The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's scientific and technical communication bachelor's degree provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.
The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.
Year One
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UN 1015 Composition | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Math | Placement | 3 |
| Essential Education: Natural and Physical Science | 3 | |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| HU 1000 Intro to Humanities* | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HU 2130 Intro to Rhetoric* | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| STC STEM elective** (choose from Essential Ed STEM list to double-count)* | 3 | |
| HU 2600 Intro to Writing in Sci/Tech* | UN 1015 | 3 |
| HU 2645 Graphic/info Design* | 3 | |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
Year Two
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: STEM | 3 | |
| STC STEM elective** | 3 | |
| STC emphasis (Example: HU2646 Writing with Web Technologies for Tech Writing emphasis)** | Variable | 3 |
| Ethics/Diversity elective** | Variable | 3 |
| HU 2830 Public Speaking* | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| STC emphasis (Example: HU 3121 Advanced Technical Writing for Tech Writing emphasis)** | Variable | 3 |
| Write/Design/UX elective** | Variable | 3 |
| STC STEM elective** | 3 | |
| STC STEM elective** | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
Year Three
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Intercultural Competency | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| STC emphasis elective (Example: HU 4628 Usability Evaluation and Testing for Tech Writing emphasis)** | Variable | 3 |
| Write/Design/UX elective** | Variable | 3 |
| STC STEM elective** | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Total | 16 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Experience | 3 | |
| HU 3600 Professional Development OR HU 4600 Humanities Internship | 3 | |
| Ethics/Diversity elective** | 3 | |
| 3606 Editing or HU 3605 Style, Grammar & Power in Society and Culture | UN 1015 | 3 |
| STC STEM elective** | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
Year Four
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| HU 3694 Grant Writing | UN 1015 | 3 |
| Write/Design/UX elective** | Variable | 3 |
| Write/Design/UX elective** | Variable | 3 |
| STC STEM elective** | 3 | |
| Free elective | 2 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HU 4698 Portfolio | 1 | |
| Write/Design/UX elective** | Variable | 3 |
| Write/Design/UX elective** | Variable | 3 |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Total | 13 |
Grand Total = 120 Credits
* Also counts for Essential Education requirements
** A full list of major elective course options is available on the official degree
audit
Notes:
The Essential Education minor pathway is an option for any student. Following one
of the Essential Ed minors may require some adjustments in the four year plan.
Additionally, STC majors have up to 14 free electives that provide flexibility. Students are encouraged to use free electives and STC STEM electives to add a STEM disciplinary minor that will support their work in a specialized area of technical or scientific writing.
Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)
Required courses are:
- Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
- Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
Additional Notes
- Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent
course.
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
- Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
- Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your advisor)
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
- Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.
For 2025-2026. Revised Summer 2025.