ERIC Number: ED227499
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1982-Nov-11
Pages: 50
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Technical Writing in Academe and in Industry: A Study Undertaken Preliminary to the Proposal of a Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Technical Communications to be Offered by the Humanities Department, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Sanders, Scott Patrick
The results of a survey of technical writing and editing, as they are taught in academe and practiced in industry, are presented in this report. The introduction explains that the survey was conducted by the humanities department of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, as the principal research preliminary to the proposal of a curriculum for a new Bachelor of Science degree in technical communications. Next, the proposed curriculum is compared with three other undergraduate degree programs in technical communications in the Rocky Mountain region and with the founding degree program at Carnegie-Mellon University. The report then discusses the current professional status of technical writing and editing through descriptive profiles of technical writing and technical writers in four different industrial settings that represent strong employment opportunities in the field. The final section of the report presents the results of a questionnaire that was designed to gather information in four areas: (1) the hiring practices of companies; (2) the desired background and preparation of technical writers and editors; (3) the on-the-job responsibilities of technical writers and editors; and (4) the employers' likely response to job applicants who hold degrees in technical communications. Finally, the report suggests that the new degree program in the humanities department will strengthen the department's traditional service role in the technological community. (Author/HOD)
Descriptors: Bachelors Degrees, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Research, Degree Requirements, Editing, Education Work Relationship, Employment Opportunities, Employment Potential, Employment Qualifications, Higher Education, Job Skills, Job Training, Occupational Surveys, Questionnaires, Technical Writing, Writing Skills
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A