Program Overview

The overarching goal of the Technical and Professional Communication program is to prepare graduates to take complex information and make it consumable to internal and external audiences who may not have discipline-specific knowledge. Graduates will become more aware of the forms of communication and communication processes in order to successfully convey their messages.

The Technical and Professional Communication major will emphasize written, oral, and digital communication skills. The coursework will prepare students to collect, analyze and communicate complex information to various audiences. The Communication Department’s approach to this major asks students to complete courses including social media, interpersonal, group dynamics, visual rhetoric, technical writing and speaking, and critical thinking and information dissemination.

The program curriculum will draw upon three primary spheres: writing, visual, and digital storytelling; analytic and critical thinking skills; and oral and interpersonal skills. Additionally, students can select one of three specializations or tracks: Health Care; High-tech Literacy; and Corporate/Organizational. Some program-level learning outcomes include:

• Develop and present cogent, coherent, and accurate writing for general and specialized audiences.
• Communicate effectively to audiences by listening actively and responding constructively as Scripture instructs within various contexts.
• Draw from various disciplines to describe orally and in writing how existing knowledge or practice is advanced, tested, and revised in each core field studied.
• Distinguish and examine communication-related problems from a Christian perspective to better serve society.
• Cultivate appropriate organizational skills related to professionalism, work ethic, and attitude.
• Analyze complex data and be able to combine them into easily-understandable presentations utilizing excellent critical thinking skills.