Academic Calendar 2006
(Old Programs)

(Writing Program/ Faculty of Arts and Humanities). Open to all students in the University, the Certificate Program in Writing aims to develop writing skills at both the general level and within the parameters of specific disciplines. All program courses (except Writing 200) may be credited toward other undergraduate programs. Anyone may apply for admission, 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 Certificate in Writing, Level I, students must achieve a grade of SAT in the Writing Proficiency Examination (Writing 200), and achieve at least 70% in two Writing half-courses (or equivalent) at the 200-level. For the Level II certificate, the Writing Proficiency Examination plus at least 70% in four Writing half-courses (or equivalent) at the 200-level are required.

To write the Writing Proficiency Examination (Writing 200), students must have completed at least one university essay half-course at the 100-level or above, but Writing 101F/G (Writing 121F/G for MIT students) is strongly recommended as the normal and best preparation. The two-hour examination will test for a very high standard of writing proficiency in a variety of ways: by sentences to correct, a passage or passages for any of commentary, tranposition, summary or precis, and an essay. The Writing 200 examination is offered three times a year (September, December or April), and students who elect to sit the examination and obtain credit should register in the Writing Program Office, UC 66, Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

Program regulations do not require students to have credit in Writing 200 before registering in a 200-level Writing course. Admission to those courses is governed by normal academic prerequisites, and any qualified student may register. However, no student may graduate with the Certificate in Writing who has not secured credit in Writing 200.

Certain 200-level courses, offered by different departments but not designated as specifically "Writing" courses, may be allowed as credit towards the Certificate in Writing. To find out what these are and to plan their program, students should consult with the Program Director.