All WU students are required to take Writing 1:Writing Culture during their first year of study. Once students have completed Writing 1, there are several other courses they may choose to take (or, in rare cases, be required to take). In all of our expository writing courses, we aim to build on students' existing strenghts, to complicate their understanding of writing process, and to help them grow as individual thinkers and writers.

Initial Course Placement

Most students place directly into Writing 1 and will take the course either in fall or spring semester of their first year of study. (Advisors have pre-assigned semester placement information. Students should not register for Writing 1 until they know which semester they have been assigned to take the course.) Students enrolled in IPH/Text & Tradition or Law & Society programs take a linked Writing 1 course. In order to fulfill the first year writing requirement, students in all sections must earn a C+ or better in the course. Students who earn a grade of C or lower will take additional writing coursework. (In most cases, they will be required to re-take Writing 1.) To learn more about Writing 1, click here.

Preparatory Courses

In certain instances, students may be required to complete preparatory coursework prior to taking Writing 1 and may be placed into either 1511 or 1001. Students placed in one of the preparatory courses must successfully complete that course (by earning a C+ or better) and the course that follows (if applicable) in order, in successive semesters before they may take Writing 1. Only satisfactory performance in Writing 1 (earning a C+ or better) will fulfill the first year writing requirement.