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PWID-3020 Professional Portfolio Development I
–Fa
1 hour
Students will develop a professional portfolio and learn to use it
effectively as a tool to obtain an internship.
PWID-3090 Marketing Communication
–Fa
3 hours
Students will learn to create marketing materials for the
technical industry, from design to completion.
Prerequisites: PWID-
3010 Style and Mechanics for Writers; PWID-3100 Designing
Visual Communication.
PWID-3100 Designing Visual Communication
–Fa
3 hours
Students will learn to integrate visual design concepts to
enhance communication in various documents and media. Topics
will focus on increasing usability of communication products by
targeted audiences.
Corequisite: PWID-
2
000 Production Tools for
Technical Communication.
PWID-3170
2 hours
The Professional Writer in a Corporate Culture
–Sp
Students will discuss issues beyond intellectual ability and
technical know-how that are crucial to a successful career. They
will discover guidelines to assist them in improving their emotional
intelligence capabilities.
PWID-3180 Visual Rhetoric
–Fa
3 hours
Students will learn to understand the rhetoric of visual language
and to adapt visual language to specific audiences, purposes, and
contexts — just as they do written texts. As a result, they should
be able to respond flexibly to design problems in all professional
documents.
PWID-3210 Professional Editing
–Sp
3 hours
Students will learn both copyediting and comprehensive editing
skills. These skills include editing for grammar, punctuation,
syntax, sentence structure, content development, and visual
design. Students will learn to edit paper and electronic copy and
will also explore editing in both publishing houses and corporate
environments.
PWID-3250 Documentation Design
–Sp
3 hours
Students will learn to plan, design, and create user
documentation through systematic user analysis, task
identification, effective writing, and effective visual design.
PWID-4010 Report Writing
–Sp
3 hours
Students will learn to design and write effective technical
reports and presentations that purposefully convey clear,
concise, and accurate information to a targeted audience while
using an appropriate level of technicality and supporting data or
information.
PWID-4020 Professional Portfolio Development II
–Fa
1 hour
Students will maintain a professional portfolio and learn to use it
effectively to obtain employment after graduation. (Fee: $25)
PWID-4050 Content Strategy and Development
–Fa
3 hours
Students will learn how to design and manage information on
the World Wide Web. The class addresses issues in usability,
information architecture, and content strategy. Students will learn
design principles and writing issues specific to the digital medium.
PWID-4090 User Experience for the Web
–Sp
3
Students will learn to conduct formative and summative user
research that will help them make critical decisions about content,
structure, and layout of websites. They will study principles of
usability, user experience, and information architecture in order to
gain a comprehensive view of how to arrange, structure, and write
content for websites
.
PWID-4130 Instructional Design I
–Fa
3 hours
Teaches technical communicators how to employ technology
and learning theory in developing adult training courses.
PWID-4140 Instructional Design II
–Sp
3 hours
This course provides students with the opportunity to delve
deeper into the art and science of instructional design by
focusing on educational technology in general and e-learning
tools, techniques, and practices specifically in use in today’s
corporate environment. The course also investigates the topics of
knowledge management, performance support and human capital
management in order to give students a well-rounded introduction
to the contemporary practice of non-traditional instructional
design.
Prerequisites: PWID-4130 Instructional Design I or
permission of instructor.
PWID-4160 Professional Writing Internship
–Su
3 hours
Students will participate in a work-study program approved and
administered by the department in which advanced Professional
Writing and Information Design students receive a variety of job-
related experiences in a communication environment.
Prerequisite:
permission of instructor.
PWID-4170 Special Topics
–Sp
3 hours
Students will study a selected topic(s) at the 4000-level.
The flexibility of this course allows the faculty to meet the ever-
changing nature of technical communication. Possible topics
include project management, professional presentations, research
methods, ethics in PWID, or other topics presented by faculty or
requested by students.
Prerequisites: PWID-2130 Introduction to
Professional Writing; PWID-3010 Style and Mechanics for Writers
Capstone course.
PWID-4230
1–3 hours
Independent Study in Technical and Professional
Communication
–Fa, Sp, Su
Independent study for junior and senior-level PWID majors with
special interests and demonstrated ability.
School of Education Course Descriptions
Early Childhood Education (EDEC)
EDEC-2100
2 hours
Art and Music for Early Childhood
–Fa, Sp
An overview of the use of art and music to enhance the early
childhood classroom. A strong emphasis on practical techniques
and projects for personal expression based on an understanding
of the importance of art and music at the system, school,
classroom, and individual levels.
Prerequisite: EDUC-1000 The
Education Profession.
(Fee: $20)
EDEC-2300 Phonics and the Reading Process
–Fa, Sp
4 hours
The study of phonics and the place of phonics in the overall
reading program. The course addresses multisensory strategies
for reading, spelling, and writing instruction. It provides the
scientific definition of dyslexia, its common characteristics
standardized by the IDA, and the most effective research-based
methodologies to address the instructional needs of individuals
with dyslexia. Special emphasis on literacy and reading readiness.
Prerequisite: EDUC-1000 The Education Profession.
EDEC-3500 Early Childhood Education
–Fa, Sp
3 hours
An introductory descriptive overview of current early childhood
education, including various approaches, programs, and curricula.
Emphasis on the development, implementation, and evaluation of
early childhood programs.
Prerequisite: admission to the Teacher
Education Program. Corequisite: other courses in the Early
Childhood Methods I block.
(Fee: $10)
EDEC-3600
3 hours
Issues in Early Childhood Administration
–Fa, Sp
An examination of program issues important to both teachers
and administrators. Includes examination of models for leadership
and for developing and maintaining personal and community
working relationships.
Prerequisite: admission to the Teacher
Education Program. Corequisite: other courses in the Early
Childhood Methods I block.
2017–18 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
Page
237
Course Descriptions
PWID-3020 – EDEC-3600
COMMUNICATION