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2021-2022 General Catalog 
    
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English: Technical Communication and Rhetoric Emphasis - BA, BS


College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of English

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For more information about English, Technical Communication and Rhetoric Emphasis, see the Department of English website.

Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.

Admitted students must meet with an academic advisor. Current students should also meet with an academic advisor and log on to Degree Works  to check student-specific program progress.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits 120

 

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better 100 Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above) 40
Total USU Credits 30 Upper-division USU Credits 20
USU Credits within the Major 10 Credits in Minor (if required) 12
Credits in Major see below Credits in American Institutions 3
General Education Requirements    see link University Studies Depth Requirements    see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is Quantitative Literacy (QL)  of the student’s choice.

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program

New freshmen Admitted to USU in Good Standing

 

Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU 2.5 GPA

First Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)   3     ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)   3    
Breadth Requirement    3   ENGL 2600: Literary Analysis   3    
Breadth Requirement    3   Breadth Requirement    3  
* Any Quantitative Literacy (QL) course, but STAT 1040: Introduction to Statistics (QL)  or STAT 1045: Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra (QL)  is recommended 3  or 5     Breadth Requirement    3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15-17   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  
Comments
Comments

Second Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

ENGL 3400: Writing for the Workplace (CI)   3     ENGL 1410: Elements of Grammar   3    
ENGL Culture Exploration Course 3   ENGL 3410: Digital Writing Technologies   3    
Breadth Requirement    3   Quantitative Intensive (QI) Course    3  
Breadth Requirement    3   Breadth Requirement    3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  
Comments
Comments

Third Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

ENGL 3460: Rhetorical Theory   3     ENGL 3450: Workplace Research   3    
ENGL Communication and Diversity Course 3   Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC) Course  3  
ENGL TCR Major Upper-Division Course 3   ENGL TCR Major Upper-Division Course 3  
Depth Social Sciences (DSS) Course    3   ENGL TCR Major Upper-Division Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  
Comments
Comments

Fourth Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

ENGL 5430: Technical Communication Capstone (CI)   3    

ENGL Internship Course or ENGL Upper-Division Elective Course*

3  
ENGL TCR Major Upper-Division Course 3   ENGL TCR Major Upper-Division Course 3  
Elective Course  3   Elective Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  
Comments

 

Comments

*Internship (ENGL 4900 ) strongly recommended.

Technical Communication and Rhetoric Emphasis


Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.5 within all English courses (other than ENGL 1010 , ENGL 2010 , CLEP, AP, etc.); 2.5 USU cumulative (including courses taken for another USU major); 2.5 career total (including transfer credits) for new transfer students

Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.75 within major courses; 2.0 USU cumulative; 2.0 career total

Minimum Grade Accepted: C in courses taught by major, B- in ENGL 1410 , ENGL 3400 , and ENGL 3410  (up to 3 credits with pass/fail grades allowed for internship)

Number of Required Credits: 45

Credits in Residence: Students must complete 21 credits of major-applicable coursework at Utah State University.

This emphasis prepares students for career opportunities in various writing-related careers in professional organizations. The emphasis consists of: (1) a theoretical foundation in rhetoric and linguistics, enabling students to assess writing situations and meet the rhetorical exigencies they will face in the workplace; and (2) writing practice in a variety of contexts with a range of technological tools, preparing them to design, write, and edit professional documents.

Students begin their studies by completing two introductory professional writing courses familiarizing students with professional writing and the current technologies used in all levels of text production. These courses, ENGL 3400  and ENGL 3410 , are prerequisites for the rest of the major and must be passed with a grade of B- or better for students to continue in the program. In addition, students will take two courses addressing rhetorical issues and research methods in professional communication, as well as one course in linguistics.

Students then take five major courses, including professional editing, document design and graphics, digital and social media production, technology and activism, and project management. Students may also take courses focusing on more specific forms of writing, such as proposals, websites, and marketing materials. The department encourages and can help procure internships, which provide students with an opportunity to learn through hands-on experiences in a variety of organizations. Students complete the program by taking a capstone course, in which they design and construct portfolios, explore professional opportunities, and prepare to begin their careers. For more information, visit the Technical Communication and Rhetoric website at techcomm.usu.edu/.

A. English Department Requirements


Students should take note of the superscripts to find emphasis-specific requirements. 

Literature Exploration (3 credits)


Writing Exploration (3 credits)


Diversity Requirement


All English majors are required to take one course that examines the experiences, perspectives, literatures, cultures, and/or creative expressions of underrepresented and/or marginalized communities. For this requirement, the USU English department includes communities who have been underrepresented or marginalized due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability and/or the intersections of these identities in conjunction with one another and with class. If a course listed under the Diversity Requirement appears under another requirement for the major, the course may be used to fulfill both requirements.

Emphasis Requirements


B. Grammar Requirement (3 credits)


Students must earn a “B-” or better in ENGL 1410 .

C. Introductory Technical Communication Courses (6 credits)


A grade of B- or better is required for the following courses:

D. Theoretical Foundation Courses (6 credits)


E. Communication and Diversity (3 credits)


Select one of the following courses:

F. TCR Major Courses (15 credits)


Select five from the following courses. ENGL 5400 , ENGL 5410 , ENGL 5420  and ENGL 5490  are repeatable for credit. Prerequisites are admittance to emphasis and completion of ENGL 3400  and ENGL 3410  with grades of B- or better.

H. Internship/English Elective (3 credits)


If you have taken a professional and technical writing course to fulfill your Exploratory Requirement, then take at least 3 credits of ENGL 4900: Internship/Cooperative Work Experience  (recommended option) OR select one English elective course numbered 3000 or higher (includes courses in creative writing, technical communication and rhetoric, literature, linguistics, folklore, and American studies).