Master of Science in Technical Communication and Information Architecture
The M.S. in Technical Communication and Information Architecture enhances a technical communication core with specialized concepts, skills, and tools for designing, implementing, and managing websites and related digital media. This degree provides students with expertise for a number of tasks relevant to mid-level and advanced positions in the workplace: website design, website project management, information structure and retrieval, knowledge management, and usability testing and evaluation.
Coursework
33 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree including:
- TCIA core (18 credit hours)
- Electives (minimum of nine credit hours)
- Project or thesis (minimum of three credit hours)
Examinations
Project review or thesis exam
Curriculum
Students preparing for careers in industry are advised to take the project option, while students preparing for a Ph.D. may wish to take the thesis option. The exam committee for each option requires two Category 1 faculty members from the Department of Humanities, at least one of them from the graduate program in technology and humanities. Students may apply up to six credit hours in one of the following courses: COM 594 or COM 591.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | (18) | |
| COM 525 | User Experience Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| COM 528 | Document Design | 3 |
| COM 529 | Technical Editing | 3 |
| COM 530 | Standards-Based Web Design | 3 |
| COM 531 | Web Application Development | 3 |
| COM 541 | Information Structure and Retrieval | 3 |
| or COM 542 | Knowledge Management | |
| Electives | (9-12) | |
| Select 9-12 credit hours 1 | 9-12 | |
| Master's Project or Thesis | (3-6) | |
| COM 594 | Project 2 | 3-6 |
| or COM 591 | Research and Thesis for Master's Degree | |
Minimum degree credits required: 33
- 1
9-12 credit hours of any 500-level COM course, or other relevant 500-level course within the Department of Humanities; or, with adviser and director approval, any 500-level course elsewhere in the university where a student meets the prerequisites.
- 2
Students pursuing the project option are required to take between three to six credit hours of COM 594; students pursuing the thesis option are required to take between three to six credit hours of COM 591.
