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THE MAJOR
The Technical and
Scientific Communication major is a department within
the College of Arts &
Letters.
JMU
Concentration:
Online Publication
Publications Management
TSC in Public Sector
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSTSC.shtml
Description
of Major:
Technical and Scientific Communication is offered as
a major and minor at JMU. Students can pursue this major
within either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
degree program. This program is offered through the
Institute of Technical and Scientific Communication.
Students in this program gain instruction in the study
of communication in fields traditionally associated
with technical and scientific content, such as biology,
chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, nursing,
physics, and web design. Students are also instructed
in components of professional communication that are
applicable to technical and scientific communication,
such as document design and production, publications
management, organizational communication, and speech
communication. The Online Publication concentration
prepares students to work in a variety of Web-based
environments in business, information technology industries
and non-profit institutions. In Publications Management, students are prepared to manage a variety of publications for an organization. TSC in the Public Sector prepares students to work in government, government-related and nonprofit organizations The central objectives
of the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs
are to help students to: (1) develop into accomplished
writers and editors, (2) learn how to solve communication
problems in their field, (3) enhance their understanding
of how and why communication works, (4) develop criteria
for evaluating the effectiveness of communication, (5)
practice using communication technologies that enhance
their ability to design and produce documents of professional
quality both in terms of writing and graphics, (6) improve
the efficiency and effectiveness of their managing communication,
(7) develop research skills, and (8) create a focus
of study within the technical or scientific field in
which they intend to work as a professional technical
communicator.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
Technical writers are typically anonymous authors who
must remain objective and factual with the subject matter
with which they are dealing. Their sole function is
to deal with facts and objects and to relate useful,
relevant, and reliable information to the reader. The
exceptions to this rule of anonymity are people who
write scientific or technical articles for newspapers,
magazines, and academic publications under their own
names. Their language is simple, direct, and contains
a minimum number of nonfunctional descriptive adjectives.
Technical writing is the profession of writing, editing,
and preparing publications in many fields of technology,
science, engineering, and medicine including articles
for technical and scientific journals. These publications
may be technical reports, instruction manuals, articles,
papers, proposals, brochures, web sites, and booklets.
Technical writers also prepare speeches for technical
meetings and conferences.
Tell
me more about specializations in this major.
The Institute of Technical and Scientific Communication
encourages a broad-based background rather than specialization.
The varied writing, editing, and production professions
that comprise the field of technical and scientific
communication require that university graduates be well-rounded
- not only accomplished in writing, editing, and communication
technologies (such as desktop publishing, online documentation,
and electronic publishing on the World Wide Web) but
also acquainted with technical and scientific content
areas. However, the Institute does offer an Online
Publication concentration allowing students to learn
theories of hypertext and navigation as they apply to
technical communication in an electronic environment.
To gain an understanding of the technical and scientific
areas in which they may find careers, students are encouraged
to take course work in both applied and pure sciences.
What
common major or minor combinations from other departments
complement this major?
Concentrated course work in another academic area is
encouraged. Some minor combinations may include: Anthropology,
Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Communication Studies,
Computer Science, Environmental Information Systems,
Environmental Studies, Geographic Science, Geology,
Health Sciences, Historical Archaeology, History, Integrated
Science and Technology, Justice Studies, Math, Philosophy
and Religion, Physics, Political Communication, Political
Science, Sociology, Statistics, Technical Translation,
Telecommunications or Writing and Rhetoric.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Ability to utilize computers is essential. Students
who are logical, analytical and have the ability to
synthesize and to communicate information in both written
and verbal formats tend to excel.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated
with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated
careers that utilize skills and experiences developed
during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some
fields will require graduate study or further training.
The listing below offers examples of possible career
paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.
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