BA in Technical Writing and User Experience

Admission to this program is temporarily suspended, pending review.

This program prepares students to work as technical writers and user experience analysts. These are both growing fields in the 2020s. More specifically, this versatile and practical degree draws on disciplinary knowledge from Rhetoric and Writing Studies (RWS) to prepare students for careers in technical writing, user-experience research, professional writing, content strategy, information design and development, and web authoring. The degree also prepares students for other careers with intensive writing demands. Graduates will be qualified to take positions in industry, government, education, and the military, as well as in a variety of non-profit settings. The degree may further prepare students for graduate work in rhetoric and writing, technical writing, the teaching of writing law, and other areas.

Marketable Skills

Students will develop the following skills:

Communication: Reach mutual understanding through effective exchange of information, ideas, and feelings
Organization: Use resources effectively and efficiently in order to stay focused on different tasks
Writing: Communicate using text in a clear and concise manner

Students learn to analyze digital communication strategies to make sure that they are user-friendly, and they learn to compose and organize technical documents.

The Bachelor of Arts in Technical Writing and User Experience prepares students to communicate effectively and ethically in todays technologically and culturally diverse environments. Students with this degree will be able to navigate complex writing situations and to design technical information and digital experiences for multiple audiences and purposes.

Degree Plan

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Minor required		18
This program requires the selection of a minor.
University Core Curriculum
Complete the University Core Curriculum requirements.		42
Technical Writing & User Experience Major		15
Required Courses:
RWS 3305	Intro to Tec Wrt and User Exp
RWS 3354	Methods for Inquiry & Design
RWS 3367	Foundations of User Exp
RWS 4300	Senior Writing Practicum
RWS 4320	Web Authoring
Prescribed Electives:		15
Select five from the following
RWS 3345	Editing
RWS 3355	Workplace Writing
RWS 3357	Issues in Tech & Rhetoric
RWS 3358	Special Topics in Writing
RWS 3359	Technical Writing
RWS 3365	Adv Composition:Rhet Theory
RWS 3366	Advanced Composition: Argument
Free Electives:		6
Select any two upper-division courses from the following
ENGL-Any Upper-division ENGL course (recomented ENGL 3300, 4314, 3349, 3352)
RWS - Any Upper Division RWS course
TRAN 3359	Introduction to Translation
TRAN 4380	Legal Translation
TRAN 4381	Translation in Business
TRAN 4385	Translation in Healthcare
COMM 2310	Basic Multimedia Writing
COMM 2373	Intermediate Multimedia Writng
COMM 3320	Writing for PR & Corp Comm
Open Electives
Select additional hours to complete a total of one hundred twenty hours
Foreign Language
Select six credit of Foreign Language. All six credits must be in the same language sequence. ¹¹		6
Block Electives
Complete twelve upper-division hours from the blocks below, with three to six hours each		12
Total Hours		120

University Core Curriculum

The department may make specific suggestions for courses which are most applicable towards your major.

All courses require a C or better

I. Communication (six hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
Select six hours of the following:		6
For students whose secondary education was in English:
COMM 1611	Written and Oral Communication
ENGL 1313	Writing About Literature
RWS 1301	Rhetoric & Composition I
RWS 1302	Rhetoric & Composition 2
RWS 1601	Rhetoric, Composition & Comm
For students whose secondary education was not in English:
ESOL 1311	Expos Engl Compos-Spkr Esl
ESOL 1312	Res & Crit Writng Spkr Esl
Total Hours		6

II. American History (six hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on the consideration of past events and ideas relative to the United States, with the option of including Texas History for a portion of this component area. Courses involve the interaction among individuals, communities, states, the nation, and the world, considering how these interactions have contributed to the development of the United States and its global role.
HIST 1301	History of U.S. to 1865	3
HIST 1302	History of U.S. Since 1865	3
Total Hours		6

III. Language, Philosophy & Culture (three hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures.
Select one of the following:		3
AFST 2300	Intro-African Amer Studies
CHIC 2302	Latina/o Presence in the U.S.
ENGL 2311	English Literature
ENGL 2312	English Literature
ENGL 2313	Intro to American Fiction
ENGL 2314	Intro to American Drama
ENGL 2318	Intro to American Poetry
FREN 2322	Making of the "Other" Americas
HIST 2301	World History to 1500
HIST 2302	World History Since 1500
PHIL 1301	Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2306	Ethics
RS 1301	Introduct to Religious Studies
SPAN 2340	Seeing & Naming: Conversations
WS 2300	Introduction to Womens Studies
WS 2350	Global Feminisms
Total Hours		3

IV. Mathematics (three hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships. Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate quantitative tools to everyday experience.
Select one of the following:		3
MATH 1309	College Algebra
MATH 1310	Trigonometry and Conics
MATH 1319	Math in the Modern World
MATH 1320	Math for Social Sciences I
MATH 1411	Calculus I
MATH 1508	Precalculus ^1,2
MATH 2301	Math for Social Sciences II
STAT 1380	Statistical Literacy
STAT 2480	Elementary Statistical Methods
1 A higher-level course in the calculus sequence can be substituted.
2 TCCN MATH 1314 will also satisfy this requirement.
Total Hours		3

V. Life & Physical Sciences (six hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on experiences.
Select one of the following:		1-4
ASTR 1107	Astronomy Lab I
ASTR 1307	Elem Astronomy-Solar System
ASTR 1308	Elem Astr Stars & Galaxies
BIOL 1103	Introductory Biology Lab
BIOL 1104	Human Biology Laboratory
BIOL 1107	Topics in Study of Life I
BIOL 1108	Organismal Biology Laboratory
BIOL 1203	Introductory Biology
BIOL 1304	Human Biology
BIOL 1305	General Biology
BIOL 1306	Organismal Biology
BIOL 2111	Human Anat/Physio Lab I
BIOL 2113	Human Anat/Physio Lab II
BIOL 2311	Human Anat/Physiology I
BIOL 2313	Human Anat/Physiology II
CHEM 1105	Laboratory for CHEM 1305
CHEM 1106	Laboratory for CHEM 1306
CHEM 1107	Intro General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 1108	Intro Organic & Biochem Lab
CHEM 1305	General Chemistry
CHEM 1306	General Chemistry
CHEM 1307	Intro to General Chemistry
CHEM 1308	Intro Organic & Biochemistry
ESCI 1101	Environmental Sci. Lab
ESCI 1102	Non-major Lab for ESCI 1301
ESCI 1202	Intro to Environment Science 2
ESCI 1301	Intro to Environmental Sci
GEOG 1106	Laboratory for GEOG 1306
GEOG 1306	Physical Geography
GEOL 1103	Lab for GEOL 1313
GEOL 1104	Lab for GEOL 1314
GEOL 1111	Principles of Earth Sci - Lab
GEOL 1112	Laboratory for Geology 1212
GEOL 1211	Principles of Earth Sciences
GEOL 1212	Principles of Earth Science
GEOL 1230	The Blue Planet
GEOL 1231	Natural Hazards
GEOL 1313	Intro to Physical Geology
GEOL 1314	Intro to Historical Geol
HSCI 2302	Fundamentals of Nutrition
HSCI 2303	Wellness Dynamics
MICR 2330	Microorganisms and Disease
PHYS 1403	General Physics I
PHYS 1404	General Physics II
PHYS 2120	Laboratory for PHYS 2320
PHYS 2121	Laboratory for PHYS 2321
PHYS 2320	Introductory Mechanics
PHYS 2321	Introductory Electromagnetism
Total Hours		6

VI. Political Science (six hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Courses involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations.
Required Courses:
POLS 2310	Introduction to Politics	3
POLS 2311	American Gover & Politics	3
Total Hours		6

VII. Social and Behavioral Sciences (three hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture.
Select one of the following:		3
ANTH 1301	Intro-Phys Anth/Archeolog
ANTH 1302	Intro-Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 1310	Cultural Geography
ANTH 2320	Intro to Linguistics
CE 2326	Econ for Engrs & Scientists
ASIA 2300	Asian American Studies
COMM 2350	Interpersonal Communication
COMM 2372	Mass Media and Society
ECON 2303	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2304	Principles of Microeconomics
EDPC 1301	Introduction to Ed Psychology
EDU 1342	Action Research in Classrooms
ENGL 2320	Introduction to Linguistics
GEOG 1310	Cultural Geography
LEAD 2300	Community Service
LING 2320	An Intro. to Linguistics
LING 2340	Lang. Inside & Out: Sel Topics
PSYC 1301	Introduction to Psychology
SOCI 1301	Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 1310	Cultural Geography
Total Hours		3

VIII. Creative Arts (three hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Courses in this category focus on the appreciation and analysis of creative artifacts and works of the human imagination. Courses involve the synthesis and interpretation of artistic expression and enable critical, creative, and innovative communication about works of art.
Select one of the following:		3
ART 1300	Art Appreciation
ARTH 1305	History of Art I
ARTH 1306	History of Art II
CHIC 1311	Chicana/o Fine Arts Appreciat
DANC 1304	Dance Appreciation
FILM 1390	Intro-Art of Motion Pict.
MUSL 1324	Music Appreciation
MUSL 1327	Jazz to Rock
MUSL 2321	Music, Culture, and Society
THEA 1313	Introduction to Theatre
Total Hours		3

IX. Component Area Option (six hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours

a. A minimum of 3 SCH must meet the definition and corresponding Core Objectives specified in one of the foundational component areas. b. As an option for up to 3 semester credit hours of the Component Area Option, an institution may select course(s) that: (i) Meet(s) the definition specified for one or more of the foundational component areas; and (ii) Include(s) a minimum of three Core Objectives, including Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and one of the remaining Core Objectives of the institution's choice.
BUSN 1301	Intro to Global Business
COMM 1301	Public Speaking
COMM 1302	Business/Profession Comm
CS 1310	Intro-Computational Thinking
CS 1320	Computer Programming Sci/Engr
EL 1301	Eng Innovation and Leadership
LEAD 1300	Introduction to Leadership
SCI 1301	Inquiry in Math & Science
UNIV 1301	Seminar/Critical Inquiry
Total Hours		0

4-Year Sample Degree Plan

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
BA in TECHNICAL WRITING & USER EXPERIENCE
FRESHMAN
Fall
RWS 1301	Rhetoric & Composition I	3
Core-Mathematics		3
Core-Natural Sciences + Lab		4
Core-Language, Philosophy, & Culture		3
Core-Mathematics		3
Spring
HIST 1301	History of U.S. to 1865	3
RWS 1302	Rhetoric & Composition 2	3
POLS 2310	Introduction to Politics	3
Core-Natural Sciences		3
Core-Component Area Option		3
SOPHOMORE
Fall
HIST 1302	History of U.S. Since 1865	3
POLS 2311	American Gover & Politics	3
Core-Creative Arts		3
Core-Social & Behavioral Sciences		3
Foreign Language		3
Spring
RWS 3305	Intro to Tec Wrt and User Exp	3
RWS 3367	Foundations of User Exp	3
Major-Core		3
Minor-Elective		3
Foreign Language		3
JUNIOR
Fall
RWS 3354	Methods for Inquiry & Design	3
Major-Prescribed Elective		3
Major-Free Elective		3
Block Elective		3
Minor		3
Spring
Major-Prescribed Elective		3
Major-Prescribed Elective		3
Block Elective		3
Minor-Elective		3
Open Elective		3
SENIOR
Fall
Major- Prescribed Elective		3
Major- Prescribed Elective		3
Block Elective		3
Open Elective		3
Minor-British Literature Since 1800		3
Spring
RWS 4300	Senior Writing Practicum	3
RWS 4320	Web Authoring	3
Minor-American Literature		3
Minor-Elective		3
Block Elective		3
Total Hours		121

Academic Catalog