This class offers a general introduction to the OLS program. It also covers the purposes and practices relevant to front-line supervisors, managers, and leaders at all organizational levels. Students are given an opportunity to meet the OLS faculty, learn about OLS degrees, related technology courses, and other general education and elective classes.

This course will explore issues in diverse technical communication workplace settings using Intergroup Dialogue. Students will explore intercultural communication, conflict resolution, social identity, community, and social justice with diverse groups.

Topics of current and specialized interest for technical communications. Hours and subject matter to be arranged by staff. May be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.

This integrated technical communication course introduces foundational skills for technical reports in engineering. Students will practice a recursive writing process and use techniques for analyzing content for different audiences and purposes.

This integrated oral technical communication course introduces foundational skills for creating and delivering technical presentations.

Extensive application of the principles of clear writing in business and industry with emphasis on audience, organization of ideas, and a concise writing style.

This integrated technical communication course introduces foundational skills for creating effective technical documentation.

This course serves as a gateway into the technical communication B.S. degree. It introduces the basic principles and practices of technical communication in the workplace. This course explores the range of abilities that technical communicators need and includes applied projects that will begin to develop these abilities. The course also serves as a foundation for higher-level courses within the major of technical communication.

A systematic, hands-on approach to making career-releated decisions. Course equips students with the necessary tools to find and acquire an internship, co-op, or job now and in the future.

A survey of the concepts that provide a foundation for the understanding of individual and group behavior in organizations of work, with special emphasis on typical interpersonal and leadership relationships (SIS). 

This class is for students interested in discussing and contemplating the difficult legal and ethical situations facing managers in all sizes and types of organizations. Students in this class will read and discuss a variety of writings on ethics in the workplace and also analyze both written and videotaped legal/ethical scenarios.

Introduction to and overview of the fundamental concepts of supervision. Emphasis is on the supervisor's major functions and essential areas of knowledge, relations with others, and personal development. 

Topics of current and specialized interest for technical communication. Hours and subject matter to be arranged by staff. May be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.

TCM 31000 focuses on techniques for editing functional technical and scientific products in academic and professional settings.

Analysis of current writing practices in technology and science, especially in organizational settings. Practice in research and in designing and preparing reports for a variety of purposes and audiences.

Variety of leadership issues including expatriate assignments issues including expatriate assignments, international business strategies and their culture and managerial implications, and a review of business and management practices around the world.

This course is a survey of issues relating to international management and international enterprise. The goal is to help students understand the principles and practices involved in managing across national boundaries so that they can be more effective leaders and managers-both domestically and internationally.

Aspects of occupational safety and health that are essential to the first line supervisor. Emphasis on economic, legal, and social factors related to providing a safe and healthful working environment.

The development and application of strategies and skills for writing emails, memos, and letters for business and industry in technology and engineering. Applications may include resumes and letters of application, informational and persuasive letters, and in-house memoranda.

A study of the ways individuals can become more creative and of the ways supervisors can develop an environment that encourages creativity of employees.

Topics covered in this class include methods and principles of creating visual technical communication, basics of visual design, visualization of technical data, usability of visual technical communication products, the role of technical communicators in the workplace, and modern technology available to technical communicators.

This integrated technical communication course builds advanced technical reporting skills including analysis, synthesis, and development of technical content, structure, and style for technical audiences.

This integrated technical communication course builds advanced data reporting and presentation skills for technical and non-technical workplace audiences.

The application of rhetorical principles to written and oral communication in the engineering professions. Planning, drafting, and revising professional engineering reports; planning and delivering oral presentations; organizing information; developing persuasive arguments.

TCM 36200 will focus on techniques for technical proposal and grant writing in academic and professional settings.

This course covers the regulatory environment of the employment relationship. Topics will include discrimination and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; recruitment and selection; affirmative action; rights of union and nonunion employees; Fair Labor Standards Act; Equal Pay Act; employee benefit plans; unemployment compensation; and right to discharge.

The practical application of effective listening and speaking skills in situations typical for managers and supervisors in technology and engineering. Applications may include one-to-one conversations in supervisory management, such as hiring interviews and performance reviews; technical training programs; group discussions in work units, committees, and task forces; informal presentations, including program and status reports; formal technical presentations; communication in international industrial environments.

This course will provide students with the fundamental terminology, methods and tools of the project management discipline.  Students will simulate the project life-cycle in both individual and team situations utilizing project management methodology and tools.

Aspects of job training that are essential to the first line supervisor. Emphasis on understanding the way people learn jobs and job skills.

Problems of workers, with possible solutions as suggested by organized labor and management. Regulations concerning management, labor, the collective bargaining agreement, and grievance and arbitration procedures.

Focuses on the writing demands of the healthcare industry and so includes principles of clear writing, effective organization, and a concise style.

An overview of human resource functions in organizations today. Descriptions of each major function; case studies to explore applications of human resource principles.

Management perspectives and applications necessary for success in today’s quality-driven organizations and industries including various topics relating to management systems: TQM, ISO, Six-sigma.

Knowledge and applied leadership skills essential for establishing and continuously improving organizational effectiveness by forestalling and solving workplace problems.

Individualized project approved by instructor consenting to direct and by program director. Credit varies with the scope of the project. May be repeated for a total of 4 credit hours.

Topics of current and specialized interest for technical communication. Hours and subject matter to be arranged by staff. May be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.

Hours and subject matter to be arranged by staff. Primarily for upper-division majors with specific interests and aptitudes. May be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.

Focuses on the organization as a social system within which careers develop through the reciprocal influences of organization and people. Examines how occupations are chosen, the stages of an unfolding career and factors that influence successful careers. Emphasizes coping with change and developing personal strategies.

This integrated course applies advanced principles and theories of technical communication in a senior design project. Students will create and manage effective oral and written communication for workplace contexts.

Full or part-time work experience in technical communications, supervised by a qualified professional in the cooperating organization and a faculty advisor. Requires periodic written and oral reports and final comprehensive written and oral reports on work experience and required readings. Credit varies with scope of project. May be repeated for a total of 4 credit hours.

This is an interdisciplinary course emphasizing sustainability, globalization, and an international culture experience. In this context, sustainability refers to design, engineering, manufacturing, technology and leadership processes implemented and maintained in industry and business for the purpose of being environmentally responsible, energy efficient, cost effective, and socially responsible.

Examines and applies principles of creating technical publications with a focus on quality management of the process. Students will create effective publications by identifying and intervening at crucial points in the documentation cycle – planning, researching, designing, drafting, reviewing, testing, and revising.

Preparation of professional portfolio for review by representatives from local industry. Includes readings and development of a professional career plan.

Examines quantitative and qualitative research techniques practiced by professionals working in technical and business communication. Explores both primary (i.e., field) and secondary (i.e., library) research approaches for learning about content, audience, and publication design.

Supervisors need to learn to recognize cultural diversity, learn to value and respect fundamental differences, and find common ground on which to build relationships of trust and mutual respect with diverse employees. This course will introduce awareness-based training to increase self-awareness on diversity related issues such as stereotyping and cross-cultural differences and how to respond to differences in the workplace.

Analysis of situations and genres of written and oral communication of engineering information in academic contexts. Application of rhetorical principles in preparing and delivering written and oral presentations of engineering information.

Designed for the development of those supervisors who plan to conduct employee training and development. Emphasis is placed on the supervisor's role in on-the-job training. Theories involved in training and the application of them in the design facilitation, evaluation and follow-up of training are major issues studied.

Focuses on the management of employee compensation. Examines the current state of compensation management and implications of recent theoretical and research developments related to compensation decisions. Gives each student the opportunity to develop a compensation package.

This course provides students with a firm understanding of the theory and context as they relate to front-line supervision and managing conflict in the workplace including communicating with others, collaborating, negotiating effective outcomes, mediating disputes, leading teams, and handling employee relations issues.

A detailed look at the recruiting function of organizations to give the student a sense of the challenges of recruiting qualified employees in the twenty-first century. Actual examples, group exercises, and considerable class discussion.

An in-depth study of groups and group process in work setting, with a view to understanding group functions under varying task conditions. Especially emphasized will be the leadership of work groups for effective performance and maximum member satisfaction.

A survey of the concepts which provides a foundation for the understanding of leadership and its relationship to the management of organizational change, with special emphasis upon the identification, practice and development of leadership skills.

This course facilitates the understanding and practice of various leadership roles required in supervisory situations. Students, through applying group dynamics and leadership theory, will develop new skills, capabilities, and understandings. Students will have fundamental shifts in their thinking about traditional leadership and in their ability to function in new leadership styles.

Individual members of this seminar-type class study problems or areas of their own choosing in the field of supervision, guided by the instructor. Class presentations by students on their progress; instructor-led discussions of research methods.

A practicum designed to combine University study with work experience directly related to the student's plan of study.

Topics of current and specialized interest for technical communication. Hours and subject matter to be arranged by staff. May be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.

An examination of ethical, legal and policy issues facing business and technology leaders. Topics include ethical decision making, corporate social responsibility, codes of ethics, public policies and government regulations, international business practices, technology innovation, risk management in a global environment, and specific areas of law-employment, health and safety, environmental, contract, warranties and liabilities, intellectual property, technology law, and international laws and regulations.

Note: This course uses the case study method and involves active discussion and debate.

The purpose of the course is to help graduate students to reflect on their work and to present evidence of their knowledge, skills, and professional attributes to prospective employers. Abilities to reflect and present apply throughout one’s career in rapidly changing workplace contexts. In this course, students will learn about the role of e-portfolios in presenting work to prospective employers, reflect on their goals and abilities, and learn principles of effective portfolio design.

This course is an introduction to measurement strategies and evaluation of data in industry and technology within the context of research design and implementation. Students in this course will learn about the research process by designing, conducting, and analyzing the data for a small empirical research project.

This course emphasizes the use of statistical analysis in critical decision making. Specifically, the course focuses on selecting data and running appropriate statistical analyses, synthesizing findings based upon the analyses, making decisions based upon the findings, and using multiple modes to present the data, the findings, and recommendation(s) for action.

This course applies principles of professional technical communication in industrial, technological, and businesssettings, with emphasis on adapting to organizational audiences, selecting and organizing ideas, managing communication  projects, and communicating clearly and effectively.

A survey course emphasizing the human resource function (and its development) in the context of the work organization. Human resource development topics include exploration of various training and development techniques, the relation of training to organizational strategies, training needs analysis, evaluation of training, and career development. The strategic approach to human resource management also is covered, including what human resource professionals can and should do to help the organization succeed.

This course is intended for graduate students who wish to learn the theory and practice of teaching technical and/or professional communication at secondary or post-secondary levels.

This course is intended for graduate students who wish to learn the theory and practice of visual technical communication.

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of mixed methods research. It is designed for students who are interested in integrating qualitative and quantitative methodologies into singular or sequential research studies or programs of inquiry. The overview includes the philosophy and evolution of mixed methods research, purposes and characteristics of mixed methods research, research designs and corresponding questions and data analysis techniques.

Examines the contemporary issues of continuous improvement in quality and productivity in manufacturing and service industries. Includes a close examination of the evolving philosophies  earing on the scope, improvement, and costs of quality assurance programs in  industry and technology.

This course examines and critically assesses sustainable practices in businesses, industries, and/or municipalities in Germany or France. Students will spend one week in Marseille, France or Mannheim, Germany visiting, touring, and analyzing businesses, industries or municipalities on their sustainable
practices. In addition, to learning about the organization’s sustainable practices, students will also learn about their specific country’s culture and some language skills.

This course enables the student to learn project management in technology through the application of project approaches in a team based setting. Through the application of project tools and templates, the student learns the project life-cycle approach as demonstrated through actual and simulated project situations. The course presents the terms and approaches used in industry today and allows the student to apply these methods through both individual and team based settings.

Review of current managerial education and development theories and practices; discussion of fundamental social, economic, and political changes affecting business and the work of managing; implications of these changes for individual manager development and continued growth.

This course explores issues and practices in technologically-driven organizations pertaining to the roles and functions that coaching and mentoring play in employees development. The focus of the course is on identifying coaching opportunities, enhancing communication skills, developing and implementing coaching and mentoring strategies, and evaluating the outcomes of these strategies.

A formal investigation of a particular issue or problem under the guidance of the Directed Project Chair and Advisory Committee.