Description
This resource provides information for the University-wide writing requirement.
Policy Statement
Students are required to take a first-year writing course: either Writ 1301 or 1401, depending on placement. Students placed into Writ 1201 need to pass both 1201 and 1301. Transfer students who have not already completed the first-year writing requirement must register for Writ 1301. In addition, students are required to complete four writing intensive courses. At least two of the four writing intensive courses must be upper division (3xxx-5xxx level), and one of the upper-division courses must be in the major.
Interpretation
This coursework is intended to help students develop and enhance critical thinking and written communication skills that will be enormously useful in college and any other pursuits.
Freshman writing requirement: The College of Liberal Arts requires one writing practice course; it is necessary that this be taken the freshman year.
Use of D-graded credits: Students may use D credits to fulfill the writing requirement.
Exemptions: NAS students who have been exempted from writing practice at their previous institution are not automatically exempted from the CLA writing practice requirement. Students who have completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum before entering CLA are exempt from the freshman writing requirement. Other exemptions include the following:
- Baccalaureate degree: Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree are exempt from the writing requirement.
- A. A. Degrees: Students who have completed an associate in arts degree at a Minnesota community college are exempt from the freshman writing requirement. (Students with an AA degree from a four-year college or from a community college outside Minnesota do not qualify for this exemption.)
Procedures
Student responsibilities
Students need to plan to take the freshman writing course within their first year of study. Students should also look at taking at least one writing intensive course within their first year. Typically students should wait until after their first year before starting upper division writing intensive courses.
CLASS staff responsibilities
When seeing students at orientation or check-back appointments, advisers need to emphasize the importance of completing the freshman writing course within the first year of study.
Major department responsibilities
The Composition Program in the Department of Writing Studies can answer questions about the writing requirement and placement.
Tom Reynolds, Director of Composition
Phone: 612-626-0065
Email: reyn0004@umn.edu
Tim Gustafson, Associate Director of Composition
Phone: 612-625-0731
Email: tgus@umn.edu
Non-native speaker sections of writing courses
When students whose native language is not English are ready to register for writing practice courses, they can sign up for special sections offered for nonnative speakers of English. These special sections of freshman writing are identified in the Class Schedule and on section status reports as “for non-native speakers of English only” in parentheses after the appropriate section number. Non-native speaker sections of writing practice are offered for Writ 1301. Advisers should refer students to Sheryl Holt, Composition Coordinator for non-native speakers, 306 Lind Hall (612-624-4524) to obtain magic numbers for these sections. Non-native speaker sections of writing practice count for credit toward graduation and appear as any other writing practice courses on the transcript.
The content of writing practice sections for non-native speakers is similar to that of the regular writing practice sections; the important difference is that non-native speaker sections are taught by instructors specially trained in the kinds of problems that are experienced by second language learners. non-native speakers can, if they prefer, take a regular section of freshman writing. non-native speakers who have attended a U.S. high school for at least three years or who have earned at least 26 semester credits in a U.S. college or university prior to transfer are not always required to test in English before admission. They may, however, be asked to take the MNBatt or another language proficiency test in order to be exempted from ESL coursework (Other information can be gathered, however, to substitute for the MNBatt test.) International students who have not yet been tested should go to International Student and Scholar Services, 190 Humphrey Center, 612-626-7100, for testing referrals. Permanent residents, refugees, and U.S. citizens should be sent to the Asian/Pacific American Learning Resource Center, in 306 Science Classroom Building, for testing referrals.
Any questions regarding these courses should be referred to Sheryl Holt, Composition Coordinator for non-native Speakers, 306c Lind Hall (612-624-4524).
Evaluation of courses for the freshman composition and writing intensive requirement
Freshman composition Students who have taken a freshman composition course from another institution that has not initially been approved to meet the freshman writing can petition through Admissions in 240 Williamson Hall to request that the course be evaluated. Writing intensive students who would like to have transfer courses evaluated for the writing intensive and upper division writing intensive requirement, should also be referred to Admissions in 240 Williamson Hall. Students under the Semester requirements who would like to petition to use UMTC courses to fulfill the writing intensive requirement need to petition the Council on Liberal Education. Petitions should be turned in to the student’s college office. Students under the Semester Transition Requirements who would like to petition to use UMTC Semester courses to fulfill the upper division writing intensive requirement need to petition their college office.
Related policies/information
Student File Documents (2nd Language Credit form)
Writing Placement
Advanced Placement
International Baccalaureate
Exemption from Freshman Writing Requirement
Advising International Students
Advising Refugee and Permanent Resident Students
History (amendments)
Students admitted prior to fall 1999 For students admitted prior to fall 1999, two courses in writing practice (not just writing intensive courses) were required. The first was an introductory-level course (1xxx) and the second course taken at the upper-division level (3xxx). Students continuing under transition writing requirements can complete the requirement for an upper-division composition course with two upper-division writing intensive courses.
