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What do technical communicators do?
What courses are offered?
Where do the classes meet and where are they held?
Can I take all of the classes online?
What are my choices for a minor or cognate?
What are the program deadlines?
How many students are in the program?
How long does it take to complete the program?
What is the difference between taking a thesis or internship track?
Where do students intern?
What does the thesis involve?
Is a Master's examination involved?
How will a MATC degree benefit me if I'm already in the workplace?
What software will be used?
How technologically literate do I need to be?
I have a question not covered in the FAQ. Whom can I contact?


What do technical communicators do? (top)
Technical Communicators work in a variety of businesses, agencies, and organizations and do a wide range of writing, editing, designing, and publishing activities. These activities include documenting computer hardware and software; designing websites; producing multimedia educational training materials; writing governmental policies and regulatory rules; writing grant applications; and publishing brochures, newsletters, and magazines.

What courses are offered? (top)
Course topics are continually being created, revised, and rotated. The courses are both theory-based and computer tools courses. For a current listing, see the course descriptions page.

Where do the classes meet and where are they held? (top)
Classes are held at the San Marcos campus of Texas State University-San Marcos and at the Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC) in north Austin. Most classes meet from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. to accommodate students who work full-time. These classes usually meet in computer classrooms for hands-on practice. Classes to fulfill cognate, minor, or electives requirements are more varied in schedule depending on the student's choice of courses.

Can I take all of the classes online? (top)

The program offers hybrid classes that meet in-person 2 or 3 times a semester at the Round Rock Higher Education Center. These classes meet online the remainder of the semester. A student could complete the degree plan only taking hybrid online classes. However, this option may limit the number of classes a student can take per semester, resulting in longer overall enrollment.

What are my choices for a minor or cognate? (top)
The MATC is an interdisciplinary program, and students are offered the opportunity to explore courses in other disciplines. Students do this through choosing either a minor or a cognate. A minor is typically three or more courses, depending on the discipline the student chooses. A minor requires an adviser from the other discipline and the minor appears on the student's transcript. A cognate consists of two courses in another discipline; Dr. Allison is the adviser, and the cognate does not appear on the transcript. Current MATC students have chosen minors and cognates in areas including Literature, Technology, and Communication.

What are the program deadlines? (top)
There are two sets of important deadlines for this program:
Applications, transcripts, and portfolios must be received by June 15 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. Currently, we do not process applications for the summer terms. Please Note: Applications and transcripts must be sent to the Graduate College, and portfolios must be sent directly to the MATC office.

Students interested in Instructional Assistant (IA) or Teaching Assistant (TA)
positions must submit complete packets no later than January 15 for the
following school year. IA/TA positions are only awarded for the entire year.
Please read the policies and guidelines for these positions before you apply.

How many students are in the program? (top)
The MATC program has been in existence since fall 1999, and now boasts over 30 active students. The first two students graduated in summer 2001. The students' diverse backgrounds enhance the educational experience for all. Some are already technical communicators seeking further credentials and new information, some are making lifetime career changes, and others have just completed undergraduate school.

How long does it take to complete the program? (top)
Since the majority of MATC students work full-time and take classes in the evenings, most choose to take one or two courses per semester. All students should expect to spend a minimum of two years in the program but the program can be completed in three years. The degree itself consists of 30 hours; a full graduate course load is nine hours per semester.

What is the difference between taking a thesis or internship track? (top)
Students who are inclined to pursue a Ph.D. are encouraged to take the thesis track (a minimum of six hours), while others are directed toward doing an internship (three credit hours).

Where do students intern? (top)
Because the program is in the beginning stages, the internship component is being developed, but students have a range of internship possibilities. Securing an internship is primarily the responsibility of the individual student. The program also offers an internship course in which students work on a professional publication for internship credit. Students in this course have worked on Southwestern American Literature, a literary journal published by the Center for the Study of the Southwest at Texas State, and The Journal of Texas Music History, a publication of Texas State's Center for Texas Music History.

What does the thesis involve? (top)
Writing a thesis is particularly appropriate for those students who plan to pursue a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition or Technical Communication. These guidelines are designed to guide students through the thesis writing process in the MATC program at Texas State University.

Is a Master's examination involved? (top)
At the end or their programs students will take a comprehensive examination. More information about the comprehensive exam is available from the MATC Director.

How will a MATC degree benefit me if I'm already in the workplace? (top)
Our program will introduce you to new ideas, broaden your writing, editing, and designing skills, introduce you to new technology, help you to get new credentials, and help you network with other professionals.

What software will be used? (top)
The Technical Communication program is a PC-based program, and classes are held in PC computer classrooms. You should also have access to a PC computer with a CD-ROM, zip drive, the Internet, and a scanner. You will need to know how to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Adobe Acrobat Reader and WinZip.

How technologically literate do I need to be? (top)
If you aren't familiar with the following technology skills, you can ask a friend for help or enroll in a computer literacy class. These are basic technology skills that you can learn very quickly. You should know how to do the following:

• Open a file; name and rename a file
• Save a file in different directories, drives, and to the desktop
• Save a file in different formats, such as .doc, .jpg, etc.
• and know what the most common extensions mean
• Find a file through Windows Explorer
• Send and receive e-mail
• Attach and remove files from email
• Download and upload files
• Scan and save files as .jpg or .gif or .tif files
• Surf the Web and find an URL
• Zip and unzip files
• Virus-scan a disk and/or computer
• Use Microsoft Word at a level of moderate to high proficiency
• Use the Help feature on a software program

I have a question not covered in the FAQ. Whom can I contact? (top)
Contact the MATC office by phone at: 512.245.3733, or email us at matc@txstate.edu.