Technical Communication Certificate

Technical communication is an excellent career for good writers who love to help others understand complex information. They draw on their skills in writing and information design to translate complex scientific or technical information into content that a specific audience will easily understand. Technical communicators work in every field, from accounting to pharmaceuticals to telecommunications and create a wide variety of documents and scripts, including environmental impact statements, financial reports, training materials, user guides and more. Demand is greatest for communicators who have degrees in science or engineering, but there are opportunities for those with a background in communications, journalism, English, visual media, and other fields. UC San Diego Extension’s Professional Certificate in Technical Communication will prepare you for an entry-level position by providing you with the most up-to-date knowledge. The program is designed and taught by technical communication professionals working in the field and can be completed entirely online. For detailed information, please enroll in the Writing Program Online Information Session. The program can be completed online in 18-24 months. Tuition is $295-$495 per course. The courses are asynchronous but not self-paced; you will be required to keep up with weekly assignments. The average student spends three hours online and six hours offline each week. Please preview our e-learning system at http://ucsdextension.blackboard.com.

Stay Informed

Receive emails about upcoming Humanities and Writing courses, events, and special programs.

Tools

Email This Page

Print This Page

Request Information

Certificate Course Matrix
Course Title	Course Number	Units	FA	WI	SP	SU
Information Session (Learn more about the program in a free, online information session.)
Writing Program Information Session: Copyediting and Technical Communication	INFO-80015	0	O	O	O	O
Required Courses (All 14 units required)
Technical Communication I	WCWP-40151	3	O		O
Copyediting I for Technical Communicators	WCWP-40243	3		O	O	O
Critical Thinking for Communicators	WCWP-40265	3		O
Information Design for Technical Communicators	WCWP-40150	2				O
Technical Communication II	WCWP-40154	3	O
Electives (7 units required)
Presentation Skills for Technical Communicators	WCWP-40157	2				L
Tools for Technical Communicators	WCWP-40266	3				O
Web Publishing I	CSE-40116	3	X	X	X	X
Writing Online Documentation	WCWP-40158	3			O
Project Management for Technical Communicators	BUSA-40667	2		O
Applied Design for Technical Communicators	WCWP-40264	2	O
Photoshop I	ART-40311	3	S	S	S	S
Recommended Courses
Dreamweaver I	ART-4B325	2.5	L	L	L	L
L=La Jolla M=Mission Valley O=Online R=Rancho Bernardo S=Sorrento Mesa X=Location TBA

Certificate Programs

To Register in the Certificate Program

Certificate registration is required to complete the program. Candidates are encouraged to register in the certificate program as early as possible to take advantage of program benefits. See Certificate FAQs for more information.

Certificate Section ID:	073930	Register Now!
Application Fee:	$50
Contact:	Arts, Humanities & Languages, (858) 964-1051
E-mail:	ahl@ucsd.edu

Conditions for Admission

You must have native-level fluency with English and must write clear, logical, and grammatically correct sentences. You will need a computer, a high-speed connection, MS Word, PowerPoint, and proficiency with all of the above. If you are an undergraduate at UCSD, you may be eligible for the LAUNCH program; please visit http://extension.ucsd.edu/Programs/launch.

Certificate Guidelines

The program consists of 20 quarter units in Writing and other disciplines related to technical communications. It can be completed in eight academic quarters. You must earn a Pass (C-) or better grade in each course. Extension courses in science, computing, and engineering may be applied toward electives with department approval.

Advisors

Kathleen Balgley
Associate Director of Writing
Sixth College, UCSD

Lynne Friedmann, APR
Consultant
Friedmann Communications

Bonni Graham
President/CEO
Manual Labour Documentation Services

Suzanne Hosie
President/CEO
Write on the Edge Technical Communications

Steven Margolin
Owner
Margolin Communications

Barbara Newton-Holmes
President
Adept Writing Services

Al Rubottom
Technical Publications Manager
Tyco Video Systems Division

David Sumner-Smith
Technical Writer
Gen-Probe

Michelle Wier
Director of Operations
Technical Standards, Inc

Home | Contact | | |