Note: The information below is outdated and represents my final project as an MTPW student several years ago. Please see NU's official pages for current information on the Master of Technical and Professional Writing and other graduate programs.

General Information

Northeastern's Master of Technical and Professional Writing degree program provides graduate training for those who wish to become professional writers in industry, science, business, government, and related fields. Courses give students the opportunity to acquire writing, research, and editing skills; background in an appropriate area of science, technology, or business; education in rhetoric, communication theory, and linguistics; and communication skills in graphic arts and speech communication.

Students must take a total of fourteen courses (42 quarter hours). In place of the M.A. Comprehensive Examination, students complete a final project and a portfolio of professional writing and defend it before a committee of graduate faculty from the English Department and faculty from the student's scientific, technical, or professional area of study.

Whenever possible, we place students in internships in industry or on campus. Writing done in these internships can serve as all or part of the final project. Students in the program are eligible for teaching assistantships, awarded on a competitive basis. These provide a waiver of tuition. A stipend is also given with the award in return for academic assistance in the department in areas directly related to teaching.

The program can be completed in two years or less of full-time study, or students can take longer (up to seven years) to complete the requirements on a part-time basis. About half the students finish in two years, about half finish in three years, and a small number take four-five years.

Northeastern operates on a yearly four quarter system including summers. Students can start in the fall or winter quarters (not spring). Most classes meet once a week, 6-8pm. Some classes meet once a week, 4-6pm.

To graduate, students must have at least a 3.000 cumulative average.

Course Requirements

A full course listing is available.

A total of fourteen courses (42 credit hours) must be completed to earn the master's degree:

Introductory Courses
Students should take Technical Writing and Materials and Methods before the end of their second quarter of study. These courses are both offered every fall and winter quarter.
Professional Sequence
This required sequence of at least three related courses (preferably from the same department) may include classes in the natural sciences, psychology, engineering, computer science, business administration, health services, and so forth.
Computer Language
To satisfy this requirement, students must take a high-level programming language. Pascal for Technical Writers and C Programming for Technical Writers are recommended.
Linguistics
Students must take one graduate-level linguistics course. Any of the linguistics courses offered in Northeastern's English Department will fulfill this requirement.
Final Project
Students should register for Final Project during the last quarter of their program.
Distribution
Students must take a total of 14 courses (42 credit hours), and these courses should be distributed as follows. Please note that some courses may do "double duty" and satisfy more than one requirement, although course credits may not be counted twice. For example, courses from each of the three categories may serve as part of the professional sequence, thereby freeing other slots to be taken as electives.
  • Two Introductory courses: Technical Writing and Materials and Methods.
  • Three courses from the Theory category: One must be in linguistics.
  • Theory and Practice
  • Rhetoric
  • Ethics
  • Instructional Design
  • Style and Grammar
  • Linguistics
  • Three courses from the Communications category.
  • Managing Technical Publications
  • Writing for the Professions
  • Writing for the Computer Industry
  • Professional Presentations
  • Writing for Publication
  • Editing
  • Writing for Multimedia
  • Corporate Communications Strategies
  • Two courses from the Tools and Techniques category: One must be a programming language.
  • Pascal
  • C/C++
  • Online Documentation
  • Graphics
  • Style and Grammar
  • Three courses in a Professional Sequence.
  • Final Project.

    • Writing Organizations

    Other Information

    sharon.metzger@speechworks.com

    30 August 1996
    9 August 2001