<p>I am a history major and I want something to fall back on, just in case my other plans do not go through. Is technical writing a good field to go into? How does a person get into a technical writing program if there is such a thing and usually what does the program require?</p>
<p>There are degree programs (sometimes a separate program, sometimes a trachk in an English or communication program) and certificate programs (including some online certificate programs) in technical writing</p>
<p>Some links:</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to the Society for Technical Communication](<a href=“http://www.stc.org/Index.asp?LoginFailed=1]Welcome”>http://www.stc.org/Index.asp?LoginFailed=1)</p>
<p>[Technical</a> Writing Careers — Answering 13 Questions about Technical Writing Jobs | I’d Rather Be Writing](<a href=“http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/16/technical-writing-careers-answering-13-questions-about-technical-writing-jobs/]Technical”>Technical Writing Careers -- Answering 13 Questions about Technical Writing Jobs | I'd Rather Be Writing Blog and API doc course)</p>
<p>[Getting</a> a Technical Writing Job, Even If You Have No Experience](<a href=“http://www.docsymmetry.com/technical-writing-jobs.html]Getting”>http://www.docsymmetry.com/technical-writing-jobs.html)</p>
<p>[Technical</a> Writing–What’s It Like? ? Freelance Writing Jobs | A Freelance Writing Community and Freelance Writing Jobs Resource](<a href=“http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/technical-writing-whats-it-like/]Technical”>http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/technical-writing-whats-it-like/)</p>
<p>[How</a> to Land a Career in Technical Writing - Advice - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/article/How-to-Land-a-Career-in/46315]How”>http://chronicle.com/article/How-to-Land-a-Career-in/46315)</p>
<p>[Perspectives</a> on a Career in Technical Writing: Responses from 16 Tech Comm Professionals | I’d Rather Be Writing](<a href=“http://idratherbewriting.com/2010/08/30/careers-in-technical-writing-responses-from-16-technical-communicators/]Perspectives”>Perspectives on a Career in Technical Writing: Responses from 16 Tech Comm Professionals | I'd Rather Be Writing Blog and API doc course)</p>
<p>[Technical</a> Writer - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2009/12/28/technical-writer.html]Technical”>http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2009/12/28/technical-writer.html)</p>
<p>[Careers</a> in technology: a guide to technical writing](<a href=“http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/careerstechnolo_sfkw.htm]Careers”>http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/careerstechnolo_sfkw.htm)</p>
<p>[A</a> Guide to Careers in Science Writing | Council for the Advancement of Science Writing](<a href=“http://casw.org/casw/guide-careers-science-writing]A”>Resources - CASW)</p>
<p>[Starting</a> a Career in Science Writing - Science Careers - Biotech, Pharmaceutical, Faculty, Postdoc jobs on Science Careers](<a href=“http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/3570/starting_a_career_in_science_writing]Starting”>http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/3570/starting_a_career_in_science_writing)</p>
<p>[Science</a> Writers](<a href=“American Chemical Society”>American Chemical Society)</p>
<p><a href=“https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Technical_writing[/url]”>https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Technical_writing</a></p>
<p>[Bachelor</a> of Science in Technical Writing - Department of English - Carnegie Mellon University](<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/hss/english/undergraduate/bs-tw/index.html]Bachelor”>http://www.cmu.edu/hss/english/undergraduate/bs-tw/index.html)</p>
<p>[Technical</a> Writing - free Suite101 course](<a href=“http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/17242/750/1]Technical”>http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/17242/750/1)</p>
<p>[UW</a> HCDE - Technical Writing and Editing Certificate | <a href=“http://www.hcde.washington.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.hcde.washington.edu](<a href=“http://www.hcde.washington.edu/nav-prog-advise/certificates/cert-twe]UW”>Certificate in Technical Writing and Editing | Human Centered Design & Engineering)</a></p>
<p>[Writing</a>, Editing, and Technical Communication Programs of Study - UC Berkeley Extension](<a href=“http://extension.berkeley.edu/writing/]Writing”>Writing, Editing and Technical Communication | UC Berkeley Extension)</p>
<p>[Technical</a> Communication Certificate - UC San Diego Extension](<a href=“http://extension.ucsd.edu/programs/index.cfm?vAction=certDetail&vCertificateID=113&vStudyAreaID=13]Technical”>http://extension.ucsd.edu/programs/index.cfm?vAction=certDetail&vCertificateID=113&vStudyAreaID=13)</p>
<p>[Certificate</a> in Technical Writing: Program Overview: California State University, East Bay Continuing Education](<a href=“http://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/certificate/tech_writing/index.shtml]Certificate”>http://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/certificate/tech_writing/index.shtml)</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/business/07write.html[/url]”>https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/business/07write.html</a></p>
<p>[What</a> is Technical Communication](<a href=“http://www.wordesign.com/resume/what_is_technical_communication.htm]What”>What is Technical Communication)</p>