Choosing Your Writing Classes
Information on Placement Procedures for the Writing Program
The Liberal Arts Curriculum at UNC requires 6 credit hours in Written Communication. To complete this requirement, there are three options available to you:
- OPTION A: Introductory Composition (with co-requisite support course) + Intermediate Composition
- OPTION B: Introductory Composition + Intermediate Composition
- OPTION C: Intermediate Composition + Advanced Composition
There are many factors that influence what option is right for each student. Your top two resources for making this decision are 1) your academic advisor and 2) the Writing Program Administrator (Tara Wood, tara.wood@unco.edu).
Below you will find some information to help you understand writing program placement at UNC.
OPTION A: Introductory Composition (with co-requisite support course) + Intermediate Composition
In Option A, a student is taking Intro Comp + Intermediate Comp, but they have decided to add a co-requisite support course to their Intro Comp. This support course is 1 credit hour that students take alongside ENG 122. This course—ENG 132: Composition Enrichment—is capped at 15 students and provides enhanced support for successfully completing ENG 122: College Composition. ENG 132 is completely optional; students receive a recommendation to consider the course. Students who take ENG 132 have an 87% pass rate for ENG 122, so the evidence shows the course is very helpful!
In Option A, after the student completes ENG 122/ENG 132 (4 credit hours total), they will choose an intermediate composition course (e.g., ENG 123) to complete the LAC Written Communication requirement.
OPTION B: Introductory Composition + Intermediate Composition
In Option B, a student is taking Intro Comp + Intermediate Comp, totaling 6 credit hours to complete the LAC Written Communication requirement. They will take ENG 122: College Composition to fulfill their Intro course, and they can choose from a list of options to complete their Intermediate Composition course (e.g., ENG 123).
OPTION C: Intermediate Composition + Advanced Composition
In Option C, a student is taking Intermediate Composition + Advanced Composition, totaling 6 credit hours to complete the LAC Written Communication requirement. Students can choose from a list of options to complete their Intermediate Composition course (e.g., ENG 123). To fulfill the Advanced Composition requirement, students will take ENG 323: Advanced Argument.
Note: In order to place into Option C, students must meet the pre-requisites for ENG 123 or receive a recommendation from the Directed Self-Placement Survey.
