Technical Writing and Public Speaking, Cognate - COLA, UNH

Undergraduate

Technical Writing and Public Speaking

Experience essential training in professional communication that enhances any career path.
2026
Degree
Cognate
Location
Durham, NH
Courses
3
Credit
12 hrs.
Full-time
Varies
Part-time
Varies
View course catalog
Male student sitting at a desk with a laptop in front of him

English

The Technical Writing and Public Speaking cognate at UNH offers essential training in professional communication that enhances any career path. Here you'll be able to study the art of rhetoric, develop persuasive writing techniques, and build confidence in public speaking. 

Whether you're pursuing a career in business, science, education, or journalism, this program teaches you to analyze your audience and craft compelling messages that achieve your goals. Through access to visiting speakers, internship opportunities, and theatrical productions, you'll develop the advanced communication skills that employers value across all professional fields.

English Department

Key Links

Tuition Costs

Contact Cards

Jenni Cook
Jenni.Cook@unh.edu
Murkland Hall, Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862-3093

What is technical writing and public speaking?

Effective communication skills are valuable in almost any career. The technical writing and public speaking cognate will help you become a successful writer and speaker. You’ll learn to analyze your audience and the situations where you will be conveying your message. You’ll study the art of rhetoric, the techniques of argument and persuasion. You’ll also practice constructing and delivering the best message to reach your readers or listeners. The essential skills provided by this cognate can complement almost any major, from business and finance to the sciences to teaching, and can help you advance your career opportunities or prepare for graduate studies.

Why study technical writing and public speaking at UNH?

As part of the College of Liberal Arts, you’ll have all of the college’s resources at your fingertips. Attend the Speakers, Visiting Journalists and Writers Series to listen to professionals in the fields of writing and public speaking. Internships, research opportunities and study abroad programs focused on communication skills are all valuable in your development as a speaker and writer. Think about trying out for a play through the theatre and dance department—every opportunity to speak in front of an audience makes you a better communicator.

Potential career areas

  • Acting
  • Business
  • Education
  • Finance
  • Journalism
  • Politics
  • Religious leadership
  • Science
  • Speech writing
  • Technical writing
  • Television reporting

Curriculum & Requirements

01
Program Description
Open icon icon to open the summary

The cognate in technical writing and public speaking (TWPS) offers students intensive instruction in oral and written communication as important means of addressing technical, professional or practical problems whose solutions require others' cooperation. Students learn practical precepts for analyzing those "communication situations" and for making informed, strategic decisions when composing oral and written responses in response to them. Students also undergo extensive practice creating standard and, thus, widely applicable forms of spoken and written communication. All students acquire a foundation in effective expression by taking introductory courses in public speaking and in professional and technical writing. Students then build upon that foundation and complete the cognate with one advanced course in either public speaking or professional and technical writing. This cognate is attractive to students who recognize that effective expression is valued in nearly any field of endeavor they are likely to pursue in their post-graduate lives.

Please contact the Liberal Arts Dean's Office for additional information, (603) 862-2062, 110 Murkland Hall.

02
Requirements for the Program
Open icon icon to open the summary

Credit toward the cognate will only be given for courses passed with C- or better, and a 2.00 grade-point average must be maintained in courses for the cognate. Courses taken on the pass/fail basis may not be used for the cognate. 

Required Courses
Introductory Courses
CMN 500Public Speaking4
ENGL 502Professional and Technical Writing4
Advanced Course
ENGL 602Advanced Professional and Technical Writing4
Total Credits12

More to Explore

Careers
Research
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Study Abroad