Learn how to make complex information accessible
- Develop essential communication skills for professional contexts
- Gain knowledge in grant writing, project management, graphic design, usability and digital accessibility
- Learn from leading UD faculty experts in technical and professional writing
- Balance theory and practice with courses designed to meet real-world communication challenges
- Complete three stackable courses at your own pace
- LEARN MORE — View recorded info presentation with the instructor
The noncredit Technical and Professional Writing Certificate program is a collaboration between UD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS) and Department of English. It equips professionals with essential communication skills to tackle complex challenges, covering topics such as grant writing, project management, graphic design, usability and digital accessibility. The program consists of three stackable courses, each developed and facilitated by leading UD faculty experts, offering digital badges upon completion and culminating in a digital certificate of completion.
Designed for engineers, scientists, healthcare professionals, business managers and anyone else who needs to produce high-quality written content, program participants are taught how to structure and present information accessibly to diverse audiences. This skill is crucial in today’s information-rich environment, especially for roles that require translating technical jargon into understandable language for stakeholders, clients or the general public.
Key features of this flexible and efficient stackable credential program include:
- Modular learning: Start with a short-term course and progressively add more modules.
- Flexibility: Courses can be started at any time and taken at your own pace, fitting around your schedule.
- Cost-effective: Achieve incremental goals without committing to a full certificate program upfront by stacking credentials.
- Career advancement: Enhance your skills and qualifications, making you more competitive in the job market.
The program emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, with coursework that generates work samples students may choose to curate into a professional portfolio after completing the program. This course is invaluable for those looking to transition into technical writing roles or boost their current job performance.
REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE
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PROGRAM DETAILS
Who should participate in this program?
Any professional looking to enhance their technical writing skills to effectively communicate with diverse audiences across a variety of platforms.
Instructors
Cathryn Molloy, professor of writing studies, University of Delaware, specializes in the rhetoric of health and medicine, mental health rhetoric, feminist methodologies and disability studies. Before joining UD’s Department of English in 2023, she spent 11 years at James Madison University as a faculty member and associate director of the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. Molloy co-edits the Rhetoric of Health and Medicine journal and is a co-author of several books, including Strategic Interventions in Mental Health Rhetoric and Women’s Health Advocacy. She is also the author of Rhetorical Ethos in Health and Medicine and co-author of the forthcoming Patients Making Meaning.
Sean Zdenek, associate professor of technical and professional writing, University of Delaware, specializes in web accessibility, disability studies, sound studies, and rhetorical theory and criticism. Before joining UD in 2017, he spent 14 years at Texas Tech University, teaching a wide range of courses. His book, Reading Sounds: Closed-Captioned Media and Popular Culture, won the 2017 best book award in technical or scientific communication from the Conference on College Composition and Communication (4Cs).
Meg McGuire, associate professor of English, University of Delaware, teaches courses in technical and professional communication, including business and technical writing, document design, environmental rhetoric and digital writing. Her research focuses on student experiences and digital communication. She has contributed to Engaging 21st Century Writers with Social Media on using Tumblr in the classroom and collaborated on feminist mentorship for Surviving Sexism in the Academy.
Jessica Edwards, associate professor of English, University of Delaware, has developed and taught courses in technical and professional communication, composition studies, and African American literature. Her research explores the intersections of social justice and storytelling in writing classrooms. A former faculty scholar at UD’s Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, her work has been published in Computers and Composition Online, Technical Communication Quarterly and several edited collections. Edwards also served as a consultant editor for Black in America: A Broadview Topics Reader (2018).
Keerthi Potluri, associate professor of environmental humanities and professional writing, University of Delaware, specializes in urban studies and social and political thought, focusing on the construction of cities, memorials and public spaces in North America. Her research includes urban parks, waterways and the design of public spaces like the World Trade Center Memorial Plaza. She has held research positions at NYU and the University of Pennsylvania and developed communications strategies for the American Civil Liberties Union and Central Park Conservancy. Potluri earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in rhetoric from UC Berkeley.
Program of study
This certificate program consists of three courses:
Foundations of Technical and Professional Writing
Learner Outcomes
After completing this course, students will:
- Display sociocultural competence in technical and professional writing.
- Create accessible documents/documentation projects.
- Employ usability and user experience concepts.
- Conduct small-scale, applied, workplace-based research in writing and communication.
- Navigate developments in generative AI in the context of technical and professional writing.
Course outline
Module 1 - Introduction to Technical Writing
This module introduces students to technical and professional communication (TPC) as both a field of study and a set of practices. Students will learn to perform writing tasks with sociocultural competence, understanding the social justice turn in TPC. This foundational module sets the stage for the rest of the course, helping students grasp the importance of ethical and inclusive communication.
Module 2 - Accessibility and Document Design
In this module, students will learn to design technical and professional documents that adhere to basic design principles and promote broad participation. Using disability studies frameworks, students will understand why various disabilities and neurodivergences must be considered when producing documents. Practical strategies for creating accessible documents will be covered, ensuring inclusivity in all forms of communication.
Module 3 - Usability and User Experience
This module explores the relationship between technical communication, usability and user experience (UX) research. Students will learn the logic behind examining usability and user experiences with technical documents. Methodologies and methods to measure and ensure usability, aiming for a seamless user experience in professional communication, are covered.
Module 4 - Small-Scale, Applied, Workplace-Based Writing and Communication Research
Students will tackle writing and communication issues in workplace settings using empirical research methods related to TPC. This module encourages identifying and analyzing workplace problems and generating innovative solutions based on original data. The focus is on practical application and systematic problem-solving in professional environments.
Module 5 - Writing with/and AI
This module guides students using emerging AI tools in producing technical and professional communications. Emphasizing ethics, accuracy and appropriateness, students will learn to use AI tools judiciously. The module highlights the limitations of AI, stressing the importance of considering audience, purpose, aim and context in all communications.
Module 6 - Culminating Assessment
This final module reviews the major points covered in the previous modules and includes a cumulative final exam. It ensures that students have a comprehensive understanding of the course material and are prepared to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Document Design and Data Visualization
Learner Outcomes
After completing this course, students will:
- Demonstrate mastery of key design concepts and methodologies relevant to digital texts and objects, including principles of accessibility, usability, design theory and interface and content design.
- Use best practices in data visualization, including demonstrating the ability to select appropriate visualization methods and apply them in various contexts to enhance data comprehension.
- Develop skills in collaborative and open-source production spaces and their capacity to foster creativity, innovation and community engagement.
Course outline
Module 1 - Introduction to Document Design
This module provides an overview of best practices and basic approaches to document design. Students will learn to consider audiences, purposes, occasions and genres when creating documents. The focus will be on understanding how to effectively structure and present information to meet the needs of diverse audiences.
Module 2 - Usability and Accessibility in Document Design
In this module, students will be introduced to usability and usability testing methodologies. They will also learn about accessibility and best practices for designing accessible documents across various genres and modes. The aim is to ensure that documents are user-friendly and inclusive, accommodating a wide range of needs and abilities.
Module 3 - Data Visualization Best Practices
This module offers a critical exploration of data visualization, covering best practices and techniques. Students will practice working with datasets to create effective visualizations, considering audience, aim and ethics. The goal is to develop skills in presenting data clearly and accurately, making complex information accessible and understandable.
Module 4 - Introduction to Collaborative and Open Source Production Spaces
Students will explore collaborative and open source production spaces, learning through examples and hands-on practice. This module emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration in producing high-quality documents. Students will gain experience working in environments that foster shared knowledge and collective problem-solving.
Module 5 - Culminating Assessment
The final module reviews the major points covered in the previous modules and includes a cumulative assessment. This ensures that students have a comprehensive understanding of document design, usability, accessibility, data visualization and collaborative production. The assessment will test their ability to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios.
Advanced Topics in Technical Writing
Learner Outcomes
After completing this course, students will:
- Critically analyze and interpret scientific and technical information.
- Effectively communicate scientific knowledges for diverse publics.
- Craft compelling proposals and grants targeting both industry and government funding sources.
- Critically evaluate the quality of proposals, identifying strengths and weaknesses in terms of clarity, coherence feasibility and alignment with funding agency requirements.
Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Science Writing
This module provides an overview of best practices in science writing. Students will examine examples of science writing across various genres and modes, learning how to effectively communicate scientific information. The focus will be on understanding the principles that make science writing clear, accurate and engaging.
Module 2: Communicating Science to Diverse Publics
In this module, students will explore techniques for communicating complex scientific texts to lay audiences. They will practice reading complex scientific texts and adapting them for specific audiences and purposes outside of specialists’ agendas. The goal is to make scientific information accessible and understandable to a broader public.
Module 3: Introduction to Proposal Writing
This module introduces students to proposal writing as a genre. It focuses on the audience, purpose and aim of proposal writing, teaching students how to craft compelling proposals. The emphasis will be on understanding the key components that make proposals effective and persuasive.
Module 4: Basic Approaches to and Major Components of Grant Writing
Students will learn the basics of grant writing and explore grants as types of proposals. This module includes an examination of winning grant applications and case studies of various funding agencies. Key considerations for determining appropriate grant funding for specific purposes will also be covered, providing practical insights into the grant writing process.
Module 5: Culminating Assessment
The final module reviews the major points covered in the previous modules and includes a cumulative assessment. This ensures that students have a comprehensive understanding of science writing, communicating to diverse publics, proposal writing and grant writing. The assessment will test their ability to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios.
Learner outcomes
Upon completion of this certificate program, participants will:
- Demonstrate awareness of best practices as they are articulated in the field of technical and professional communication.
- Compose usable and accessible texts across contexts and modes.
- Create competently designed documents and data visualizations.
- Use empirical research to develop innovative solutions to writing and communications-related challenges in the workplace.
Grading policy
All submitted assignments will be reviewed by the course instructor. Each assignment will receive individualized feedback along with a grade of Complete or Incomplete, based on whether the required criteria have been met.
- Complete indicates that the assignment fulfills the learning objectives and submission requirements as outlined in the course.
- Incomplete indicates that the assignment does not yet meet the required standards. In such cases, students may be asked to revise and resubmit their work in order to receive credit.
Students who complete all three courses will receive the Technical and Professional Writing Certificate of completion.
Technology requirements
A laptop or desktop computer (PC or Mac) is required to participate in this class.
Prerequisites
While there are no academic prerequisites for entry into the program, successful completion of Foundations of Technical and Professional Writing is required prior to enrolling in Document Design and Data Visualization or Advanced Topics in Technical Writing.
