Technical Communication and Media Production

Studies in the Technical Communication and Media Production Department blend the knowledge of communication practices and technology.

Bachelor of Arts

Journalism Major, B.A.

The journalism program prepares students for careers in traditional and convergent media. A solid education is offered in the basics of journalism with Bachelor of Arts degrees earned in the emphases of News & Editorial, Photojournalism, Magazines, and Public Relations. Students may also choose from three Journalism Minors. Additionally, the Journalism program offers a B.A. degree in Convergent Journalism in collaboration with the Center for Individualized Learning.

The Journalism program offers a major with four concentrations—magazines, news/editorial, photojournalism and public relations—and minors in news/editorial, photojournalism and public relations. Proficiency in standard written English is a prerequisite for all journalism courses. Students are required to complete ENG 1010 before taking any journalism courses beyond JRN 1010.

Students should select an advisor early in their course of study. Students may not select both a major and minor from the Journalism program. The Journalism program will provide students with a list of suggested General Studies courses to help them gain a broad base of knowledge necessary for working in news and information media.

To make journalism graduates more marketable in our multicultural society, journalism majors are required to take four semesters of one foreign language or prove their proficiency in a language other than English.

The journalism faculty are academic and working professionals who offer a real-world education in the tenets of journalism; accuracy, truth, fairness, acting independently and minimizing harm. Instructors also teach rigorous courses of First Amendment case studies and ethical issues that prepare students for careers in both print and electronic newsrooms and public relations firms.

Scholarships are offered to students in the MSU Denver Journalism program.

All journalism degree emphases prepare our students for traditional and convergent publishing. Many of our graduates are working professionals at local, national and international media companies. All journalism majors, with the exception of Convergent Journalism, require a minor.

The Photojournalism emphasis incorporates still images, sound capture, digital video capture and editing, voice-over narration and documentary film production published in both traditional print and convergent, multi-platform dissemination. Graduates with degrees in Photojournalism are experts in the many publication modes of convergent journalism.

The Magazine emphasis provides students with critical skills to excel in magazine editorial and design departments, copy editing, publishing, and online multiplatform dissemination of magazine content.

The News and Editorial emphasis offers graduates a selection of varied career options. Many become reporters, copy editors, page designers, sports reporters and editors.

The Public Relations emphasis prepares graduates for jobs in corporate and non-profit public relations, event coordination and media communications positions. This major was created using courses from a variety of disciplines ensuring our public relations graduates are well versed in all areas of media.

The Convergent Journalism emphasis incorporates much of the curriculum offered in the Photojournalism, Magazine and News & Editorial degrees. In addition to the required courses, students select courses from Technical Communications and Broadcast Journalism. This 72-hour major is on the cutting-edge of 21st century journalism publishing. A degree in Convergent Journalism prepares graduates for jobs in print, electronic, broadcast, radio, television and online publishing. This degree does not require a minor.

Bachelor of Science

Course work in technical communication develops essential skills for working professionals in the technical, scientific, medical, media production, or corporate communications fields.

The course work focuses on the development of reader-centered, content-driven information products produced in various areas of concentration including corporate communications, media and interactive media production, or technical writing and editing.

Technical Communication Major, B.S.

The Department of Technical Communication and Media Production also offers a B.S. degree in Technical Communication with five concentrations, a technical communication minor, and three certificate programs. In addition, the department offers a Digital Media minor in conjunction with the Department of Art and the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences and an organizational development and training minor in conjunction with the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences. The five concentrations in the major are:

Corporate Communications and Training
Interactive Media Production
Technical Writing and Editing
Video Production
Extended Major in Technical Communication

Each individual concentration teaches theory, concepts, and practical applications that can be employed in various areas of business, industry, government, and the media production field. With the exception of the extended major option, all students must complete a minor.

Upon completion of a degree program in Technical Communication, students should be able to:

Communicate knowledge of the field both orally and in writing
Relate technical communication principles from their selected areas of concentration
Apply theory and principles in a practical manner to their areas of concentration
Conduct research, synthesize technical information and write in the appropriate format of their concentration
Present technical information in a media or interactive media format suitable to their areas of concentration
Produce or oversee the production of technical information in a video or interactive media format suitable to their area of concentration

Computer Skill Requirement

Computer skills are required of all students majoring, minoring, or enrolled in a certificate program in the department. Students can meet this requirement by:

Providing documentary evidence at the time they see their department advisor of previous satisfactory completion of an academic or industrial training course in computer literacy and document processing

-Or-

Successful completion with a grade of “C” or better of an approved MSU Denver course in CIS or CSS in the semester following the declaration of their major, minor, or enrolling in a certificate program. The department advisor will work with the student to select the most appropriate course for the student’s academic needs.

Extended Majors

To complete either of the extended major options, the student must fulfill all the requirements specified in one of the technical communication concentrations. In addition, the student must fulfill all of MSU Denver’s General Studies and Multicultural requirements. Students enrolled in the extended major are NOT required to complete a minor.

A student completing a community college degree may enroll for an extended major, option 1 within the department if the student fulfills all of the following conditions:

The curriculum for the associates degree to be used is accepted by the department;

and

A 2+2 agreement is in place between the community college granting the degree and the Technical Communication and Media Production Department.

Students may enroll in the Technical Communication extended major, option 2. Students must successfully complete 36 credit hours of required COM courses, 15 credit hours in one of four concentrations and the necessary number of elective courses. No minor is required of students who choose the extended major, option 2.

Digital Media Minor

Digital Media Minor

The Digital Media minor includes courses from the departments of Art, Communication Arts and Sciences, and Technical Communication and Media Production. This minor consists of 24 credits, six of which must be upper division. This minor is designed to provide skills that will increase employment opportunities in the field of digital media communication.

Journalism Minors

Minors in Journalism include Photojournalism, News & Editorial and Public Relations. Students majoring in Journalism may not minor in Photojournalism, News & Editorial or Public Relations.

Technical Communication Minor

Technical Communication Minor

The Technical Communication minor is designed to provide additional skills that will increase employability for the student majoring in a scientific or technological discipline. In addition to the required core courses, the student selects live courses that may be in one of the specialized areas or may be divided among the areas offered by the department to provide an overview of the discipline.

Training and Organizational Development Minor

Training and Organizational Development Minor

The Training and Organizational Development minor includes courses from the departments of Teacher Education, Communication Arts and Sciences, and Technical Communication and Media Production. This minor consists of 24 credits, six of which must be upper division. This minor is designed to provide skills that will increase employment opportunities in the field of training and organizational development communication.

Technical Communication Certificate

Technical Writing and Editing Certificate

The Department of Technical Communication and Media Production also offers a certificate program that enables students to enhance their preexisting professional training and experience in order to expand employment opportunities and advancement.

Students enrolling in one of the major concentrations, one of the minors, or a certificate program must confer with a department advisor.