All of us have indirect contact with technical writers on an almost daily basis; every booklet, guide, or manual you use to familiarize yourself with products – anything from a clock radio to a new computer – was written by a technical writer.
Because of the constant innovations in science, technology, business, medicine, electronics, and computers, technical writing has become more and more important. In order to communicate technical details in a way that will be understood by a broad audience, technical writers must master writing and critical thinking skills; you can learn these skills through a technical writing degree program.
Earning an online technical writing degree will help you learn to explain technical details in a way that can be easily read and understood. Writing within a particular field – i.e. the automotive industry – requires that you take specific courses to prepare.
Those studying technical writing will take classes in several disciplines including technical writing for industry, communications, electronic document design, editing, interpretation, graphics for technical documents, manual development, and others.
Earning a certificate in technical writing may be the best option for you if you already hold a bachelor’s degree, but wish to enhance your skill set so you can enter a new field in writing. Certificates are non-degree credentials showing you have mastered the essential elements of the field of technical writing.
As a technical writer, your job will be to interpret instructions, complex ideas, or procedures in a manner that will be easily understood by readers. Many have been frustrated by poorly written, overly complicated, or unclear instruction manuals; it will be your job to create manuals that are easy to interpret.
Approximately 49,000 technical writers were employed in the U.S. in 2006. Jobs in the field are expected to be the most plentiful in the writing industry, but competition will be strong. An increase in demand for writers who have specialized in law, business, electronics and medicine is anticipated. The median pay for technical writers is roughly $62,000.
Mon, Jul 19, 2010
Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Degrees, Online Education, Programs