Course Descriptions
In autumn 2009, all TC course prefixes will change to HCDE. TC will no longer exist within the time schedule or UW catalog. Should you have any questions, contact the academic adviser.
The most up to date list of TC courses with descriptions is available from the online UW Course Catalog. Below you will find links to faculty and course web pages for individual courses, if available.
Undergraduate:
HCDE 100 Introduction to Human Centered Design & Engineering (5)
Topics may include: virtual communities, human-computer interaction, web design, usability testing, visual design, and others. Explores course content through individual and group hands-on projects.
HCDE 231 Introduction to Technical Writing (3)
Principles of organizing, developing, and writing technical information. Report forms and rhetorical patterns common to scientific and technical disciplines. Technical writing conventions such as headings, illustrations, style, and tone. Numerous written assignments required. Required for all engineering majors. Prerequisite: either C LIT 240, both ENGL 109 and ENGL 110, ENGL 111, ENGL 121, ENGL 131, ENGL 182, ENGL 197, ENGL 198, ENGL 199, or ENGL 281.
Course Website
HCDE 310 Communication Design & Rationale (5)
Functions of, and relationships among, major software tools in the context of common technical communication design problems. Students practice explaining and justifying design solutions in terms of key features and user characteristics.
HCDE 333 Advanced Technical Writing and Oral Presentation (4)
Emphasis on the presentation of technical information to various audiences. Style of writing required for proposals, reports, and journal articles. Oral presentation principles, including use of visuals, as well as organizing and presenting an effective talk. For engineering majors. Prerequisite: HCDE 231. Course Website
HCDE 400 Scientific and Technical Communication (5)
Principles and practices of writing to communicate scientific and technical information to a variety of readers, including the expert, general scientific and technical reader, manager, and general public. Examines research and issues in the TC field including social contests and environments (legal, ethical, cultural). Required of technical communication majors. Prerequisite: HCDE 231.
Course Website
HCDE 401 Style in Scientific and Technical Writing (5)
Grammatical structures and stylistic strategies within specific professional contexts. Achieving clarity and conciseness through word choice and placement, using a variety of sentence structures for appropriate emphasis, handling details, establishing effective tone. Required of technical communication majors. Prerequisite: HCDE 231.
Course Website
HCDE 402 Scientific and Technical Editing (5)
Editorial responsibilities and practice in the communication of scientific and technical information; the editor's role both as editor and as supervisor of publication groups. Addresses managing collaborative teams and basic XML concepts and metadata. Required of technical communication majors. Prerequisite: HCDE 401.
HCDE 403 Project Management (3)
Responsibilities and practice in managing projects in scientific and technical organizations. Project design, coordination, production, and evaluation, including planning, organizing, staffing, and directing. Required of human centered design & engineering majors. Prerequisite: HCDE 231.
HCDE 407 Computer Documentation (5)
Concepts and skills for preparing manuals, online help systems, performance-support systems, and other forms of locally stored and Web-based software user assistance. Includes principles of human-computer interaction, usability evaluation, and the software-development process. Students create both end-user and developer documentation. Prerequisite: HCDE 310.
Course Website
HCDE 408 Public Documents: Proposals, EISs, Assessments (3)
Analyzing special documents of public character: proposals, EISs, questionnaires, technology assessments. Understanding socio-political milieu in which they are planned, organized, written; the specialized audiences (e.g., agencies with their missions, guidelines, constituencies; citizen groups; commercial interests) they serve. Documents, the decision-making process.
HCDE 410 Advanced Style in Technical Discourse (3)
Examines writing style for technical communicators, requiring syntactical and semantic choices to produce technical prose suitable for any purpose, audience, and type of document in professional/industrial settings. Learn and practice a variety of styles, with emphasis on short, frequent assignments based on technical and scientific topics. Prerequisite: HCDE 401.
HCDE 411 Visual Communication (5) I&S/VLPA
Use of visuals in print and electronic communication. Topics include vision, perception, comparison of text and visual media principles for the selection and use of visual media, information graphics icons, page and screen design typography, and color. Prerequisite: HCDE 310. Offered: W.
HCDE 412 Print Production (5)
Introduction to print production for technical communicators. Topics include digital pre-press, printing, binding, and finishing.
HCDE 415 Production Editing (4)
The editorial role in the preparation of text and visual materials for production. The editor's responsibilities and prerogatives as they relate to those of other professionals in the production phase of the publications field.
HCDE 417 Survey of Usability Research Techniques (5)
Introduces usability research methods used in the product-development process; contextual inquiry, surveys and interviews, focus groups, user profiling, usability testing, cognitive walkthroughs, heuristics, and others.
HCDE 418 Survey of User Experience Design (5)
Provides a project-based introduction to the user interface design process and is oriented toward practical methods for approaching a design problem. Focuses on developing conceptual designs based on user need.
Course WebSite
HCDE 419 Survey of Concepts in Human-Computer Interaction (5)
Studies the social, cognitive, behavioral and contextual aspects of information systems and informational dimensions of the human-computer interface, and other user-centered design concepts. Surveys research literature of human information behavior, as well as ethical standards.
HCDE 435 Introduction to Content Management (3)
Principles and practices of building, managing and using content management systems in the technical communication workplace. Examines both the intricacies of collaborative workflow technologies and the organizational contexts that surround them.
HCDE 436 Design and Authoring of CAI (3)
Introduction to the design of computer-assisted-instructional programs. Types of learning, characteristics of effective instruction. Students design and produce CAI programs using authoring systems for computers. Offered: jointly with EDC&I 436; A. Offered A.
HCDE 437 Web Design & Web Publishing (5) I&S/VLPA
Design principles and skills including navigation, functional design, visual design, and content development. Includes the ongoing process of Web publishing. Addresses societal issues pertaining to the Web and Internet. Students build a website and plan for ongoing Web publishing. Prerequisite: HCDE 310
Course Website
HCDE 438 Web Technologies (5)
Students are introduced to technical design issues, markup languages, client-side and server-side scripting, and data management technologies. Students will be able to use these technologies at a core level of functionality, and be able to leverage this knowledge either to manage others using these technologies or to expand and extend their abilities with these technologies. Prerequisite: HCDE 310; HCDE 437.
HCDE 455 User Interface Design (4)
Design oriented to cover fundamentals of user interface design; models on human computer interaction, software psychology, input devices, usability, cognitive and perceptual aspects of human-computer interaction, advanced interface, and research methodologies are discussed. Offered: jointly with IND E 455.
HCDE 461 Japanese for Technical and Business Professions I (5) VLPA
Strengthens knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and applies this to basic technical business communication situations. Covers cultural concepts underlying these situations. Reviews authentic materials on technology-related topics. Teaches skills to analyze sentence structure for accurate interpretation. Lab work required. Placement test before admission.
HCDE 462 Japanese for Technical and Business Professions II (5) VLPA
Covers the functional/situational conversation skills necessary in technical and business communication situations, plus the cultural concepts underlying these situations. Reviews skills (such as prediction) for more effective reading and improves skills for analyzing complex sentence structure. Additional grammar, vocabulary, and kanji are introduced. Lab work required. Prerequisite: HCDE 461.
HCDE 463 Japanese for Technical and Business Professions III (5) VLPA
Covers the functional/situational conversation skills necessary in technical and business communication situations, plus the cultural concepts underlying these situations. Further improves skills introduced in previous courses and reviews skills for understanding inter-sentence structure. Additional grammar, vocabulary, and kanji introduced. Lab work required. Prerequisite: HCDE 462.
HCDE 493 Professional Portfolio/Senior Study (5)
Integration of knowledge and skills acquired during major program into one paper or project.
Course Website
HCDE 495 Professional Practice/Undergraduate Internship (3-10, 10 max)
Supervised internship in a publications organization approved by the faculty adviser. A minimum of one internship is required of students majoring in technical communication. Credit/no credit only.
Course Website
HCDE 496 Directed Research in Human Centered Design & Engineering (1-3, 10 max.)
Students, working in teams under the supervision of individual faculty members, review relevant literature, pose research questions, design and conduct studies, and present the results in papers prepared either for submission to a professional journal or for presentation at a professional conference. Credit/No Credit only.
Research group descriptions
HCDE 497 Study Abroad: Human Centered Design and Engineering (3-5, max. 15)
Upper-division HCDE courses, for which there are no direct University of Washington equivalents, taken through the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering's Study Abroad Program.
HCDE 498 Special Topics (1-5, max. 10)
Special topics in technical communication to be offered occasionally by permanent or visiting faculty members.
HCDE 499 Special Projects (1-5, max. 10)
Individual undergraduate projects in technical communication.
Graduate studies:
HCDE 501 Theoretical Dimensions of Human Centered Design & Engineering (4)
Theories and research drawn from a variety of fields that inform such topics as the historical and social context of technical communication, the aims of technical discourse, readability, invention and audience, audience analysis, technical style, and graphics. Prerequisite: admission to an engineering master's program or permission of instructor.
HCDE 502 Empirical Traditions in Human Centered Design & Engineering (4)
Introduction to empirical traditions that inform research and practice in field of technical communication. Topics include epistemological assumptions underlying empirical research, empirical methods, and survey of results of empirical research on effects of text and visual media on comprehension, recall, and performance. Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
HCDE 505 Computer-Assisted Communication (4)
Explores computer-assisted communication from three perspectives: (1) cultural roles of communication technologies; (2) relationships between communication and information including information technologies in the workplace, academe, and other settings; and (3) application to design including models for audience analysis, task analysis, and cognitive systems engineering. Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
HCDE 509 Writing the Scientific Article (3)
Examination of principles and practice of writing research manuscripts, articles, abstracts, and oral presentations. Detailed examination of scientific publication process includes issues of style, organization, and ethics. Students draft, critique, and revise their own manuscripts and learn to review the manuscripts of others.
HCDE 510 Information Design (4)
Examination of the design principles and procedures underlying the creation of both print and electronic information presentations. Topics include: print vs. electronic media, designing for the page and screen, information topologies, and hypermedia. Seminar includes a design project.
Course Website
HCDE 511 Visual Communication (5)
Use of visuals in print and electronic media. Topics include vision, attention and perception, semiotics, depiction, information graphics, icons, typography, and principles of page and screen design.
HCDE 512 Localization in Human Centered Design and Engineering (4)
Examines theory, research, and practice in the internationalization and localization of paper and electronic documents. Topics include cultural models and schemata, contrastive rhetoric, controlled languages, translation, visuals, and usability testing. Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. Course Websites: Irmler and Spyridakis
HCDE 515 Ecological Information Systems (4)
Introduction to cognitive work analysis framework. Prepares for active role in design and evaluation of information systems. Familiarization with basic concepts of cognitive systems engineering and practice in field study, data analysis, and transforming field findings into requirements for the design of an information system. Offered: jointly with LIS 515.
HCDE 516 Experimental Research Methods (4)
Introduction to research methods in technical communication. Students examine the relationship between theory and research, hypothesis testing, experimental designs, modes of observation, sampling, validity, and data analysis and interpretation. Prerequisite: introductory statistics course.
Course Website
HCDE 517 Usability Testing (4)
Discusses the human-computer interface (HCI) as the communicative aspect of a computer system. Analyzes usability issues in HCI design, exploresdesign-phase methods of predictability, and introduces evaluative methods of usability testing. Prerequisite: substantial experience with computers and graduate standing, or permission of instructor.
Course Website: Bellevue | Course Website: Seattle/Webb
HCDE 518 User-Centered Design (4)
Explores the user-centered design paradigm from a broad perspective, emphasizing how user research and prototype assessment can be integrated into different phases of the design process. Students learn to think like a user-centered designer and carry out activities that are key to user-centered design. Offered: jointly with IND E 545.
HCDE 520 Design and Management of Complex Information and Communication Systems (4)
Emphasizes the role and function of communication as a key to understanding organizational frameworks and managerial practices. Traditional and innovative approaches to viewing and managing technical communication. Roles, responsibilities, impact of technology.
Course Website
HCDE 521 Seminar: Current Issues in Human Centered Design & Engineering (1-2, max. 3)
Presentations on current issues in human centered design & engineering. Credit/no credit only. Prerequisite: HCDE graduate student status or permission of instructor. Autumn 2009 (current).
HCDE 523 Seminar: Issues in HCDE Scholarship and Professional Activity (1, max. 3)
Exploration of advanced issues in human centered design & engineering scholarship and practice. Credit/no credit only. Prerequisite: HCDE PhD student status or permission of instructor.
HCDE 537 User-Centered Web Design (5)
Theory and practice of the user-centered web development process. Principles and processes for documenting and implementing various development stages, including requirements analysis, user needs analysis, information architecture, prototyping, mockups, and production. Summer 2009
HCDE 561 Advanced Japanese for Technical and Business Professions 1 (4)
Focuses on reading skills (e.g., sight reading, vocabulary, grasping main ideas) and familiarizes students with Japanese news media sites and Web reading tools. Students also develop the oral communication skills necessary for giving technical and business reports and the writing skills for business emails. Prerequisite: HCDE 463 and HCDE 473.
HCDE 562 Advanced Japanese for Technical and Business Professions 2 (4)
Focuses on developing reading speed. Students read more extensively, expand their technical/business vocabulary, and further improve skills for grasping main ideas quickly. Students also improve oral skills for report-giving and discussion and writing skills for business emails and reports. Prerequisite: either HCDE 561 or HCDE 463; and HCDE 473 and HCDE 601.
HCDE 563 Advanced Japanese for Technical and Business Professions 3 (4) Tsutsui
Integrates the reading, oral, and writing skills acquired through the first-year and second-year technical/business Japanese sequences. Students work on research projects, give formal presentations, and submit project reports. Substantial individual readings are involved as well as individual conferences with the instructor on readings and report drafts. Prerequisite: HCDE 562.
HCDE 596 Directed Research in Human Centered Design & Engineering (1-3, max. 10)
Students, working in teams under the supervision of individual faculty members, review relevant literature, pose research questions, design and conduct studies, and present the results in papers prepared either for submission to a professional journal or for presentation at a professional conference. Credit/No Credit only. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Research group descriptions
HCDE 597 Approaches to Teaching Human centered Design & Engineering (1-2, max. 2)
Readings in pedagogical theory of technical communication and discussion of practical applications. Credit/no credit only. Prerequisite: concurrent teaching appointment or permission of instructor.
HCDE 598 Special Topics (1-5, max. 6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
HCDE 599 Special Projects (1-5, max. 5)
Written report required. Prerequisite: permission of graduate adviser or committee chair.
HCDE 601 Internship (2-10, max. 10)
Written report required. Prerequisite: permission of Masters Advisor.
HCDE 700 Master's Thesis (*)
Prerequisite: permission of thesis adviser.
HCDE 800 Doctoral Dissertation (1-10, max. 30)
Technical Writing and Editing Certificate Program:
HCDE 421 (3cr), Introduction to Technical Communication
Examines principles and practices of writing in order to communicate scientific and technical information to a variety of readers. Participants learn to write for the expert, general scientific and technical reader, manager and general public.
HCDE 422 (3cr) Introduction to Style in Technical Communication
Grammatical structures and stylistic strategies. Achieving clarity and conciseness through word choice and placement, using a variety of sentence structures for appropriate emphasis, handling details, establishing effective tone.
HCDE 423 (3cr), Introduction to Technical Editing
Explores editorial responsibilities and practice in the communication of technical information; the editor's role both as editor and as supervisor of publication groups.
HCDE 424 (4 cr), The Computer in Technical Communication
Examines functions of, and relationships among, computer applications, systems software, and computer hardware in technical publications and communication.
HCDE 426 (3cr), Introduction to Software User Assistance
Concepts and skills for preparing online help systems, performance-support systems, print manuals, and other forms of computer documentation. Analysis of users, their tasks, and the product's interface. Usability testing of documentation. Relationship between documentation process and product development cycles.
HCDE 427 (4 cr), Production Editing
Covers both the editorial role in the preparation of text and visual materials for production, and editors' responsibilities and prerogatives as they relate to those of other professionals in the production phase.