- Ontario university or college degree or three-year college diploma or equivalent
- English proficiency for graduate certificates
Technical Communication (TEC)
About the Program
This eight-month graduate certificate program offers practical experience for a career in technical, scientific, and computer-related communication. Today’s technical communicators are professionals who create technical content, develop user assistance, design websites, design and deliver corporate training, explain computers and technology to users, create multimedia materials, and develop support systems for consumer products.
You will learn technical writing and editing, graphic and web design, user experience, content strategy, and instructional design. Courses cover the skills necessary to adapt to emerging technologies and launch your career as a professional immediately upon completing the program. You will gain hands-on experience through optional work placement under an employer committed to helping you meet your learning goals.
Computer Requirements
This program has a bring your own device policy. All students will be required to have their own Windows-based laptop.
Credential Awarded
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
2 Semesters (1 Year)
Starts
May
Program and Course Delivery
This program is offered in Seneca's flexible delivery format, with some courses delivered online. For courses offered in the flexible delivery format, professors use innovative learning spaces and technology to teach students in a classroom or lab and broadcast in real time to students attending remotely. In flexible courses, students have the choice of coming on campus or learning online.
Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:
- Design
- Research
- Edit
- Produce technical documents
Work Experience
Optional Work Term
Students meeting all academic requirements may have the opportunity to complete an optional work term(s) in a formal work environment. The work term(s) is similar in length to an academic semester and typically involves full-time work hours that may be paid or unpaid. In programs with limited work term opportunities, additional academic requirements and a passing grade on a communication assessment may be required for eligibility. Eligibility for participation does not guarantee a work position will be secured. Additional fees are required for those participating in the optional work term stream regardless of success in securing a work position.
Work-Integrated Learning Model
| Year | September | January | May |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | ||
| Year 2 | Semester 2 | Work Term |
Your Career
Graduates of the program can explore the following career options:
- Technical writer
- Information developer
- Technical editor
- Web content editor
- Documentation specialist
- Usability specialist
- Web designer
- Content strategist
- User experience (UX) writer
- Technical trainer
- Instructional designer
- Communications specialist
- Information designer
Program of Study
| Course Code | Course Name | Weekly Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| TCN700 | Technical Writing I | 4 |
| TCN705 | Technologies for Technical Writers | 3 |
| TCN706 | Online User Assistance | 3 |
| TCN707 | Revising and Editing for Usability | 3 |
| TCN708 | Web Design and Prototyping | 3 |
| TCN709 | Introduction to Authoring | 3 |
| TCN710 | Introduction to User Experience Design | 4 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| TCN800 | Technical Writing II | 4 |
| TCN805 | Content Strategy for Technical Communicators | 4 |
| TCN806 | Instructional Design | 3 |
| TCN807 | Document and Graphic Design | 3 |
| TCN808 | Structured Authoring and DITA | 3 |
| TCN809 | Career Management | 3 |
| WTP100 | Work Term Preparation * | 1 |
| Work-Integrated Learning Term | ||
| TEC441 | Technical Communications, Work Term * | 30 |
- *
Work-Integrated Learning option only
Program Learning Outcomes
This Seneca program has been validated by the Credential Validation Service as an Ontario College Credential as required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the ability to:
- Create a project plan to estimate scope, purpose, resources, and timelines for projects within the document development life cycle.
- Analyze different contexts in which users, readers, and stakeholders use information to ensure content is relevant to the audience.
- Apply writing methods to deliver content within various mediums for different audiences.
- Use organizational design principles to structure digital and printed information for customer usability.
- Revise content using all levels of editing and usability testing to improve written, visual, and web content for purpose, clarity, and style.
- Produce print and electronic media that apply industry-led principles of style, design, layout, and format to address client goals and user needs.
- Develop content strategies for managing and collaborating on content for various mediums to enhance the user experience.
- Evaluate legal, ethical, and cultural issues to ensure deliverables demonstrate cultural competency and accessibility awareness for national and global audiences.
- Employ entrepreneurial strategies to identify and respond to new opportunities across the technical communication field.
Admission Requirements
Canadian citizens or permanent residents educated outside of Canada must provide a World Education Services (WES) or ICAS Canada credential evaluation.
Notes
Although not required for admission, an advanced level of written and spoken English and knowledge of Microsoft Word are strongly recommended for your success in the program as this program has a heavy focus on writing for technical environments.
International Student Information
International admissions requirements vary by program and in addition to English requirements, programs may require credits in mathematics, biology, and chemistry at a level equivalent to Ontario’s curriculum, or a postsecondary degree or diploma, equivalent to an Ontario university or college. Program-specific pre-requisite courses and credentials are listed with the admission requirements on each program page. To review the academic requirements please visit: Academic Requirements - Seneca, Toronto, Canada (senecapolytechnic.ca).
Pathways
As a leader in academic pathways, we offer a range of options that will allow you to take your credential further in another Seneca program or a program at a partner institution.
To learn more about your eligibility, visit the Academic Pathways web page.