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WRITING HOME | Undergraduate | M.A. | Certificate | Internships | Faculty | STC Institute Courses | FAQs |
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What are "professional" and "technical" communication? Professional and technical communication are forms of writing that are found in business, organization, and government--all of the writing that makes the world function. Some typical types of professional documents are manuals, procedures, online help, Web pages, brochures, newsletters, reports, and grant proposals. Is the Chicago area good for technical communicators? Our students have done very well in landing positions. Historically, our students have received multiple job offers upon graduation—and some even before graduation. The greater Chicagoland area is home to many major corporations, research laboratories, and organizations that hire professional and technical communicators.
Yes. Most of our graduate courses meet one evening per week for about three hours. Other required courses may meet once a week in the late afternoon on the same day as the evening course. Also, courses offered in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter STC Institute for Professional Development are held on Saturdays in both the spring and fall semesters.
Yes. The Institute courses are offered in the suburbs in the fall and spring semesters every year. These courses are co-sponsored by NIU and the Chicago Chapter Society for Technical Communication. These courses connect theory with practice and feature a team of practicing professionals and experienced mentors. For information on the Institute courses, visit the Institute web page.
By taking two courses per semester and one in the summer, plus an internship, it could take only a year to earn the certificate or two years to earn the M.A., depending on availability of courses. Many of those who pursue the Certificate work full time and, therefore, take one course per semester.
Yes. The certificate requires 18 credits and these can be applied toward the 36 credits required for the M.A.
Ours emphasizes both theory and practice: the rhetorical component of professional communication and the practical application. We have a thriving internship program, where we help students find both internships and jobs. Our faculty consistently receive high student evaluations, are nationally recognized scholars, and have real-world experience. All of that--combined with our firm commitment to teaching--adds up to an atmosphere for graduate study that encourages learning, recognizes professional potential, and fosters excellence.
The tuition at NIU is inexpensive when compared with private institutions. M.A. students can also apply for assistantships, which offer free tuition and pay.
No. For more information, visit http://www.grad.niu.edu/apply.htm.
If I missed the deadline for applying to the graduate school but want to start my course work, can I do that and, if so, how? Yes. You can begin as a "student at large" and apply for the M.A. program while taking your first classes. For more information, visit http://www.grad.niu.edu/apply.htm.
It is an international organization of nearly 25,000 professional technical communicators (writers, editors, graphic artists, Web masters, documentation specialists, trainers, consultants, and others). For more information about the international society and how to join, visit http://www.stc.org. For information about the Chicago chapter STC, visit http://www.stc-chicago.org. Where can I get more information? If you have more questions, please contact Phil Eubanks,
Associate Professor, at (eubanks1@niu.edu). |