Technical Writing
What Background Do You Need?
As a group, technical communicators come from varied backgrounds. The five most common academic backgrounds are English, technical communication, science or engineering, computer science and journalism, according to an STC membership study. Anyone with a technical background will have an easier time breaking into the industry, as it shows a facility with technical topics and the ability to work with industry professionals. Consider taking courses in the following topics to build a foundation:
- Technical writing: Typically offered at colleges and community colleges as a way to gain an overview of the field and develop writing samples.
- Web design: A way to gain an understanding of design and presentation issues.
- Programming: To help you gain a better understanding of how software is created.
