Re: Is a tech writing degree best? Was:TECHWR-L in the News

[Chuck Martin <cwmartin -at- US -dot- ORACLE -dot- COM>]

A technical writing certificate or a technical communication degree is
certainly quite helpful, but nowadays I think more is required, as I
don't think certificate programs cover all areas of communication, and
undergraduate degree programs haven't broadened their focus enough to
mirror today's real-world needs.

As background, I got my BSTC at the University of Washington, where the
TC program is part of the college of engineering. I found the
engineering focus (as opposed to the arts & sciences focus) useful for
my needs; I planned to enter the world of computer documentation. One of
*the* most useful classes i took had nothing to do with writing, but it
had everything to do with communication. It was a cojoint class with the
department of industrial engineering, a class on interface design. One
of the textbooks was Donald Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things."

In the years since, I've taken what I learned in that class and ran with
it, trying to learn more and more on my own about interface design
concepts. It helped me see that technical writing is about so much more
than just writing, that communication is built in to the products we
document, whether it be computer software or a complicated machine or
the simplest of VCRs.

Tech writing degrees are fine, but what's learned behind them is even
more important. I've written to the TC department chair about my
thoughts that incorporating classes in areas such as cognitive
psychology would tremendously increase the value of TC graduates to the
companies they end up working for.

As technical communicators get more involved in the design or products,
simple writing skills just won't be enough--and so coming from a
writing-only background will become less and less desirable, at least to
the companies that are smart enough to know what a quality technical
communicator can bring to the table.

"Brian, Flaherty" wrote:
>
> I started over 10 years ago when there were no TW degrees.  I have a
> degree in English with concentration in writing.  Back then, and for a
> long time, most of the degrees requested were English, Communications or
> Journalism for TW positions.
>
> Now that TW is a hot job ticket, and because of the proliferation of PCs
> in the job world and the growing need for TWs, many colleges and
> universities now offer (and are in the process of devising) TW degrees.
> Many offer both BA/BS and MA/MS degrees in tech writing.  As a result, a
> lot of companies require college grads looking to get into TW to have a
> Technical Writing degree (although they will still consider those with
> English, Communications or Journalism degrees and background).  (It is
> also becoming one of those "minimal" HR requirements, especially for
> entry-level TW positions.)
>
> Based on my observations, newbies and those with 3 to 5 years or less of
> experience may be expected to have a TW degree or TW certificate.  Some
> comapnies may want people like myself to have a TW certificate.  Some
> may understand that TW degrees and certs are new.  So, when looking for
> someone with 5 to 7+ years of experience they may PREFER to find someone
> with a TW cert or degree, but it may not necessary BE ESSENTIAL to have
> one.
>
> If I'm in role to make a hiring decision, I may give some extra
> consideration to someone with a TW degree.  But I would base it on their
> experience, ability to learn, ability to relate to others, and other
> hiring factors.  A person may have a TW degree, but I may not hire (or
> recommend to hire) someone solely on the basis of having a TW degree (or
> any other degree for that matter).
>
> FWIW
>
> Brian Flaherty
> ICS, Paramus, NJ (USA)
>
> From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==