What you will study
Our Technical Writing minor is designed to help you become fluent and articulate in
the various styles of communication in the business world. You’ll grow adept at creating
and using all types of documents, from simple memos to in-depth reports, and learn
to write for specific audiences, no matter the industry.
Hard skills are important for work in specific industries, but every workplace can
use more quality communicators. The Technical Writing minor complements a variety
of majors by equipping you with the professional skills you need to stand out from
your colleagues.
Unique learning opportunities in technical writing
As a Technical Writing minor at UCM, you’ll gain hands-on experience and a real-world
perspective in and out of the classroom:
- Industry-standard internships: Work with clients on industry documentation. Learn valuable professional writing skills
and documentation processes.
- Cutting-edge technology: The Technical Writing Lab in the Martin building offers students the chance to practice
and refine their skills with the latest software used by today’s professional technical
writers.
- Personalized career counseling: Work one-on-one with an advisor in the Technical Writing minor to prepare for your
career and get help finding your first job after you graduate.
What can you do with a minor in Technical Writing from UCM?
The University of Central Missouri’s Technical Writing minor can equip you with skills
you need to handle a variety of communication and writing tasks in any job. This can
include things as routine as resumes and memos to projects as complex as in-depth
technical analyses and data reporting. These communication and analysis tools are
valuable in virtually every industry, since every workplace needs someone they can
count on to articulate information clearly on behalf of clients, colleagues and others.
Learn more about careers in technical writing
Explore all the possible career pathways a Technical Writing minor can open for you
with the interactive tool below. You’ll gain insight into potential earnings, job
outlooks and more.
Financial assistance options for your Technical Writing minor
At the University of Central Missouri, we believe you shouldn’t have to take on extraordinary
debt to add a minor, such as Technical Writing, to your major. We work hard to make
our education affordable for all students, and the results speak for themselves:
- UCM is more affordable than the average public college.
- 94% of UCM undergraduate students receive financial aid.
- LendEDU has recognized UCM for our low student debt.
As a Technical Writing minor at UCM, you may also qualify for scholarships and awards,
such as the Outstanding Technical Writing Student Award. You can learn more about
program-specific scholarships by checking out the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Meet Kathleen J.
English B.A., Minor Technical Writing ’16 - Technical Writer, Cerner
“My internship through UCM’s Technical Writing program provided real-world experience
and made me marketable in a competitive industry. The knowledge and skills that I
gained through the Technical Writing minor helped me to begin the career that I wanted
at a great company.”
Meet Julia L.
BA English, Technical Writing Minor ’17
“The Technical Writing minor helped me better my writing skills for the business setting.
I feel much more confident in my skill set and more valuable in the job market. This
part of my education has prepared me for my career and helped me to understand what
both companies and audiences need in a writer.”
Meet Dr. Rebecca Miner
Associate professor and program coordinator
Dr. Miner is an associate professor of Rhetoric, Composition and Technical Writing.
She’s led technical documentation processes for many companies and enjoys mentoring
students and helping them find opportunities to gain practical experience. Her wealth
of experience can help you better understand the profession and make valuable contacts
in the field.
Meet Dr. Miner
Meet Katlin H.
English B.A., Minor Technical Writing ’17
“I now have a passion for computer programming and coding, which I would have never
gained experience in if I hadn’t enrolled in the Technical Writing minor. The Technical
Writing minor gave me professional confidence and made me feel more career-ready.”
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