Technical Communication (User Experience) ,BS
Digital Design, Digital Media, Human-Computer Interaction, Social media, Technical Graphics, User-Centered Design, Visual Communication, Visual Design, Web Design, technical writing
If you aspire to be an expert in testing, understanding and communicating the user experience, you can learn to produce communication that stays useful and appealing across interfaces and platforms.
The user experience concentration of the BS degree in technical communication provides technical communication majors with an interdisciplinary foundation in communication, research and design that is central to the rapidly growing area of user experience.
The program provides students with a conceptual understanding of and applied skills in methods of gathering user information, analyzing data and communicating research findings to stakeholders. Although its disciplinary home and primary focus is technical communication, the concentration includes courses from human systems engineering and graphic information technology to provide students with the multiple perspectives and complementary skills needed for user experience work.
- College/school:
College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
- Location: Polytechnic or Online , ASU Local
- Second language requirement: No
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First required math course:
MAT 142 - College Mathematics
Any math course that meets the MATH designation. -
Math intensity:
General
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
Students who have studied abroad while learning technical communication have an advantage in many workplaces. Understanding the global view of applied workplace communication, students become well-rounded communicators, able to use various print and digital information products to relate technical and specialized information. Students also gain an understanding of who users may be and of cultural differences that may affect user needs. They may participate in one of the more than 300 available Global Education programs, and students expand their scope of learning beyond the classroom and gain hands-on experience in different and exciting cultures.
Many of the School of Applied Professional Studies programs allow students to earn credit toward their major for their experiences studying abroad.
Technical communicators with expertise in user experience have numerous career opportunities in growth areas such as user experience research, user-centered design, information design, interaction design, information architecture, content strategy and usability analysis.
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
20.3%
|
$99,620
|
|
|
9.7%
|
$98,740
|
|
|
9.7%
|
$98,740
|
|
|
11.7%
|
$96,350
|
|
|
9.7%
|
$98,740
|
|
|
13.4%
|
$68,230
|
|
|
6.9%
|
$79,960
|
|
|
15.2%
|
$83,240
|
|
|
17.0%
|
$78,580
|
School of Applied Professional Studies
|
SANCA 233
CISA@asu.edu
480-727-1526
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
