The process of designing a program teaching technical and professional communication skills should begin with a definition of the problem. An analysis of community needs and student backgrounds and interests should be made to effectively tailor the course to students and their career fields. Such consideration was given to two technical communication courses being developed at Southern University in New Orleans. The introductory course in technical communication emphasizes improving grammar, developing technical communication strategies and formats, applying the formats to the students' particular fields, and polishing oral communication skills. An advanced course in applying the fundamentals to particular fields should emphasize problem solving and management, as well as using the most effective technical formats and visual aids, including technical reporting and proposal writing. The success of the introductory course and the recognized need for an advanced class demonstrates that the transfer of communication techniques is a necessity for both the primary student audience and the secondary audience of the educational institution and the community. (HOD)