The Writing Across the Curriculum program encourages faculty to use writing assignments in their courses at all levels and across the disciplines.  Under the program, students take a series of composition and Writing to Learn (WL) courses in their first two years to develop and maintain their writing skills in preparation for additional writing assignments in their junior and senior classes.

The Writing to Learn Series of Courses

Central to the Writing Across the Curriculum program is the Writing to Learn series of courses.  All students must take the Writing to Learn courses, unless they transfer to PSU with 55 passed credit hours or more or obtain a special waiver.  The Writing to Learn courses are taught across-the-curriculum, in almost all of the university disciplines. A Writing to Learn course incorporates writing as an integral part of the course structure; therefore, students write frequently, both formally and informally, about course content. The purpose of the Writing To Learn classes is to develop the student's ability to organize clearly-stated, well-reasoned responses to the course content.  Students needing special assistance with word and sentence mechanics are referred to the Writing Center.  General education courses comprise a vast majority of the Writing to Learn courses; however, no course at the 100 or 200 level is  precluded.

   The flow chart below shows the normal progression through the Writing to Learn series. ENGL 101 English Composition should be considered a prerequisite for the Writing to Learn courses.  ENGL 101 English Composition and two Writing to Learn courses are a prerequisite for ENGL 299 Introduction to Research Writing. Students who have completed ENGL 102 English Composition or its equivalent cannot take ENGL 299 Introduction to Research Writing.