General Catalog 2026-2027

Technical Specialist Certificate

TC31

This Certificate Offers Two Options:
Technical Specialist Certificate
Technical Specialist Certificate- KSU Concentration

Technical Specialist Certificate

Program Purpose: The purpose of this certificate is to prepare students for positions in business that require written and oral communication skills along with the technical proficiency to translate technical information to various audiences and in various formats. Occupational coursework provides students with an understanding of the business environment and aspects of today's business media/technology environment. Program objectives include providing students with an appreciation of the cultural and social context of the audience; developing an understanding of the basic psychological principles that affect oral and written communications; and developing scientific and/or mathematical skills that enable them to understand technical communication tasks. 

Certificate Requirements

GENERAL EDUCATION CORE

Required Minimum: 15 Semester Credit Hours

General Education Core Area I:Language Arts/Communication - 3 Credit Hours

 

Successful completion of ENGL 1101 Composition and Rhetoric is required

Other Area I courses include:

COMM-1100Human Communication

3
ENGL-1102Literature and Composition

3
SPCH-1101Public Speaking

3
SPAN-1101Introduction to Spanish Language and Culture I

3
SPAN-1102Introduction to Spanish Language and Culture II

3

General Education Core Area II: Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3 Credit Hours

(Choose One of the Following)

ECON-1101Principles of Economics

3
ECON-2105Macroeconomics

3
ECON-2106Microeconomics

3
HIST-1111World History I

3
HIST-1112World History II

3
HIST-2111U.S. History I

3
HIST-2112U.S. History II

3
POLS-1101American Government

3
POLS-2401Global Issues

3
PSYC-1101Introductory Psychology

3
SOCI-1101Introduction to Sociology

3

General Education Core Area III: Natural Sciences/Mathematics - 3 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following courses

MATH-1103Quantitative Skills and Reasoning

3
MATH-1111College Algebra

3
MATH-1113Precalculus

3
MATH-1127Introduction to Statistics

3
MATH-1131Calculus I

4
MATH-1132Calculus II

4
BIOL-1111Biology I

3
BIOL-1111LBiology I Lab

1
BIOL-1112Biology II

3
BIOL-1112LBiology II Lab

1
BIOL-2107Biological Principles I

3
BIOL-2107LBiological Principles I Lab

1
BIOL-2108Biological Principles II

3
BIOL-2108LBiological Principles II Lab

1
CHEM-1151Survey of Inorganic Chemistry

3
CHEM-1151LSurvey of Inorganic Chem Lab

1
CHEM-1152Survey of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

3
CHEM-1152LSurvey of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Lab

1
CHEM-1211Chemistry I

3
CHEM-1211LChemistry Lab I

1
CHEM-1212Chemistry II

3
CHEM-1212LChemistry Lab II

1
PHYS-1110Conceptual Physics

3
PHYS-1110LConceptual Physics Lab

1
PHYS-1111Introductory Physics I

3
PHYS-1111LIntroductory Physics Lab I

1
PHYS-1112Introductory Physics II

3
PHYS-1112LIntroductory Physics Lab II

1

General Education Core Area IV: Humanities/Fine Arts - 3 Credit Hours

(Choose One of the Following)

ARTS-1101Art Appreciation

3
ENGL-2110World Literature

3
ENGL-2130American Literature

3
HUMN-1101Introduction to Humanities

3
MUSC-1101Music Appreciation

3
MUSC-2040History of Popular Music

3
RELG-1101World Religions

3
THEA-1101Theater Appreciation

3

General Education Core Additional Requirements - 3 Credit Hours

To meet the minimum required 15 semester credit hours in General Core courses an additional 3 semester credit hours must be selected from a course in Area I, Area II, Area III, or Area IV. Science courses in BIOL, CHEM, and PHYS may also satisfy this requirement.

OCCUPATIONAL COURSEWORK

Required minimum: 21 Semester Credit Hours

Required Occupational Course (Choose One of the Following) 3 hours

CIST-1001Computer Concepts

4
COMP-1000Introduction to Computer Literacy

3
COMP-1500Information Literacy and Communication Skills for the Workplace

3

Occupational Electives (Choose 18 Credit Hours)

ACCT-1100Financial Accounting I

4
BIOL-2113Anatomy and Physiology I

3
BIOL-2113LAnatomy and Physiology Lab I

1
BIOL-2114Anatomy and Physiology II

3
BIOL-2114LAnatomy and Physiology Lab II

1
BIOL-2117Introductory Microbiology

3
BIOL-2117LIntroductory Microbiology Lab I

1
ENGL-1105Workplace and Technical Communication

3
HPWS-1101Fitness & Wellness

3
LOGI-1000Business Logistics

3
MGMT-1100Principles of Management

3
MGMT-1105Organizational Behavior

3
MGMT-1120Introduction to Business

3
MGMT-2135Management Communication Techniques

3
MKTG-1100Principles of Marketing

3
MKTG-2500Exploring Social Media

3
MKTG-2550Analyzing Social Media

3
PSYC-2103Human Development

3
PSYC-2250Abnormal Psychology

3
SCMA-1000Introduction to Supply Chain Management

3
SOCI-2600Introduction to Social Problems

3
 

General Education Core Electives

The remaining 9 credit hours can be taken from the above occupational electives and/or from any general education core elective courses in Area I, Area II, Area III, or Area IV not being used to satisfy the 15 credit hour general education requirement.

KSU Concentration

Technical Specialist Certificate - KSU Concentration

This concentration of Technical Specialist Certificate is designed for students to take 30 credit hours of courses that align with major requirements at KSU before transferring. This guide, along with meeting regularly with an advisor, will help keep students on track to completion. All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.

Bold courses are a part of the General Education Core Requirements (IMPACTS) at Kennesaw State University (KSU). Not all bold courses need be taken to meet the 42 required credit hours at KSU.

*Mathematics: certain KSU majors require specific math courses; check the KSU program for requirement.

*Sciences: certain KSU majors require specific science sequences; check the KSU program for requirement.

General Education Core: 15 credit hours required in Areas I-IV

General Education Core Area I: Language Arts/Communication - 3 Credit Hours

  • Successful completion of ENGL 1101 is required. (Meets KSU’s C requirement)

General Education Core Area II: Social/Behavioral Sciences- 3 Credit Hours

  • POLS 1101 (Meets KSU’s P requirement)

General Education Core Area III: Natural Sciences/Mathematics* - 3 Credit Hours

  • MATH 1103, MATH 1111 (Choose one to meet KSU’s M requirement)

General Education Core Area IV: Humanities/Fine Arts - 3 Credit Hours

Additional General Education Course Requirement- 3 Credit Hours

  • Choose 3 Credit Hours from the following:
  • To meet the minimum required 15 semester credit hours in General Core courses, an additional 3 semester credit hours must be selected from a course in Area I, Area II, Area III, or Area IV. Science courses in BIOL, CHEM, and PHYS may also satisfy this requirement. Recommended to choose courses that meet KSU’s IMPACTS.

Additional Area I Courses:

  • ENGL 1102 (Meets KSU’s C requirement)
  • COMM 1100 (Option to meet KSU’s I requirement; SPCH 1101 if not a major requirement); SPAN 1101, SPAN 1102 (Option to meet KSU’s A requirement).

Additional Area II Courses:

  • POLS 2401 (Option to meet KSU’s I requirement)
  • HIST 2111, HIST 2112 (Choose one to meet KSU’s P requirement)
  • HIST 1111, HIST 1112 (Choose one to meet KSU’s S requirement)
  • ECON 1101, ECON 2106, PSYC 1101, SOCI 1101 (Choose one to meet KSU’s S requirement; ECON 2105 if not a major requirement)

Additional Area III Courses:

  • MATH 1113, MATH 1127, MATH 1131 (4 credit hours), MATH 1132 (4 credit hours) (Choose one to meet KSU’s Area T requirement)
  • All Natural Sciences require lecture (3 credit hours) and lab (1 credit hour) be taken as co-requisites.
    • BIOL 2107/BIOL 2107L, BIOL 2108/BIOL 2108L, CHEM 1151/CHEM 1151L, CHEM 1152/CHEM 1152L, CHEM 1211/CHEM 1211L, CHEM 1212/CHEM 1212L, PHYS 1111/PHYS 1111L, PHYS 1112/PHYS 1112L (Choose one sequence to meet KSU’s T requirement based on program at KSU)
    • BIOL 1111/BIOL 1111L, BIOL 1112/BIOL 1112L, PHYS 1110/PHYS 1110L (Choose one to meet KSU’s T requirement of SCI 1101; BIOL 1112/BIOL 1112L will meet the SCI 1102 requirement)

Additional Area IV Courses:

  • ENGL 2110, ENGL 2130, ENGL 2310 (Choose one to meet KSU’s A requirement)

Occupational Coursework: 12 Credit hours

Required Occupational Course: 3 Credit Hours

  • COMP 1000
  • COMP 1500**
  • CIST 1001** (4 credit hours)

Occupational Electives: 9 Credit Hours

  • BIOL 2113/BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114/BIOL 2114L, BIOL 2117/BIOL 2117L
    • All Natural Sciences require lecture (3 credit hours) and lab (1 credit hour) be taken as co-requisites.
  • ENGL 1105
  • HPWS 1101
  • MUSC 2040
  • PSYC 2103
  • PSYC 2250**
  • SOCI 2600**
  • COLL 1500**
  • ACCT 1100** (4 credit hours)
  • SCMA 1000**
  • MGMT 1100**, MGMT 1105**, MGMT 1120**, MGMT 2135**
  • MKTG 1100**, MKTG 2500**, MKTG 2550**

**Does not transfer to KSU

Total Credit Hours: 36