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Technical Writing Degree: Career Options for Graduates with a Degree in Technical Writing

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Published Sep 10, 2009

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If you like to write and are technically inclined, Technical Writing may be the career for you. As technology becomes increasingly complex, the need for skilled communicators who can clearly convey technical information for a variety of readers has also increased. The following article describes career options in the field of Technical Writing.

Associate's Degree in Technical Writing Career Summary

An associate's degree program in Technical Writing prepares students for entry-level positions with companies that require documentation for complex products, services or procedures. Those companies may also need media specialists who can translate technical information into everyday language for press releases and media appearances, and prepare speeches to be given by technicians. In an associate's program, Technical Writing students are taught to create corporate documents such as reports, training materials, newsletters, website content and operations manuals in preparation for a position on a corporate communications team.

Bachelor's Degree in Technical Writing Career Summary

At the bachelor's level, students begin to take Technical Writing courses in specialized fields, preparing them for specific jobs. Few schools offer degrees in Technical Writing in specialized fields, and employers generally look for candidates who have expertise in technical fields rather than technical writers with a general familiarity of technical subjects. With a bachelor's degree in a technical or scientific field, students who have taken Technical Writing courses have the following career options, among others:

  • Journalist: translating complex technical information in areas such as science and medicine for newspaper and magazine readers
  • Medical writer: creating reports and abstracts for clinical trials and medical procedures, and preparing other health-related documents
  • Software writer: writing user manuals, online tutorials and other documentation
  • Instructional designer: developing training manuals, curricula and other documentation used in classes for government agencies, businesses, corporations and nonprofit associations
  • Manual developer: writing instruction manuals and assembly instructions for manufacturers of consumer goods
  • Business communicator: preparing annual reports, proposals, prospectus brochures and other documents for corporations

Master's Degree in Technical Writing Career Summary

A master's degree program in Technical Writing prepares students for careers as management-level technical writers for government agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations. In addition, master's degree holders are qualified to prepare documentation on scientific and technical research studies and teach Technical Writing at the college level.

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