Overview

The Technical Communication programme at Iowa State University provides students with the essential skills to translate intricate scientific and technical data into clear, accessible information. This degree focuses on the creation of professional electronic and print documents for diverse sectors, including business, education, and non-profit organisations. Students learn to master modern communication technologies while developing a deep understanding of technical subject matter.

Why Technical Communication at Iowa State University?

Students benefit from a curriculum that blends theoretical knowledge with practical application in a supportive academic environment. The university hosts a dedicated student chapter of the Society for Technical Communication, offering monthly networking opportunities with industry practitioners and hands-on service projects. This community-focused approach ensures that learners are well-prepared for the professional world through peer collaboration and expert mentorship.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 15293 per semester
National fee: USD 14289 per semester
Local fee: USD 4765 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires 33 credits within the major, including a core foundation and a specialised area of concentration. Modules may include:

Technical Communication
Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Website Design
Business and Technical Editing
Visual Aspects of Business and Technical Communication
Descriptive English Grammar
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Content Management

A mandatory internship is a cornerstone of the programme, allowing students to gain professional experience in roles such as document editing, user experience design, or web development. Additionally, students complete a Designated Area of Concentration in a field such as computer science, engineering, or design to enhance their technical expertise.

Careers with Technical Communication

Graduates are prepared for immediate entry into a variety of lucrative and growing professional fields. The programme develops versatile skills applicable to numerous industries, from software development to scientific research. Common career paths for alumni include:

Technical writer
Copy editor
Web developer
Market research analyst
Computer systems analyst
Operational research analyst
Survey researcher
Business and management analyst

The practical nature of the coursework, combined with the required internship, ensures that graduates possess a competitive portfolio of work. Many students secure full-time positions in user experience design and front-end development shortly after completing their studies.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Descriptive English Grammar

Multimedia and Interaction Design

Document Design and Editing

Business Communication

Seminar in Argumentation

Biological Communication

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-06-01 00:00:00 , International

More details

Iowa State operates on rolling admission. We strongly recommend that you apply at least six to eight weeks in advance.

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

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IELTS

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Ames, United States

Disciplines

Communication Studies View 1456 other Bachelors in Communication Studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

ACT composite (or converted SAT) score x 3+

Cumulative GPA x 30

Number of years of high school core courses x 5

In addition to the high school course requirements listed above, students applying for admission to the College of Engineering must complete two years of a single foreign language. Students applying for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must complete a third year of social studies and two years of a single foreign language.
General Equivalency Diploma (GED) applicants are welcome to enroll at Iowa State University. The specific GED score requirements for admission depend upon when the GED test was taken.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

30586 USD / year

≈ 30586 USD / year
Out-of-State

28578 USD / year

≈ 28578 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9530 USD / year

≈ 9530 USD / year

Living costs

Ames

United States

1158 - 1797 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Technical Communication.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Ames

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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