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Program Overview

tech

Technical Communication


Communication Arts, Humanities and Fine Arts Division
Room B213, (847) 543-2040

https://www.clcillinois.edu/programs/comdv/technical-communication
Degree: Associate in Applied Science
Plan 23TA

Technical communicators are employed in a wide variety of occupational areas to produce the written documentation required at each step of the manufacturing process. They provide the communication links between divergent technical specialties as well as between different levels of technical expertise. This program offers training in both communication skills and technical skills. These skills may be gained two ways: by specializing in communications and electing a technical area or areas, or by specializing in a technical area and electing communications courses.

To complete an A.A.S., students are strongly encouraged to meet with an Academic Success Advisor to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements.


First Semester

14-16 Credits

COURSE

Title

Hours

course

College Success Seminar

2

course

Fundamentals of Speech or

course

Interviewing Practices

3

course

English Composition I

3

course

Critical Thinking or

course

Logic

3

course

Technical Mathematics I or

course

College Algebra or

course

Quantitative Literacy

3-5

Second Semester

15 Credits

COURSE

Title

Hours

course

Technical Composition I

3

course

Comprehensive Word Processing

3

course

Web Design and Development

3

course

Printing Production                                         

3

Required Technical Specialty Courses (see information below)

3

Third Semester

14-16 Credits

Code

Title

Hours

course

Introduction to Photography I or

course

Computer Art I or

course

Engineering Graphics or

course

Electronic Drafting

2-3

course

Technical Mathematics II or

course

MTH Elective or

other higher than MTH 123*

3-4

course

Advanced Composition: Scientific and Technical Communications

3

Required Technical Specialty Courses (see information below)

6

Fourth Semester

17 Credits

Code

Title

Hours

course

Professional Communication or

3

course

Technical Communication Practicum or

course

Job Readiness Skills

1

course

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

3

Social and Behavioral Science Elective

3

Required Technical Specialty Courses (see information below)

7

Total Hours A.A.S. Degree

60-64

ENGLISH ELECTIVE COURSE OPTIONS

CoURSE

Title

HOURS

course

English Composition II

3

course

Newswriting I

3

course

Introduction to Scripts for the Screen

3

course

Creative Writing I

3

course

Creative Writing II

3

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SPECIALTY COURSEWORK

Choose technical specialty electives from fields such as advertising, data processing, electronics, engineering, publicity, or public relations, sales management, sales promotion, or software development.

Select a minimum of 16 hours from the following courses:
BUS 121, 122, 212, 213, 214, 221, 270*
CIT 111, 112, 119, 170, 211, 239
DMD 111, 115, 116, 174, 218, 219, 273, 279
EIT 111, 210, 211
EGR 121
ELT 111
HIT 111, 113, 114, 116, 172, 174, 217
MTH 114, 115, 117, 118
LGL 110, 112, 222

* Students interested in careers in advertising, sales management, sales promotion, publicity or public relations should select these courses

 CHOOSING A DUAL DEGREE

A student may elect to receive two Associate Degrees, one in Technical Communication and one in a technical field (such as electronics, engineering, etc.). This option is possible because many of the same general education courses are required in both programs and because 15-20 credit hours of technically specialized courses count towards the A.A.S. in Technical Communication. Thus, a student may earn this degree in connection with another degree program by adding the necessary written communications and graphics courses. See an Academic Success Advisor for more information.