Individualized Studies at the University of Washington - College of Arts and Sciences
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Degree Requirements (BS)

In addition to the major requirements (below), students must also complete the General Education Requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences, including foreign language through 103 or equivalent. Total credits for the Technical Writing (BS) major: 98-100

The degree information below is also available as a handout.

A. TW core courses (33-35 credits)

  • HCDE 310 (5): Introduction to Communication Design
  • HCDE 400 (5): Scientific and Technical Communication
  • HCDE 401 (5): Style in Scientific And Technical Writing
  • HCDE 402 (5): Scientific and Technical Editing
  • HCDE 411 (5): Visual Media in Technical Communication
  • HCDE 412 (5): Print Production or HCDE 437 (5): Web Design and Web Publishing
  • One from: HCDE 403 (3), 407 (5), 412 (5)(if not taken above), or 437 (5)(if not taken above)

B. Related electives (10 credits)

Related electives include HCDE courses not listed in the core, approved 300- or 400-level COM or composition courses, or other upper-division courses related to some aspect of communication.

C. Technical area (50 credits)

These approved science and technical courses must include at least 30 credits from the following list, with at least 10 credits in Category 1 and 10 credits in Category 2. It is recommended that the remaining 20 credits be concentrated in an area related to your career interests.

  1. Physical Sciences
    • CHEM all courses
    • PHYS 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121/131, 122/132, 123/133, all courses numbered 224 or above
  2. Math/Statistics/Computer Science
    • MATH 112, 124, 125, 126 (or 127, 128, 129 or 144, 145, 146), all courses numbered 200 or above; Q SCI 291, 292
    • STAT 220, 311 or above; PSYCH 213, 217, 218; QMETH 201; Q SCI 381; other approved statistics courses
    • ENGR/CSE 142, CSE 143, other approved computer courses
  3. Biological Sciences
    • BIOL 161, 162, 180, 200, 220, all 300- or 400-level courses
    • BOTANY all courses except 110
    • ZOOL, MICROM, and B STR all courses

D. INDIV 493: Senior Study (5 credits)

A final independent study project/paper on a topic of interest to you within the field of technical writing. This represents the culmination of your studies in technical writing. (This course will also count as 5 credits toward your "Additional Writing" requirement.)