Extended abstract: A professional communication course for engineering freshmen

Technical Communication faculty at Mercer University's School of Engineering have created a new professional communication course for engineering freshmen designed to give them experience in library research, introduce them to major challenges for 21st_ century engineers, and give them practice in designing communication products in genres that they will use in their coursework and as engineers in industry. Results of a survey of students who took the course in 2013-14 indicate that the course is achieving the desired outcome by equipping students with theory and techniques that enable them to be more effective writers, speakers, and presenters, as well as providing them with practical strategies for research, team work, and problem solving.