Master of Technical Communication Degree Requirements

As part of the 33 credits required to graduate, two or three online classes are offered each fall and spring semester. Occasionally, classes may be offered in the summer.

The curriculum has been designed to allow students to complete all requirements within a three-year period, although students may take longer if they choose. The School of Graduate Studies requires students to complete their degrees in no more than six years. Extensions of this deadline are sometimes allowed, but classes expire after EIGHT years and will no longer count toward the degree.

Students should complete the three core requirements (course, course, and course) at their first opportunity after entering the program.

Students need to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing. If the GPA falls below a 3.0, the School of Graduate Studies will take action, which could include a letter of warning, probation, or even dismissal from the program. Any grade below a B- will not count toward the degree.

The Program of Study for the MTC degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above. Refer to degree requirements above for more information. To count toward degree requirements, courses numbered below 6000 must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Program Chair for Technical Communication and Rhetoric.

Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 5000. No more than 12 credits of 5000 level courses are accepted.

A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.

Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated by the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

At least 21-semester credits for the MTC degree must be from Utah State University, approved by a program committee and the School of Graduate Studies through the Program of Study form.

Students in the master’s program who are able to come to the Logan campus may be able to include some in-person classes in their programs of study. As an undergraduate or concurrent student, you can apply up to 12 credits of coursework to a future graduate degree if they are 5000 level or above. Courses can only be applied to one degree. Consult with the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Chen Chen at chen.chen@usu.edu, if interested.

Professional/Plan C students cannot use any thesis/dissertation credits.

A Technical Communication master’s student will be required to complete the following academic forms during their time of study:

Program of Study
Other forms may be required; for details refer to the Graduate Student Handbook.

Curriculum

Students take all three core requirement classes and 24 additional credits for a total of 33 credit hours. All classes below are offered for 3 credits each, making a total of 11 courses. At minimum, 7 of these 11 courses must be Master of Technical Communication courses. Courses are not repeatable for credit unless otherwise indicated below.

Master of Technical Communication - MTC

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Program Overview

Program Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes