Undergraduate Courses Taught at the University of Washington

HCDE 333 Advanced Technical Writing and Oral Presentation

This course is offered by the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering to undergraduates in the various engineering disciplines within the College of Engineering and the School of Public Health. This course focuses on the presentation of technical information to various audiences. Building upon skills developed in HCDE 231, this course gives students experience applying the principles of the writing process to common technical writing forms encountered in the engineering workplace. In addition, students in HCDE 333 learn basic oral presentation skills and strategies for enhancing spoken words with well-designed, and appropriately introduced, visuals.

HCDE 231 Introduction to Technical Writing

This course is offered by the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering to undergraduates in the College of Engineering and related fields. This course introduces students to the fundamentals of writing, designing, and conveying technical information to different audiences. Students learn about technical writing conventions such as organization, style and tone, and illustrations and layout. They learn about the writing process and produce a variety of common technical documents they will encounter in their academic work.

TC 499 Engineering Writing Center

This course is offered to undergraduates who are tutoring in the Engineering Writing Center. The course includes tutor training sessions, weekly readings, and reflection papers. Students learn how to tutor using a process-centered approach that focuses on helping fellow students develop strong writing skills through discussion and discovery.

Incorporating Visuals in Technical Writing and Oral Presentation

The College of Forest Resources invites the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering to give guest lectures on oral presentation and the use of visuals in writing and presentation. This seminar focused on the selection and integration of appropriate graphics into technical reports and oral presentations.

Staff Courses Taught through the Office of Professional and Organizational Development (POD) at the University of Washington

Technical Writing.

This short course, offered to staff members at the University, through the office of Professional and Organizational Development, focuses on basic technical writing. The course emphasizes a process-centered approach to writing, covering audience analysis, organization and planning, drafting, and revision.

Writing for the Web.

This short course, offered to staff members at the University, through the office of Professional and Organizational Development, focuses on authoring strategies for the web and adaptation of print-based materials for dissemination on the web.