Technical and Professional Communication. This course provides you with the opportunity to study a subject area not covered by courses currently offered or to study in greater depth a subject covered in a regularly scheduled class. The topic of this course cannot be similar to that of a regularly scheduled class. However, to register for this class, you need a faculty member (tenure-track or tenured) with expertise in the subject area of your directed reading [writing] willing to direct the course. Remember that the faculty member is directing you as an extra task; the class doesn't count as the faculty's member course load (i.e., no pay-back for the faculty member).

Before you ask a faculty member to be the faculty of record for you to complete Engl 6725, check out other options. Are there graduate-level educational technology, adult education, marketing, or other classes (in a degree-granting program) appropriate to your career goal that you can take?

If you do complete Engl 6725: Directed Readings, you and the supervising faculty first need to complete a syllabus to be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies (currently Jim Holte). After the Director reviews and approves the syllabus, you will be registered for the class.

This course is not available to Certificate students.

Engl 6740/6741: Internship in Technical and Professional Communication. Graduate students choose a version of the internship course suitable for their work experience in the field of communication. Note that if you have professional experience, you can complete a experiential research learning version of the internship course. 

Internship Supervisor is currently Brent Henze: henzeb@mail.ecu.edu, 252-328-6699, Bate 2149. [fall & spring semesters, as well as summer sessions -- web-based -- MA, TPC: 6740 can fulfill the writing core or elective requirements and 6741 counts as an elective -- Certificate: not available. For PhD: see adviser but probably not suitable.]

This course is not available to Certificate students.

For additional information, click here . 

Engl 7701 (beginning S09, formerly 7730): Research Methods in Technical and Professional Communication [secondary research].  [fall & spring semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: required course. For PhD: see adviser but probably not suitable.] You learn about secondary research strategies by examining issues in communication and using print documents. Projects include searching for and evaluating existing, secondary research & theory (40%) and then completing an annotated bibliography (30%) and literature review (30%).This course prepares you for English 7702 (formerly 7730): Research Design in TPC, which focuses on completing original research projects.

Engl 7702 (beginning S09, formerly 7701): Research Design in Technical & Professional Communication [original research]. [fall & spring semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: required course. For PhD: see adviser but probably not suitable.] This course prepares you to undertake primary research in specific disciplines and professions; provides you with skills, strategies, and conceptual knowledge to help you create meaningful research ventures, and gives you practice in applying research and evaluating information resources in a variety of venues. Three projects include (1) Planning an Original Research Agenda, (2) Developing an Appropriate Research Treatment, Methodology, and Analysis, and (3) Discussion.

Engl 7730: Issues in Technical and Professional Communication [secondary research]. TBA

Engl 7705: Ethical Issues in Professional Communication. [summer session -- web-based -- MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective. For PhD: see adviser.] Overview of theories of ethics from classical to the present with an emphasis on impact of ethical systems on the technical communicator. Readings and discussions include case studies with ethical implications, such as the Challenger explosion and the Exxon Valdex oil spill. Individual projects will focus on ethical issues in various organizations and industries.

Engl 7710: Professional Communication. [fall semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: writing core or elective. For PhD: see adviser.] This course prepares you to communicate effectively, ethically, responsibly, and professionally in work environments; provides the skills, strategies, and conceptual knowledge to address a variety of communication tasks, and gives practice in preparing documents typical of those required in a professional environment. You prepare documents related to audience adaptation and crisis management as well as instructions. In addition, you use emerging technologies as part of the course. This course is English 4530/5780 adapted for tpc majors. TPC students should take this course and NOT 4530/5780.

Engl 7712: Proposal and Grant Writing. [spring semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: writing core or elective. For PhD: see adviser.] You learn about grant funding resources and grant worksheets. Major project of course is a grant that will be reviewed by at least two experts and then revised accordingly before submission. Goal is for students to submit grant for funding.

Engl 7716: Classics in Scientific & Technical Literature. Brent Henze (henzeb@mail.ecu.edu). Description & Textbooks TBA [fall semester on odd-numbered years -- web-based -- MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective -- PhD: see your advisor]

Engl 7745: Teaching Professional Communication. [summer session -- web-based -- MA, TPC: composition/linguistics requirement or elective -- currently, this course is the only online web-based course available to fulfill the composition/linguistics requirement. For PhD: see adviser.] Designed for those teaching business and technical communication courses, particularly "service" courses at the undergraduate level in community colleges and universities, you define professional communication, briefly review "textbooks" suitable for service courses (both print ones and web-based ones), and prepare projects typical of those submitted for these service courses, projects that will provide experience in completing what you will ask your students to complete as part of the class you are teaching. You also learn about appropriate technologies (email, instant messaging, discussion using website, transferring documents electronically, posting information on websites).

Engl 7746: Training in Professional Communication. [spring semesters -- web-based --  MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective. For PhD: see adviser.] This course focuses on professional communicators as trainers and developers of training materials such as handouts, guides, manuals, and electronically delivered modules. Training differs from teaching in that training primarily involves adult learners and instructional materials designed to allow users to learn and complete specific tasks. Adult learners may be employees in companies that provide training to personnel, members of organizations who need training in particular procedures or issues, or members of the general public who desire training in skills required to participate in specific activities.

For example, trainers at Champion International Paper prepare manuals that employees use to learn the tasks associated with their job positions as well as those of employees within the company. Instructional designers with the collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) develop Web-based modules used to train university researchers about human subject protection requirements. And developers of training materials for the Red Cross prepare information used by people seeking certification in live-saving procedures. Students in the course will consider the theory and practice of training including theories of adult learning; appropriate design for training; and effective methods of "distribution," whether instructor-led, web- or cd-rom-based, or a combination of methods.  

Engl 7750: Writing Public Science [medicine]. [spring semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective. For PhD: see adviser.]  Students explore the best practices for writing about science and technology in the public sphere, examine how technical writers relate scientific topics to non-specialist audiences, and learn by finding models of effective public science writing and by tackling your own projects in public science writing. Remember that science includes medicine since, in public contexts at least, medicine is one of the products of science.

Engl 7780: Theory of Professional Communication. [some fall/spring semesters -- some semesters as campus and others as web-based --  MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective. PhD students take 8870.] Traces theories drawn from a variety of fields that inform such topics as the social context of technical communication, the aims of technical discourse, readability, invention and audience, audience analysis, technical style, and graphics.

Engl 7785: History of Professional Communication. [fall semester on even-numbered years -- web-based -- MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective. For PhD: see adviser.] TBA

Engl 7790: Public Interest Writing [formerly Special Studies Seminar in Writing Public Policy]. [spring semesters -- web-based -- MA, TPC: writing core or elective. For PhD: see your adviser.] In this course, students will practice communication for public advocacy and for public policy making, administration, and implementation. Students will choose a public issue of interest, define the issue as a policy problem, conduct records research and other inquiry to develop a policy position on the problem, and advocate for that position by writing participatory documents intended for a policy making process at the national, state, or local level of government. Topics are open. Students are encouraged to contact the instructor to determine how individual interests might become course projects.

For example, with recent hurricanes and flooding in mind, a student might choose the issue of emergency preparedness and response.To learn what current emergency management policy is and how it is communicated, s/he will read legislative policy statements, administrative regulations, implementations such as risk advisories, and possibly court decisions related to preparing for or responding to emergencies. From that reading, perhaps combined with personal or professional experience in emergency management, s/he will identify a specific problem that needs new policy or policy change. To communicate the problem and advocate action, s/he will write a set of practical documents commonly used in policy processes (a public problem definition memo; a summary of pertinent legislative or regulatory or judicial action; a proposal of policy or regulation; a letter of public comment on other proposals). More generally, for perspective on the policy process, students in the course will interact (online) with issue specialists, government staff, news media spokespersons, or elected officeholders. For perspective on public communication in a political democracy, students will read selectively social theory of public interaction and critical analysis of public discourse.

    Engl 7765/6765: Special Study Seminar in Technical & Professional Communication, plus Engl 7766: Special Studies Seminar in Communication & Emerging Technologies

For several years, many of our courses were titled English 6765 [now renumbered 7765]: Special Studies Seminars in Technical & Professional Communication. Note that you can repeat that course as long as the topic changes. As of Spring 2004, many of those courses offered as 6765 have their own number.

You can access a letter on English Department letterhead, containing a list of topics for 7765/6765 and 7766,plus semester offered; for rtf file, click here and for pdf file, click here . [Should this letter not be satisfactory for your employer, contact Brent Henze, Lead Faculty, TPC, at tpc@ecu.edu.]

Engl 7765: Special Studies Seminars in Technical & Professional Communication. This course can be repeated as long as the topic changes. Some topics that would be taken under this number include the following: 

English 7765: Editing as Management. [2nd summer session -- web-based -- MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective. For PhD: see adviser.] This course offers a broad view of editing as a profession and focuses in particular on editors as communication project managers. Through readings and case studies, we’ll consider theory and practice of project management, the position of communication groups within organizations, and the responsibilities of group manager/editors within and outside the groups they manage. Participants will also learn about the roles of editors in various contexts including work groups, organizations, small presses, and publishing houses. Course participants who work as editors or writers in organizations will gain additional insight into managing communication projects; those interested in pursuing careers in editing (or writing) will gain a better understanding of what editors do.

Engl 7765: Writing in the Healthcare Professions [7730 or similar class helpful but not required ... 1st summer session ... web-based --  MA, TPC : literature or elective -- PhD: see your adviser]  This course will give you a background for writing in the health and medical professions. The course will focus on writing for various audiences and situations and in many of the genres common to the health and medical field including print, visual, and electronic forms of communication. Emphasis will be placed on writing a variety of health-oriented and medical documents.

Engl 7765: Special Studies Seminar in Risk Communication: The Rhetoric of Risk and Risk Management. [spring semester 2006 -- web-based -- For MA tpc students: literature seminar or elective. For PhD students: see your adviser.] This course focuses on theory and practice of communication about hazards, risks, and risk management. Though the threat of international terrorism has increased attention focused on risk assessment, perception, management, and communication, research and theory pertaining to these interrelated issues have a longer history in a range of disciplines, including transportation, engineering, environmental studies, food science and agriculture, medicine and public health, energy, economics, and communication.

Course participants consider examples of risk and risk communication drawn from four broad areas: (1) individual risk (2) workplace risk; (3) community risk; and (4) environmental risk. You will

• identify and evaluate social and psychological "outrage" factors that affect people's perceptions of risk
• consider the relationship between risk perception and the rhetoric of risk
• analyze purposes and audiences for warnings, instructions, signage, PSAs, as well as extended written, oral, and visual information about risks and risk management
• develop comprehensible and usable of information about risk for various audiences, including limited literacy audiences, aimed at increasing audience compliance with risk information
• learn effective uses of visuals and design to reduce risk (and liability).

You will read interdisciplinary texts (theory as well as studies about risk perception and risk communication), write several short responds to case studies, conduct and report on small pilot research studies designed to determine the effectiveness of risk information, and write an individual paper based on pilot research. Guest speakers will interact with students via live discussions and/or online exchanges.

Engl 7766: Special Studies Seminars in Communication and Emerging Technologies. This course can be repeated two times as long as the topic changes. Some topics that would be taken under this number include the following: 

Engl 7766: Electronic Writing and Publishing. [summer session -- web-based -- MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective. For PhD: see adviser.]  In this course, we will examine the theory and practice of planning, designing, and creating online documents like websites, portals, portfolios, etc.  You will learn about information architecture, navigation, readability, and usability and apply these  theoretical/rhetorical design principles in the creation of some online documents (websites, portals, etc.). We will also examine the rhetorical--as well as the social, economic, political, educational, and ethical--dimensions of electronic writing and publishing. This is a very time-consuming course, but you do not need web design experience to enroll.

Engl 7766: Theory & Practice of Multimedia Discourse. [summer 2005 & fall 2006 -- web-based -- MA, TPC: literature seminar or elective -- PhD: see your adviser] In this course, participants will learn to evaluate multimedia discourse and to implement strategies for conceiving, planning, and storyboarding effective multi-media presentations. The course readings trace the development of “new media” from early computing and the advent of hypertext to the emergence of digital audio, video, and mixed-media applications and introduce theories that contribute to our understanding of the ways people relate to and use new media. We’ll also examine practical (and not so practical) applications of new media in different contexts including industry, education, business, entertainment, and self-expression and investigate a variety of tools used to create multimedia presentations. You do not need previous experience with multimedia or Web development techniques to participate in the course.