Technical Writer Degree Programs
Q: Hi, I currently write technical documentation for Hewlett Packard's server division and have been doing so for several years. I also do phone support and troubleshoot hardware/software issues on servers. I was previously in the desktop publishing business for 10 years, and I had my own scoping business, which was editing and proofreading court documents. HP will pay for my degree, but I'm having a hard time finding a 4-year college in my area that offers a degree in technical writing. The closest I've come to it is a bachelor degree in Technical Journalism, which I would only have to take two "reporting" type classes than the rest I could gear towards technical writing, or so I've been told. I haven't checked out the classes or curriculum yet, but I will very soon. Would I be better off in my field if I were to get a bachelor's degree in English?
A: I am not sure of where you are currently located, but there are a number of good schools with a "technical writing" degree. I went to the University of Minnesota and majored in Scientific and Technical Communication. The program focuses on what is expected in then field and in my opinion the program provided me with an excellent foundation of knowledge and skills to be a technical writer. I am not sure, but I believe the STC website has a listing of schools. As for getting an English degree... I am going to pass on commenting on that as I do not want to appear pompous--or off-base with my opinion. In many interviews with companies, I have not yet been asked if I even have a degree, let alone what field it was in. Someone did ask once about my SAT scores... Many government contracts specify a degree requirement for senior tech writer positions, and some of these will not accept years of work experience in lieu of a degree. But they're not too particular about the exact field of the degree, so anything in the approximate neighborhood of English/Journalism/Tech Writing will do for them. As the only clue to your location is your company, and if I assume that you're in HP's HQ area (the Bay Area), I know that SFSU has a TW degree. I cannot, however, vouch for its quality. If you were in the Seattle area, I'd point you to one of the best programs in the country, at the University of Washington, where there's