This 7-course program teaches fundamental technical communication skills. Designed and taught by practicing Technical Communication professionals, the program allows you to apply your knowledge to a final capstone project and to earn a certificate of completion.
Intro to Tech Comm, Greg Eller
A one-day overview of careers in Technical Communications. Guest speakers will discuss various areas of the Tech Communication profession. Students will also have the opportunity to meet other fellow participants that they will be spending the next 8-months with. An overview of the certificate will be discussed, as well as expectations and requirements for completion.
Essential Skills Course, Susan Dakin
In this review of advanced writing and editing skills essential for all technical communicators, you will practice recognizing and solving the most common problems in technical writing, illustrated in sentences drawn from real-world technical and business documents.
Technical Writing Workshop, Jim Sheedy
Working individually or on small teams, students contribute to class projects that are derived from their own interests and those of classmates. Students will work on projects at home and critique the projects during our weekly sessions. Students will learn how to sift through the details of their research to find the content that meets their reader's needs and their own writing objectives.
Information Architecture, Ann-Marie Grissino
This hands-on class provides strategies for analyzing, categorizing, and "chunking" information - the cutting edge of information structuring.
Managing the Information Development Process, Larry Kunz
Learn and put into practice, the best ways to plan, schedule, budget, track, and report status for your projects from a one-person project to a large team effort. Students will learn the process for developing technical documentation, from initial planning to final distribution. New trends will be discussed that are changing the process.
Tools Overview, Instructor TBD
This course will provide an overview of the most commonly used technical communication tools and how to select the best tools for a successful project.
Final Project Capstone Course, Ann-Marie Grissino
Taking all the skills learned throughout the certificate, students will complete a final written project that will be reviewed by a small panel of instructors.
Requirements for Admission
- Minimum of Associates degree (2 yr) recommended
- “Statement of interest” in program submitted via email to whitney.murphy@duke.edu
- Please note that this statement can be submitted after registering for the course and does not determine entry into program
- Registration and initial payment of $1200 received prior to program start date
- Fluency in English including reading and writing required
- Computer literacy and adaptability
- Access to a computer during the program
- Valid email account
Requirements to Earn the Certificate
- Maximum of 4 absences
- Completion of all assignments within established timeframes
- Final written capstone project submitted for review within established timeline
- Program status deemed “complete” upon final project approval by panel of industry professionals
- Tuition paid in full by December 1
