Graduate classes in Professional Communications expanded

HOBOKEN, N.J. — An expanded menu of graduate courses in Professional Communications is being offered this spring at Stevens Institute of Technology. All graduate students who might benefit from these classes are encouraged to enroll. Graduate students should remember that Hum 501 may be used as 960-research credit in any doctoral program, and any of these graduate courses may be used as an elective in other programs at the discretion of the advisor. Undergraduates may enroll in these courses if they are juniors or seniors. A full menu follows.

Hum 530: Writing for Engineers - Offered for the first time

This course focuses on the kinds of writing engineers must do. Lives are often affected by not only the accuracy of an engineer's calculations, but by a clear and understandable presentation of conclusions and recommendations. Engineers are able to see and understand not only the internals of operating systems but also their unrealized strengths and hidden hazards. Engineers' professional responsibilities can include:
advising their employers (and the public) of danger; describing the probability and extent of catastrophic loss; presenting solutions or work-arounds for critical operational situations, and detailing novel/ingenious designs and innovations.

Hum 504: Foundations of Business Plan Writing - Offered for the first time

include: what investors and lenders are looking for; the key elements of a business plan; special considerations when writing a business plan for an international endeavor or web-based or web-supplemented businesses. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the material presented through weekly writing assignments.

Hum 503: Advanced Documentation Techniques

This course sharpens students' ability to deliver written descriptions, explanations and instructions to a diverse audience. Documentation is a common component of engineering, science and business. Processes of all kinds require documentation, and compliance documentation is mandatory in all industries (ISO, SEC, etc.). Students will create overviews and abstracts; lay out guidelines for readers; craft orderly instructions and explanations; insert necessary illustrations, graphs and charts; build links to the next set of instructions; summarize effectively; and format for maximum comprehension.

Hum 502: Professional Presentations - Offered for the first time on-line

This course will present a range of professional presentation techniques:
oral, web-based, audio-visual. Students' existing skills will be sharpened and enhanced with knowledge of current best professional practices. Weekly assignments will guarantee students will master new techniques.

Hum 501: Foundations of Technical Communication

This course introduces professional communications: how should professionals construct technical documents for the business or scientific/technical community? what are the techniques writers need for specialized, clear writing? Topics include: genres of technical writing; successful writing strategies; design principles; format and contents. Students will practice the techniques presented through weekly writing assignments.

Hum 500: Gearing Up for Professional Communications - Offered for the first time

Hum 500 cover topics that include brainstorming, organizing, writing and revision of technical documents, as well as preparation of verbal presentations with visual aids. In this overview class, students will be exposed to these skills, and have time to generate their own documents and presentations for feedback, but Hum 500 is primarily designed to give the students a foundation so that they may continue on with other, more specialized, classes in this field. Students in need of ESL/ESD attention will receive it. Hum 500 is designed to familiarize students with the basic concepts and tools they will need to master in order to pursue the Certificate Program in Professional Communications or other Stevens graduate degrees or programs and is a requirement of some programs.

• Hum 501 counts as 960 research credit towards the dissertation in all Stevens doctoral programs.
• Any of these courses may be counted as an elective in any program at the discretion of the faculty advisor. Hum 501, Hum 502, Hum 503, Hum 504 and Hum 530 are being offered on-line. Hum 504 is only available on-line. Hum 500 does not count towards completion of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Communications but may be the best choice for students with ESL needs.

Each of the above classes includes weekly writing assignments, and has an instructor skilled in teaching communication skills and experienced in business, industry, science or engineering.

Information about the graduate certificate program in Professional Communications is available at http://128.241.247.148/cgi-bin/redir.cgi?id=0000233292-16369833 or contact Professor Deborah Sinnreich-Levi, Director of Writing Programs & the Humanities Resource Center at dsinnrei@stevens.edu or 201.216.5403.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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