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TCLoc Master’s Degree Curriculum

Check out TCLoc’s teaching units and courses provided by our instructors, experts in technical communication, localization, and related fields!

TU: Web Tools and Languages (50 hours)

In this teaching unit, students discover the technical side of websites. They learn the theory and practice of web languages and development tools and will be able to identify basic structural relationships between different components of a website.

Introduction

History and evolution of the Web and web-based technologies

Markup Languages

  • Designing, creating, and editing files in HTML, XML, and XHTML
  • Examining the role of XML in localization

Style Sheet Languages

  • Using CSS and XSL in conjunction with HTML and XML
  • Manipulating XML files using XPATH
  • Transforming XML files using XSLT

Programming Languages

  • Using JavaScript and PHP programming languages
  • Basics of server-side scripting and dynamic web page creation
    Databases
  • Basics of Web/database integration and database design using MySQL

Development Tools

  • Using development tools such as Oxygen XML Editor and Eclipse

TU: Technical Communication – tekom Certification (120 hours)

This teaching unit is entirely run by tekom and is identical to tekom’s TCTrainNet program which leads to the international Technical Communicator (tekom) – Professional Level certificate.

Analyzing, Conceptualizing, and Editing Technical Content

  • Legal requirements and international standards for technical documentation
  • Principles and concepts of online documentation and terminology

Information Development, Organization, Standardization, and Publishing

  • Information development and design
  • Project management
  • Media publishing methods
  • Structured authoring and layout programs

TU: Localization (30 hours)

This teaching unit provides both a theoretical overview as well as a detailed, practical application of the processes and tools relating to localization.

The teaching unit is divided into three topics, the first of which students can choose between two options.

Topic 1 – Option 1: Mastering IT Product Localization

This course helps gain a broader view of the translation industry, adopting a process-oriented point of view and a client/provider perspective, focusing on:

  • Preparing terminology, methodological elements; localization projects
  • Quality control methods
  • Dealing with the main challenges when managing multilingual translation projects

Topic 1 – Option 2: Advanced Configurations

During this course, students will be performing a hands-on, deep dive into the world of advanced configurations for localization, focusing on:

  • Regular Expressions
  • XML, SRX, ITS
  • Filetype Parser Configurations

Topic 2: Introduction to CAT Tools

This unit helps to have a basic understanding of any CAT tool and to be able to fully utilize core features. XTM, MemoQ, and SDL Trados Studio licenses are provided for the duration of this course.

Topic 3: Machine Translation

This course focuses on the uses of machine translation, notably in CAT tools.

  • Integrating machine translation suggestions into CAT tools
  • Differences between translation memory matches and machine translated segments in CAT tools
  • Differences between light and full post-editing
  • TAUS Post-Editing course and SDL Post-Editing certification
  • Charging for machine translation as a language service provider
  • Using MT analysis logs

TU: Visual Communication (45 hours)

This teaching unit consists of two mandatory topics that introduce students to visual tools and give them a deeper understanding of the concept of UX design.

Topic 1: Image Processing

  • Basics of digital images
  • Practical work using either Adobe or Affinity (student’s choice):
    • Affinity (Photo and Designer)
    • Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

For the duration of the program, Affinity licenses are provided. No license is provided for Adobe Creative Cloud, but special rates are available for students.

Topic 2: Foundations of Usability and User Experience Design

  • Theories and models that examine how humans perceive and use materials
  • Approaches to testing the usability of different kinds of products with various audiences
  • Methods for assessing the efficacy of product design and engaging in re-design practices based on data from audiences
  • Researching audience/user expectations to guide effective product design and development practices

TU: Professional Writing (40 hours)

This unit ensures that students are able to write content for a web-based audience, applying plain language or STE techniques and rules. Students will learn the importance of adapting technical content for search engines like Google and Bing.

This teaching unit consists of two topics — one is mandatory and the second one is chosen by the student from two options.

Topic 1: SEO and Content Marketing

  • Search engine optimization (SEO) for websites and digital marketing
  • International SEO

Topic 2 – Option 1: Simplified Technical English (STE)

Fundamentals of controlled language use in technical documentation in accordance with ASD-STE100 specifications.

Topic 2 – Option 2: Plain Language

This topic will teach students a process and a set of techniques for producing plain language. These are:

  • Planning clear communication
  • Structuring a document clearly
  • Writing using plain language techniques
  • Designing content so that it is easy to read
  • Using an appropriate tone of voice

TU: Project Management (50 hours)

Through this teaching unit, students learn the methodology for managing one or multiple projects at a time as well as how to use the latest tools in the field, giving them a theoretical and practical insight to the role of a project manager.

Project Management

  • Project Management
  • Project management methodology
  • Project management tools
  • Leadership strategies
  • International project management
  • Project evaluation and project transfer

TU: Advanced Localization (30 hours)

This teaching unit goes deeper into the topic, dealing with the localization of graphical user interfaces (GUI).

Localization of Graphical User Interfaces

  • Analysis and evaluation of localization materials and tools
  • Integration and maintenance of terminology glossaries
  • Adaptation of the user Interface
  • Graphics localization
  • Linguistic & functional quality assurance
  • Application of localization technology

TU: New Techniques and Technologies (40 hours)

This teaching unit consists of one topic which must be chosen from two options, allowing students to concentrate on the domain that relates to them the most.

Option 1: Information 4.0

In this unit, students will get to grips with the principle of Information as a component within Industry 4.0, which includes the Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) et Cloud Manufacturing (CM). They will also learn how to integrate Information 4.0 in order to fulfill the needs of each component, by:

  • Understanding the role of content strategy in Information 4.0.
  • Learning about writing for robots
  • Examining the tools at our disposal to manage Information 4.0

Option 2: Introduction to Content Strategy

This course provides an overview of content strategy: the process, tasks, and skills needed to do content strategy work. Content strategy is a valuable companion to and underpinning for technical writing, and getting buy-in for content strategy among business, technology, and digital executives can help technical communications get more internal buy-in also.

TU: Master’s Thesis and Defense (10 hours)

In this TU, students will conduct a scientific study in accordance with academic practices by selecting and exploring a research question then writing an academic paper (a short master’s thesis). Students must also present their work to a jury during an online defense.

Research Method and Academic Writing

  • Choosing a research topic, developing a research problem, and writing a research proposal
  • Establishing a clear research methodology
  • Setting a definite research schedule
  • Selecting relevant sources
  • Collecting and analyzing data and writing a thesis

The TCLoc master’s degree curriculum is available in 4 different study options. To find the right one for you, take a look at our program format.

Questions about the curriculum?