1974 Professors James Souther and Myron White of the College of Engineering's Department of Humanistic-Social Studies (HSS) extended its teaching in technical writing to include a series of courses for students interested in the profession of technical communication. Students who completed the technical writing series could add it as a "minor" to another degree program or could use it as the focus (in effect a "major") for an interdisciplinary bachelor's degree in Engineering or in the General Studies Program of the College of Arts and Sciences.

1979 By the end of the 1978-1979 academic year, 10 TC "majors" and 32 TC "minors" had graduated from the University of Washington.

1983 The College of Engineering dissolved the HSS Department, but retained the seven members of the technical communication faculty. They became the nucleus of an Interdisciplinary Program in Scientific and Technical Communication. Professor Souther became the Program's director.

1985 Dr. Mark Haselkorn, former Director of Technical and Professional Writing at Louisiana State University, replaced James Souther as Director of the College of Engineering's Program in Scientific and Technical Communication at the University of Washington.

1986 The Program began offering courses for an interdisciplinary master's degree in the College of Engineering, as well as courses for the two bachelor's degrees.

1988 The Program began offering a year-long evening program, through the University of Washington Extension Program, in which science and engineering professionals could earn a Certificate in Technical Writing and Editing. The certificate program has continued to serve working professionals, even now that full-fledged degree programs have been developed.

1989 The Interdisciplinary College Program became the full-fledged Department of Technical Communication, offering its own Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. It also continued to teach courses in technical writing to engineering students.

1991 The Department added a second section to its Certificate in Technical Writing and Editing, now offering the program not only in Seattle but also Bothell, Washington. (This section was later moved to Bellevue, Washington.)

1993 The Department of Technical Communication began the graduate-level Technical Japanese Program, with Dr. Michio Tsutsui as Program Director.

1997 The TC Minor Program was also introduced and Dr. Judith Ramey was appointed to Chair of the Department. She has continued to maintain the standard of excellence for which the department has always been recognized.

2000 The Department of Technical Communication launched its Evening Master's in Technical Communication program. This new degree program graduated its first class in spring 2002.

2002 This marked the first year for the TC Doctoral Program.

2003 The Department of Technical Communication further expanded its programs for professionals by creating the Graduate Certificate in User-Centered Design in winter 2003.

2004 Donna Sakson, her husband Jonathan Mark, and Sakson & Taylor, Inc. donated $100,000 to set up an endowed scholarship fund to bring in minority students. The gift also increased TC’s total endowment by almost 50%!

2005 TC’s Engineering Communication Program won the Conference of College Composition and Communication Writing Program Certificate of Excellence. Also, Prof. Phil Bereano retired from TC in 2005.

2006 Mark Zachry joined TC faculty as a new associate professor. He came from Utah State University and is the editor of Technical Communication Quarterly. Jennifer Turns was promoted to associate professor; Suzanne Weghorst, the Director of the UW Human Interface Technology (HIT) Lab joined the TC department as a Senior Principle Research Scientist.

The TC Department continues to grow -- in its student enrollment, in the respect its faculty earns, and in the scope of its influence.