Mercer’s MSTCM curriculum provides students with an ideal balance between theory and practice. This balance ensures that students develop a firm foundation for study and practice before applying concepts to real-world projects. Allowing students to test their understanding of concepts by engaging in real-world settings provides valuable experience that will increase their marketability in the workplace — which is our overall goal as a graduate institution.
Our course curriculum is carefully designed to provide students with opportunities to explore the history, theory, and practice of technical communication, as well as significant topics in managing projects, organizations, and human resources. All MSTCM courses are delivered online and meet at night after normal working hours.
Course Offerings
To view our course offerings and requirements, please visit our Course Offerings page.
Program Costs
The MSTCM program is not just an excellent educational program; it’s a great value. The program is competitively priced—making us one of the best value online degrees in the nation. View cost of attendance and tuition information to learn more.
Online Format
Mercer’s online format is also referred to as Distance Learning. Please note that Mercer University complies with applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to Distance Learning programs, and enrollment in these programs depends on the state laws where the student resides. Mercer University may not be able to offer these programs in your state. There are also special provisions for international applicants interested in the MSTCM.
All course content is online, allowing students to complete their education in whatever way is most convenient for their busy lives. Professionals can further their careers while staying in their current positions, allowing for upward mobility within their organizations. While this provides a great deal of flexibility, it also ensures that all of our graduates are responsible with their time and commitments.
Course content can be accessed and submitted via Canvas, Mercer’s learning management system, and professors can always be reached via email. However, online classes do not mean that you will never interact with your professors or your peers. Classes meet weekly via video conference, allowing professors to provide mini lectures and students to engage in discussions and active learning, all while encouraging students and professors to form relationships.
Our program makes use of a variety of delivery methods to ensure that online learning is as valuable as any classroom experience. Students learn via podcasts, video lectures, and weekly assignments, all of which are tailored to educate the modern working professional.
MSTCM’s distance learning structure requires that students use computers to communicate as well as to complete assignments. Therefore, to succeed in the program, students must possess very strong computer skills, Internet research skills, and basic web design skills. In addition, students should be comfortable with the recommended hardware/software and be able to download and post materials in a variety of forms.
Recommended hardware/software includes the following:
Internet connection (broadband recommended)
Recent version of Firefox, Chrome, or other major browser
Recent version of Windows or OS X
Microsoft Office
Headset with microphone, or earphones and separate microphone
Webcam
While distant learners’ relationships with the school are different than the relationships of students physically present on Mercer’s campuses, distance learners represent a unique body of students within the university and are eligible to receive many of the same benefits traditional students receive.
One such benefit is access to research facilities. As a distance learner, the Internet is your primary information resource. However, libraries and searchable publications are a recommended secondary source. The Jack Tarver Library in Macon is Mercer’s main library and offers a number of services to distance learners including digital catalogs and resources, virtual chat rooms with our librarians, and research assistance. Additionally, the major professional journals are now searchable and readable online with access via Mercer’s library.
Distance learners further receive value through online advising. Students receive information on both courses and career opportunities that is comparable in quality to that gained through face-to-face advising. Faculty strive to eliminate the distance gap by taking a personal and active interest in each student’s education at Mercer.
In addition to building relationships with faculty, the MSTCM program further emphasizes relationship-building among distance learners. Online newsletters distributed two times a year help to keep students in touch with advising information, and the department’s Facebook page provides an informal space for current students and alums.
Program Admission
Graduate students are selected on the basis of their stated professional goals, related work experience, and educational background. Because technical communication is a hybrid field, undergraduate degrees in a variety of disciplines are acceptable, provided the degree is obtained from an accredited institution. Successful MSTCM graduates have come from such disciplines as engineering, English, psychology, business, journalism, library science, and—of course—technical communication.
Standard admission requirements include the following:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in any discipline
3.2 undergraduate GPA
Experience as a working professional in technical communication or a related discipline
How to apply
To access the application for graduate admission and the complete list of application requirements, deadlines, and details, visit the School of Engineering’s Graduate Admissions page.