Program Overview

PhD in Technical Communication & Rhetoric

The PhD in Technical Communication & Rhetoric is a broad field that encompasses various forms of communication. Technical communication (TC) includes any form of communication that exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:

• Communicating about technical or specialized topics, such as computer applications, medical procedures, or environmental regulations
• Communicating by using technology, such as web pages, help files, or social media sites
• Providing instructions about how to do something, regardless of how technical the task is or even if technology is used to create or distribute that communication

Value of Technical Communicators

The value that technical communicators deliver is twofold:

• They make information more useable and accessible to those who need that information
• In doing so, they advance the goals of the companies or organizations that employ them

Common Approach

What all technical communicators have in common is a user-centered approach to providing the right information, in the right way, at the right time to make someone's life easier and more productive.

Career Paths

Technical communicators are valuable in many different fields, including:

• Tech companies
• Corporations
• Small and large businesses
• Healthcare
• More

Job Opportunities

The following is a partial list of the different jobs available with an education in technical communication:

• Technical Writers & Editors
• Social Media Managers
• Web Designers & Developers
• Legal and Corporate Writing Consultants
• Trainers and E-Learning Developers
• Usability Researcher
• Proposal and Grant Writers
• Content Strategist
• Instructional Designers
• Technical Illustrators
• Globalization & Localization Specialists
• Visual Designers
• Teachers