Coordinator

Robinson, Heather

CUNY Office Assistant

Rebecca Ciceron

Writing Requirements

The Spiral Writing Curriculum: Advice for Students

York College has a “spiral” writing curriculum, in which students are required to take at least five courses that include not only significant amounts of writing, but also specific instruction in the writing process. In order to graduate, students who enter York as freshmen or transfer students who are required to complete York General Education requirements must complete:

• ENG 125 Introduction to College Writing. Normally taken in first semester of enrollment.
• Two lower-level courses designated as Writing Intensive (WI)—see below. Should be taken as soon as possible after passing ENG 125, which is a prerequisite for all lower-level WI courses: both should be completed by end of sophomore year.
• WRIT 301, 302, or 303—see below. Normally taken during the junior year (as soon as possible after reaching 60 credits). Transfer students who enter with the General Education requirements fulfilled should take it right away.
• One upper division writing intensive course (at the 300 level or above) within the major. All such courses carry WRIT 301, 302, or 303 as a prerequisite.

Students should plan their academic program to ensure that they are taking courses in the order described, and that they will meet these requirements by graduation.

ENG 125 Introduction to College Writing

 ENG 125 is a first-year composition course required of all entering students. For more information see the description under the English Department courses, or consult the English department website at http://www.york.cuny.edu/academics/departments/english

Writing Intensive Courses

 Students who entered the College (or were readmitted*) in Fall 2001 or later must meet the Writing Intensive course requirement passed by the York College Senate by taking three Writing Intensive-designated (WI) courses. Writing intensive courses are content courses in a specific discipline which require significant amounts of writing, and also focus on the genres and the writing process appropriate to the subject, including opportunities for revision.

Students must complete:

• two WI courses in the lower division of the curriculum (at the 100 or 200 level), and
• one WI course in the upper division of the curriculum (at the 300 level or above) within the major.

Each semester, WI sections are indicated in Schedule of Classes, and a list is posted on the Writing Across the Curriculum Program Website at  http://www.york.cuny.edu/wac

On a student’s transcript, completed WI courses are indicated by W or WI to the left of the grade. For further information, contact the Coordinator for Writing Across the Curriculum or see the WAC Program website.

Writing 301, 302, or 303

These are junior-level academic research and writing courses that help students transition from lower-division coursework to the more discipline-specific and independent work that characterizes inquiry in the upper-division in the majors.

All students at York College complete Writing 301, 302, or 303 (Writing 300) after the 60th credit. Placement at the 60th credit makes it possible for Writing 300 to build on freshman writing and writing intensive lower-division coursework.   Upper-division writing intensive coursework in the majors, part of the York College Writing Across the Curriculum Program, stipulates that Writing 300 is a co- or pre-requisite.

Any of the three versions of Writing 300 will meet the upper-division writing requirement for graduation. Students are advised to take the Writing 300 course most appropriate to their major field of study whenever possible.

For more information on these courses, see http://www.york.cuny.edu/academics/writing-program

Information for Transfer students:

Except for second-degree students, all students admitted Fall 1996 or later must take Writing 301, 302, or 303, which is a  prerequisite or corequisite  for all upper division Writing Intensive courses.

Transfer students who enter with the General Education Requirements fulfilled must take one WI course in the upper division within the major.

If their major has no upper-division WI course, they must take one WI course (outside their major) chosen in consultation with their major advisor. The WAC Course Coordinating Committee, as part of its charge from the York College Senate, will make case-by-case determinations of the requirement only for students who present special circumstances that make it impossible for them to meet these guidelines.

Information for students who entered as freshmen 2001-2003

All students who entered the College as freshmen between Fall 2001 and Spring 2003 are required to take two (not three) WI courses for graduation. If the major discipline has defined an upper-division WI course that must be one of the two WI courses taken for graduation. If the major discipline has not yet defined an upper-division WI course, one of the two courses must be chosen in consultation with the major advisor.

If you are trying to get into a section of Writing 301, 302, or 303 and need special permission, please contact Ms. Rebecca Ciceron or Ms. CadyAnn Parris-David, on 718-262-2470, or in AC-2A16. They will refer your case to the Writing 300 Coordinator, as appropriate.

Ms. Silvia Aviles created the artwork used in the College-Wide Writing Program header graphic. "Woman" appeared on the cover of The York Scholar, Volume 4, and is reproduced with the artist's permission.