Writing Requirements

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.

The Spiral Writing Curriculum: Advice for Students

Pathways

If you begin studying at a CUNY college in or after Fall 2013, in order to graduate, you are required to complete the following York General Education requirements:

  • ENG 125 Composition I: Introduction to College Writing. Must be taken by the 45 th credit, or by the 3 rd semester.
  • ENG 126 Composition II: Writing Through Literature. Must be taken by the 45 th credit, or by the 3 rd semester.
  • Two lower-level courses designated as Writing Intensive (WI)--see below. Should be taken as soon as possible after passing ENG 125 and/or ENG 126, which is a prerequisite for all lower-level WI courses: both should be completed by end of sophomore year.
  • One upper division writing intensive course (at the 300 level or above) within the major.
  • Transfer students who enter with the Common and Flexible Core requirements fulfilled can consider taking WRIT 301, 302 or 303 to fulfill part of their College Option. It may also be required by some majors, and be a prerequisite for some major courses.

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

Composition Courses

English 125 and English 126 make up the two-semester composition sequence that are part of the Pathways required core. These courses are designed to focus on academic reading and writing strategies and practices. Students should aim to take ENG 126 as soon as they have completed ENG 125.

WRIT 301/302/303/304

Writing 301, 302, 303, and 304 are junior-level academic research and writing courses designed to help students transition from lower-division coursework to the more discipline-specific and independent work that characterizes inquiry in the majors. WRIT 301/302/303/304 can be used to fulfill the Pathways College Option. Several majors also require a specific course such as WRIT 301 or WRIT 303. The English Department oversees the WRIT 300 courses.

While any one of the four versions will meet the Pathways College Option requirement, students are encouraged to take the Writing 300 course most appropriate to their field of study whenever possible as follows:

  • WRIT 301 is recommended for majors in the humanities and social sciences;
  • WRIT 302 is recommended for majors in the natural sciences, mathematics, and technology;
  • WRIT 303 is recommended for majors in the professional programs;
  • WRIT 304 is designed specifically for English majors.

The WRIT 300 courses are not a sequence of courses, but a set of equivalent courses designed to meet a common set of learning objectives. The course number (WRIT 301 vs. WRIT 303, for example) designates the particular research focus of the course. In other words, WRIT 303 is NOT a more advanced version of WRIT 301; the two courses model the research process in the same way.

Students who entered York College before Fall 2013 and who have not opted into the Pathways Curriculum should take WRIT 301, 302, 303, or 304 after they have reached 60 credits.  

Writing Intensive (WI) Requirement

Writing intensive courses are content courses in a specific discipline which require significant amounts of writing, and focus on the genres and the writing process appropriate to the subject, including opportunities for revision.

  • In order to graduate, students who began their studies at York College and students who transfer to York without a prior A.A., A.S., or Bachelor's degree must complete 3 courses designated as Writing Intensive (WI). At least one of these WI courses must be at the 300 level or above and in the student's major.

  • All major programs require at least one WI course at the 300-level or above, to support students’ completion of this graduation requirement.

  • Students who transfer to York will be responsible for fulfilling all Writing Intensive course requirements for graduation. Students may transfer up to two Writing Intensive courses to fulfill this requirement. Transfer students should consult with an advisor about the number of WI courses required for graduation.

Revised: May 6, 2026