Humanities

Scientific and Technical Communication Bachelor's of Art and Bachelor's of Science Degrees

A Place for Research and Engagement

At an engineering-based university like Michigan Tech, you have a unique opportunity to work directly with your engineering peers. In scientific and technical communication you can join a research group, participate in an enterprise, or engage in senior design projects—leading the communication effort, while learning to collaborate and gaining confidence in developing the right message for your audience. You will lead.

A Place You Make An Impact

Our graduates are prepared to succeed both here and in their careers through the coursework and extracurricular opportunities available. We instill a growth mindset that challenges our students to reflect on every experience and adapt. Don't just take our word for it. Hear it from our students.

A Place For Growth

We support you, ensuring you have the opportunity to gain real-world experiences while on campus:

  • Utilize our network for co-op and internships with domestic and international businesses and organizations
    Attend national conference and summits with scholarship funds
  • Meet with the STC Advisory Board
  • Enhance your resume, portfolio, and interview skills through workshops

Schedule a Virtual Meeting

Contact your Undergraduate Academic Advisor to learn more.

  • 100%
    of STC majors complete an internship before graduating
  • 15
    maximum class size in advanced level major courses
  • 20
    study abroad scholarships awarded annually
  • 9
    minors to pair your degree

Which Is Better For Me, a BA or BS?

Though the degree itself takes its name from the larger rubric of "Scientific and Technical Communication," students may choose between two 120-credit streams within the degree. BS majors tend to take more math and science courses. BA majors typically take more design and multimedia courses. However, BS and BA majors have writing and design requirements, providing a strong foundation in design literacies. BS and BA majors complete an emphasis area (a series of classes taken in a different field of study in order to increase their knowledge of the fields they intend to work in). What students learn in their emphasis area helps them become better, more savvy technical communicators. Increasingly, employers are on the lookout for technical communicators who can show experience in a technical area. BS and BA majors select emphasis courses from any academic program at Michigan Tech.

Tomorrow Needs Scientific and Technical Communication Majors

Scientific and technical communicators are skilled at taking the highly technical information developers, engineers, and product managers need to convey to audiences who have varying degrees of technical knowledge. Their skills in technology and media are crucial in telling tomorrow's stories and adapting to an ever-changing world. 

Be Career Ready

Career Opportunities for Scientific and Technical Communication Majors

Scientific and technical communicators manage communication processes – developing and streamlining document content and design within various organizations, from government to business. At Michigan Tech, you are trained to address complex research questions from multiple perspectives, while gaining real-world experiences in making scientific, technical, and practical knowledge accessible to any audience.

Your STC degree means entering a high-demand field—No.8 in Best in Creative and Media Jobs according to US News & World Report in April 2025. This means plenty of choices about what field you enter: from research and development (R&D) or engineering to user experience, marketing, public relations, or media development.

Your future career options are unlimited with a degree in scientific and technical communication. Opportunities include:

  • Content Developer
  • Content Strategist
  • Content Writer
  • Contracts Representative
  • Copywriter
  • Documentation Specialist
  • Information Designer/Developer
  • Information Developer
  • Information Specialist
  • Journalist
  • Manual Writer
  • Policy Writer
  • Proposal Writer
  • Public Information Officer
  • Researcher
  • Risk Communication Consultant
  • Sales Representative
  • Specifications Writer
  • Speech Writer
  • Staff Writer
  • Technical Communications Specialist
  • Technical Communicator
  • Technical Editor
  • Technical Illustrator
  • Technical Trainer
  • Technical Writer
  • UX Writer
  • Web/Graphic Designer

Companies Hiring Scientific and Technical Communication Majors

These are just some of the companies hiring scientific and technical communication majors:

  • Amazon
  • Autodesk
  • Boeing
  • Caterpillar
  • Dematic
  • Duo Security
  • Epic
  • Ford Motor
  • Google
  • IBM
  • Kohler Company
  • Komatsu America
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Michigan Scientific Corporation
  • Microsoft
  • Oracle
  • Pfizer
  • Raytheon
  • Salesforce
  • Whirlpool

Co-ops and Internships

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about studying scientific and technical communication at Michigan's flagship technological university.

Watch Michigan Tech Scientific and Technical Communication (STC) Major video
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"The STC degree stood out to me. It helped me translate between people who use technology and people who create it. At Michigan Tech, where you're surrounded by engineers and accredited programs, you get the additional experience of working with technical people in a creative way."Megan Happel '22, BS Scientific and Technical Communication

Study Scientific and Technical Communication at a Technological University

Combine your love of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM) into a career that requires creativity, critical-thinking, and communication skills. Strengthen your capability in another language and build a broad cultural base. Develop critical skills to become a life-long learner who adapts to an increasingly technical and scientific world that is transforming rapidly. Learn the skills central to solving real-world problems in sustainability, human health, social justice, technology, and globalization. Our programs and faculty engage students and enrich campus by involving scholars from diverse fields in ambitious and meaningful projects.

  • Customize your humanities education: Take classes across any of three major programs. That interdisciplinary approach gives you exposure to different areas of humanities. Tailor your degree to fit your individual pathway with minors in the department. Choose communication studies, diversity studies, ethics and philosophy, journalism, media production, writing, or one of three modern languages (French, German, and Spanish). Or, enhance your humanities degree with a minor from outside the department, like psychology, computer science, public health, or pre-health professions. STC also works well as a double major or double degree (usually this requires an extra couple of semesters). Recent graduates have completed STC double degrees with engineering and with computer science. The STC BA degree with a business emphasis is a great place to start your accelerated Tech MBA® degree, and the BS degree with STEM emphasis can be a pathway to Michigan Tech's accelerated master's in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors.
  • Get personalized attention: Our smaller department ensures your academic advisor and professors know you and understand your interests and needs. You can receive the guidance you need in a timely fashion.
  • Connect to internships: Develop professional skills, locate internships, and be successful in gaining work experience. The Humanities Internship Program helps students connect with internships on and off campus. Our Professional Development in Humanities course helps you learn how to present yourself well to employers and land a job. Through our micro internship program, 100% of STC majors complete an internship experience while at Michigan Tech. STC majors get access to an advisory board for networking and mentoring.

  • Get Involved: Join the Society for Technical Communication. Our student chapter helps you develop your communication skills on a professional and academic level, using real-world projects across the community. Through your involvement, you can assist in designing, editing, and proofing promotional materials, outreach, research papers, presentations, and reports. You'll collaborate with others in STC while learning to communicate across disciplines. Get involved in Cin-Optic Enterprise and get real-world experience. Or join dozens of other Enterpriseteams. Work as a coach in the Michigan Tech Writing Center.Write for the Michigan Tech Lode newspaper or another campus publication. Work in the Humanities Digital Media Zone(HDMZ) as a consultant or in another Learning Center on campus.

  • Study Humanities in a STEM context: Benefit from being at a school with a strong STEM focus. Our students work, live, and play with engineers and scientists, developing the ability to work in diverse teams, to appreciate and seek out different perspectives, and to communicate effectively in the world of science and technology.

Undergraduate Majors in Humanities

Not sure which major is the right fit? No problem.
Just declare the General Sciences and Arts major, give yourself time, and decide when you arrive on campus. To learn more speak to an academic advisor.

Undergraduate Minors

Specialize in a secondary discipline outside of or complementary to your major, expand your knowledge base, and boost your potential career options with these nine humanities-centric minors. A minor in a pre-professional program such as Pre-Law and Society or Pre-Health Professions prepares you for graduate school and future careers in law and medicine. You can declare a major anytime, but it is recommended you begin your minor studies as early as possible in your academic career. To learn more, speak to an academic advisor.

  • Communication Studies
  • Diversity Studies
  • Ethics and Philosophy
  • Journalism
  • Media Production
  • Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish)
  • Writing

Tomorrow Needs You

Supercharge your creativity, critical-thinking, and communication skills at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in tomorrow's academia, research, non-profit, and high-tech business landscapes.

"I'm definitely thankful for having studied STC at Michigan Tech, just because it was foundational to who I am and my career today and where I am just [in] my life today."Kirsti Wall de Cordero '20, BA Scientific and Technical Communication