English Requirement (three to six credits)

Core Writing Requirement (first-year writing courses)

As stated in the Core Writing Program’s Course Overview:    

“An overriding goal of the Core Writing Program is to initiate students into the world of college literacy. We hope in our courses to demonstrate that reading and writing are connected activities, that literate people shape and create meaning in the acts of reading and writing, and that the act of making meaning through reading and writing gives people power over their own learning. All three courses--English 098, 101 and 102--focus on the essay with a good deal of attention to how writers write and what constitutes good writing. Each (course section) emphasizes a worthwhile topic, a supportable claim, strong evidence, clear structure, and mechanics, usage and spelling. We teach of "writerly" behaviors--prewriting, revision with a focus on global concerns (e.g., development), copyediting with attention to local concerns (e.g., punctuation). We also emphasize use of informal writing as a means of exploration and discovery, and we value self-analysis, reflection, and critical response from readers. In addition, all three courses concern themselves with critical reading, and instructors ask students to summarize, analyze, and evaluate what they read in both formal and informal writing.”

Students whose scores indicate placement in ENG 098 (formerly English 1) may opt to write a placement essay. (This does NOT guarantee placement above ENG 098.) Students may contact the Core Writing Program Office (784-6709) to exercise this option.   This will link you to information regarding credit by exam options, course descriptions, honors level courses and important deadlines for portfolio submission.

Each student's initial placement in the first-year English courses will be based on ACT / SAT test scores.

English Course ACT English SAT Verbal
ENG 098 20 or below 500 or below
ENG 101 21 t0 29 510 to 670
ENG 102, 102H* 30 or above 680 or above

* Honors Level

Students who complete ENG 102 will satisfy the core curriculum requirement. Normally, students take ENG 101 during their first semester at the university and ENG 102 during the second semester. Students who need extra practice in writing skills take ENG 098 before registering for ENG 101.

International students must complete ENG 114 and any prerequisite.

Students admitted to the Honors Program are not required to take ENG 101 and may proceed directly into ENG 102H. Please contact the Honors Program at 784-1455 for more information.