The thesis option requires 36 hours of coursework: 24 hours of courses in technical communication (up to 6 hours of these courses may be in a minor), 6 hours of research methods courses, and 6 hours for your thesis.
The thesis option requires the same number of hours for graduation as the nonthesis option. It emphasizes research whereas the nonthesis option emphasizes breadth of coursework. Students who plan to pursue a PhD may choose the thesis option to prepare for dissertation research. Students who expect some research responsibilities as technical communicators in industry may also choose this option. You may write a research or applied thesis.
Thesis option students will complete courses in the following five categories, for a total of 12 courses or 36 hours. Students will complete 10 courses from categories A, B, C, and D, plus six thesis hours.
| Category A: Application
At least 4 of these 7 courses |
ENGL 5371 Foundations of Technical Communication ENGL 5372 Technical Reports ENGL 5373 Technical Manuals ENGL 5374 Technical Editing ENGL 5375 Document Design ENGL 5376 Online Publishing ENGL 5387 Publications Management ENGL 5377 Theoretical Approaches to Technical Communication (when the topic emphasizes application) |
| Category B: Research Methods
At least 2 of these courses so that courses from A and B total a minimum of 6 |
ENGL 5363
Research Methods ENGL 5388 Usability Testing ENGL 5389 Field Methods of Research ENGL 5377 Theoretical Approaches to Technical Communication (when the topic emphasizes research methods) |
| Category C: Tailoring your Degree Program
Courses to total 9 courses when added to the selections from categories A and B. Options include: |
ENGL 5369
Discourse and Technology ENGL 5377 Theoretical Approaches to Technical Communication (when the topic is theoretical) ENGL 5378 Internship ENGL 5384 Rhetoric of Scientific Communication ENGL 5385 Ethics in Technical Communication ENGL 5386 Written Discourse and Social Issues Additional courses from categories A and B or new technical communication courses that may be introduced and approved in the future Other language and communication- related courses that the department may offer by distance in the future (for example, ENGL 5363, Research Methods, ENGL 5364, History of Rhetoric, or ENGL 5365, Studies in Composition) Communication courses that other departments may offer by distance in the future Courses in fields closely related to technical communication such a management, human factors, educational technology, or psychology. |
| Category D: Required Course Writing for publication, ENGL 5390 |
After completing at least 24 hours from the organized courses listed above, students will enroll in ENGL 5390. The paper from this course should be suitable for publication in a journal such as Technical Communication. |
| Thesis Hours | Students will take 6 hours of ENGL 6000, Master’s Thesis. These hours may be spread over two semesters or taken together in the student’s final semester. |
Students electing the thesis option may choose to substitute a minor for two technical communication electives. The minor consists of two courses (6 hours) in a field other than technical communication. The minor should enhance your ability to understand and apply research related to communication or to complete job responsibilities. The minor is optional—not required. Students who do not choose a minor take two additional communication-related courses.
The choice of minor must be approved by the thesis committee chair and the Director of Graduate Studies in Technical Communication. The minor department must also approve the minor. The minor department establishes its own policies regarding what courses constitute a minor and examinations in the minor field.
The master's thesis represents independent work by the student done under the supervision of his or her thesis committee. Students may write a research thesis or applied thesis.
Research thesis. A research thesis reports on the investigation of a problem in technical communication and provides new information that leads to greater understanding of or solution to the problem.
Applied thesis. An applied thesis is a substantial document of a genre that a technical communicator would write, such as a user manual, proposal, or a hypertext tutorial. This thesis must be accompanied by an analysis of research related to the development of this type of document and its application to choices made for the thesis document.
Examples:
Jamie West (MATC 1995) wrote the online help for Dell portable computers. Her analysis was a literature review regarding the organization, screen layout, navigation strategies, style, and use of color for online help.Courtney Johnson (MATC 1997) developed a healthcare consumer information website. Her research included a literature review on consumer healthcare communication and website design as well as a usability test of the site.
Submit the final draft of the thesis to the committee at least 14 days before the oral examination. In addition to the three copies required by the Graduate School, submit a bound copy to the committee chair.
For information on preparing the thesis, consult the Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Reports, Theses, and Dissertations, available in the University bookstore. The instructions are also available on the Web.
The oral examination for thesis students is administered by the thesis committee plus a third graduate faculty member. At least one of the three members must be qualified to examine the student in the minor if the student has a minor. The oral examination will focus on thesis research, but questions may address other issues in technical communication as reflected in the content of the five required courses. The oral examination must be completed at least 21 days before commencement, according to the Graduate School’s schedule.
Last Updated by Joyce Locke Carter, April 21, 2008