Academic Calendar 2005
(New Academic Choices)

(Writing Program/ Faculty of Arts and Humanities). Open to all applicants with a university degree, the Diploma Program in Writing aims to develop writing skills at both the general level and within the parameters of specific disciplines for students with a university degree, providing the same opportunities for improved writing that the Certificate Program in Writing offers to undergraduates. All program courses (except Writing 200) may also be credited toward any new program objectives undertaken. Anyone with a university degree may apply for admission to the Diploma Program in Writing; otherwise, application for admission would be made as an undergraduate for the Certificate Program in Writing, either application being subject to prerequisites and general university admission requirements.

A grade of 70% or higher in Writing 101F/G (Writing 121F/G for MIT students) is required for entrance to the program. To qualify for the Diploma in Writing, Level I, students must achieve at least 70% in two Writing half-courses (or equivalent) at the 200-level and achieve a grade of SAT (satisfactory) in the Writing Proficiency Examination (Writing 200). For the Level II diploma, students must achieve at least 70% in four Writing half-courses (or equivalent) at the 200-level and achieve a grade of SAT (satisfactory) in the Writing Proficiency Examination (Writing 200). Reviewing the materials of Writing 101F/G is strongly recommended as the normal and best preparation for sitting the Writing Proficiency Examination (Writing 200). The two-hour examination will test for writing proficiency in a variety of ways such as requiring the correction of sentence errors, the answering of grammatical or stylistic questions on a prose passage or passages, and the writing of an essay. The examination is offered three times a year, and students wishing to take the examination to obtain credit in Writing 200 should apply to the Writing Program Office, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University College, Room 66. Admission to all courses in Writing is governed by normal academic prerequisites, and any qualified student may register. Certain 200-level courses, offered by different departments but not designated as specifically "Writing" courses, may be allowed as credit towards the Diploma in Writing. To find out what these courses are and to plan their program, students should consult with the Writing Program Office, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University College, Room 66.