Technical Writing, Certificate of Achievement

Program Overview

The Technical Writing Certificate program at Santa Barbara City College equips students with the skills to create clear and user-friendly technical documents. Through courses in technical writing, usability, and graphic design, students gain the knowledge and abilities necessary for entry-level positions as technical writers in the field of information technology. The program prepares students for employment in various organizations and IT service organizations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Technical Writing Certificate program at Santa Barbara City College is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level positions as technical writers in the field of information technology. The program emphasizes the principles of usability and effective technical writing to ensure that students can create clear, concise, and user-friendly documents.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this certificate program, students will be able to:

• Inspect the role of information systems within an organization to gain a foundation in information technology terminology and concepts.
• Analyze and evaluate the principles of usability and usability testing to determine their significance in technical documentation.
• Use correct grammar and effective professional writing style to compose common technical documents that reflect the principles of usability.
• Apply design and page layout guidelines to create documents that enhance usability.

Program Description:

This certificate program is a stackable certificate that prepares students for entry-level positions as technical writers in the field of information technology. Students who complete this program will be able to obtain positions in any organization or in IT service organizations.

Outline:

Course List:

| Code | Title | Units | |---|---|---| | CIS 101 | Introduction to Computers and Information Systems | 4 | | CIS/ENG 181 | Technical and Professional Writing | 3 | | CIS 245 | IT Project Management | 4 | | COMP 171 | Business English | 3 | | GDP 111 | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |

Careers:

Potential Career Paths:

• Technical Writer
• Documentation Specialist
• Information Developer

Opportunities and Outcomes:

• Employment in organizations of all types
• Employment in IT service organizations