Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate
November 1, 2026
January 11, 2027
Overview
Ohio State’s online Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate provides an introduction into the skills required in the technical communication field. Offered through the Department of English and the Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing, this program is designed to prepare you to communicate effectively in the workplace and act as an informed member of a technical writing and communications team in an organization.
This 100% online certificate utilizes asynchronous instruction to allow you to learn on your own schedule. This 12 credit hour program can be completed in as little as two semesters.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please find key information about the Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate below.
The Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate consists of four courses, all 100% online.
This certificate is ideal for those looking to gain the skills required in the technical communication field.
Courses are offered every autumn and spring semester.
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Academic Calendar
Courses for the Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate are offered every autumn and spring semester.
Academic Calendar
Courses for the Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate are offered every autumn and spring semester.
Admission Criteria
The Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate is open to undergraduate students including those with a high school diploma or GED as well as those currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at Ohio State. Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission by the stated deadline:
- High school diploma or GED with transcript
- A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all coursework taken at all accredited higher education institutions; all post-secondary coursework is considered.
Application Details
The online Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate requires the following materials to be considered for admission into the program.
If you earned your GED we will need official scores to evaluate as part of your application. The best way to order those is to visit this site and request your scores.
Official transcripts
To complete your application, you should request that all colleges or universities you’ve attended send your official transcript to Ohio State. Include a transcript of any college courses taken in high school. Note: You do not need to provide a transcript for course work completed at Ohio State.
How to send your transcripts to Ohio State:
- If you attended a college or university in Ohio, request that your transcript be sent electronically.
- For institutions outside of the state of Ohio, request electronic delivery, if available, to avoid processing delays.
- If ordering a transcript online, select The Ohio State University as a recipient. In the absence of a list of universities to select from, have your school email your encrypted transcript directly to ugdocs@osu.edu.
- If your school does not offer electronic delivery, please have your transcript(s) mailed to:
The Ohio State University
Undergraduate Admissions
PO Box 182646
Columbus, OH 43218-2646.
What is not accepted:
- Advising reports
- Unofficial transcripts or scans labeled “UNOFFICIAL”
- Documents with a URL across the top
- Transcripts missing the institution’s name, seal, stamp, or GPA
Transcripts should not be delivered by the student or sent to other addresses on campus. Doing so will prevent acceptance of the transcript as official.
For International applicants:
Details regarding what English Proficiency tests are acceptable, the scores required, and how to submit scores may be found on the Graduate and Professional Admissions office’s website located here.
Is this program offered in my state?
Click your state in the map below to view program availability.
The Ohio State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).
SARA is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. Institutions participating in SARA can offer educational opportunities in all 49 SARA member states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico without seeking individual approval in each state.
California is not a SARA member state, however, OSU may offer online courses and programs to students located in California under the California Private Post-Secondary Act of 2009.
The Application Process
Once you understand your program’s admission criteria, please note the application deadline. You’ll need a quiet space and a variety of materials for your application. To learn more, please see our Admissions page for the full process. Ready to Apply? Find your application here.
Career Outlook
The online Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate opens doors in technical communication and writing. Graduates can use their knowledge to communicate effectively in the workplace and act as an informed member of a technical writing and communications team in an organization.
Top Occupations by Median Income
What They Do
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
Work Activities
Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology. Maintain records and files of work and revisions. Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $54,400
- Mid Level: $91,670
- Senior Level: $130,430
Job Outlook
Average
Related Careers
- Clinical Data Managers
- Document Management Specialists
- Editors
- Management Analysts
- Project Management Specialists
Job Sectors
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- Communications and Media
National occupational information in Ohio State Online’s Career Outlook tool is sourced from O*NET Online and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage displayed to the right of each occupational title above is based on the BLS Employment Projections program. Outlook and percent change indicate projected growth or decline over the next 10 years.
Curriculum
The Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate consists of the following four courses:
Introduction to the field of technical communication. Overview of nine technical communication core competencies with focus on practice in written communication strategies for technical communicators. Technical communicators’ processes, practices, credentials, key theories, and major constructs will be introduced.
Principles of user and audience analysis; assessing internal and external resources for projects, including creating budgets and schedules; determining scope via task analysis. How to create, plan, and manage projects. Practices and conventions associated with common technical communication genres.
Theories, strategies, and practices related to content development and management, including single-sourcing, developing metadata, and information modeling. The role of visual information in content management strategies, including treatment of visual communication design conventions, accessibility, information graphics, and visual identities.
Practice with comprehensive editing, copyediting, and proofreading by using a wide range of digital editing tools and practices. Design and report on usability testing of technical documents, which may also function as writing samples for a student’s writing portfolio.
Understanding Online Course Types
As you research the right online program for you, you likely will come across the terms “asynchronous” and “synchronous.” Learn what these terms mean and how they’re important to consider when understanding how a program will fit into your life.
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Program Faculty
The faculty for the Technical Communication Undergraduate Certificate program are experts in the fields of technical communication and writing. Faculty members are dedicated to providing you with an understanding of the theories, concepts, and approached originally outlined by the Society for Technical Communicators (STC) and how these can be applied when producing technical documents.
Featured Faculty
Susan Lang, PhD
Professor and Director of the Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing
Susan Lang is Professor of English at The Ohio State University and Director of the Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing (CSTW). Her work focuses on technical and scientific communication, writing development at scale, and the design of instructional systems that support writing across disciplines.
Faculty
Christa Teston
Professor; Director of the Reader Experience Lab
John L. Seabloom-Dunne
Visiting Assistant Professor of Technical and Scientific WritingTestimonials
Hear from real Ohio State students and graduates about their experience learning online.
“Ohio State is a large institution with a lot of possibilities and opportunities. You will meet people who you can connect with and who will connect you with others.”
“Being able to apply everything I was working on for school immediately to my work was my favorite part of the program.”
“I could not have faced so many obstacles without the support, strength and guidance from the faculty and staff. Even when times were tough, they believed in me, so I believed in me.”
Tuition fees are subject to change. The table above serves as a guide and not an official bursar’s bill. Full-Time costs are total tuition costs per semester.
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