Degrees and Courses
Our department offers these majors:
- Technical Communications: For the traditional technical communicator/writer who develops new-product documentation in high-tech industries but who also writes technical reports and other documents in business and government.
- Social Media Communications: Designed to enable technical communication students and others to get employment as social media strategists, social media specialists, and social media managers or coordinators.
Award Plans
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Technical Communications
The Certificate and the Associate of Applied Science in the Technical Communications Specialization provide preparation essential for careers in technical communications. Courses include developing print and online materials, online helps, web sites, and graphics; working within the documentation process as writers, editors, reviewers, designers, and coordinators; exploring industry developments involving single sourcing, content management, and document control; using software applications most in demand by employers to develop portfolio-quality documents; and, most importantly, practicing clear succinct direct writing that is carefully adapted to its intended audience.Certificate and degree plans are flexible: courses can be substituted from the other specialization. Contact the department chairperson.
You can find the most recent program maps for the Technical Communications degree and certificate here:
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Certificate Level 2
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Social Media Communications
The Certificate and the Associate of Applied Science in the Social Media Communications Specialization are designed to enable technical communication students and others to get employment as social media strategists, social media specialists, and social media managers or coordinators.Certificate and degree plans are flexible: courses can be substituted from the other specialization. Contact the department chairperson.
You can find the most recent program maps for the Social Media Communications degree and certificate here:
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Certificate Level 2
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21st Century Workplace Writing
The 21st Century Workplace Writing Occupational Skills Award is designed for career professionals and students at Austin Community College to level up their business and technical writing skills and adapt to a changing workforce.
Occupational Skills Award
Recommended Electives
Courses offered by the Visual Communication program and by the Computer Information Systems program are highly recommended for careers in technical communication. You can learn more about course offerings by visiting their respective websites:
Courses
Tech Comm
- ETWR 1374 – Graphics for Business, Government and Technical Information
- ETWR 2470 – Multimedia for Technical Communication
- ETWR 2472 – Technical Communication with Digital Publishing Systems
- ETWR 2374 – Online Helps and Help-Authoring Tools
- ETWR 2473 – XHTML and CSS for Information Specialists
- ETWR 2479 – Web-Based Content Management Systems
- ETWR 2379 – Editing Government, Business and Technical Information
- ETWR 2370 – Fundamentals of Digital Publishing (E-books)
- ETWR 2478 – XML and DITA for Structured Authoring for Information Specialists
Social Media
- ETWR 1471 – Social Media Tools 1: Design & Implementation
- ETWR 1472 – Social Media Tools 2: Monitoring and Analysis
- ETWR 1370 – Social Media Law & Ethics
- ETWR 2376 – WordPress CMS-Based Websites and Blogs
Additional Courses
- ETWR 1372 – Grammar and Style
- ETWR 1376 – Grant Proposals and Business Plans
- ENGL 2311 – Technical and Business
Please refer to the Technical Communications course descriptions page for more details about our courses.