Students must complete 2 college-level composition courses or their approved equivalents for their baccalaureate degree requirements. This requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:
- Students admitted to PSU as freshmen (0-29 credits) meet the requirement by completing the first two years of University Studies or Urban Honors (both approved equivalents of composition courses);
- Students admitted to PSU having earned 30-89 credits meet the requirement with WR 121 (required for transfer admission) and the requisite number of Sophomore Inquiry courses determined by placement into University Studies or Urban Honors;
- Students admitted having earned 90 or more credits have four options for meeting the requirement:
- Transfer into PSU with an approved equivalent of WR 121 plus one approved composition course for which WR 121 (or its approved equivalent) is a pre-requisite;
- Transfer into PSU with two approved composition courses for which WR 121 (or its approved equivalent) is a pre-requisite;
- Complete WR 121 plus an additional course from the following PSU course list: WR 200, 222, 227, 228, 300, 301, 323, 327, 333, 394, 400, 420 or a 4-credit Writing Intensive Course (WIC)1 course. Composition writing courses transferred into PSU may also be considered.
- Complete any two courses from the above PSU list.
1Writing Intensive Courses are labeled with "WIC" in the title in the class schedule.
For information about Writing Intensive Courses or for questions about approved equivalents for composition courses, please visit the English Department's page.
What does this mean for me?
I am (or will be) an incoming freshman with fewer than 30 credits.
You will fulfill the writing requirement in your University Studies -- Freshman Inquiry (FRINQ) and Sophomore Inquiry (SINQ) -- or Urban Honors courses.
I am (or will be) a transfer student with 30-89 credits from other institutions.
You are required to complete the following:
- WR 121 College Writing or an equivalent on your transcript AND
- Sophomore Inquiry (SINQ) or HON 201, 202, and 203 (according to placement)
I am (or will be) a transfer student with more than 90 credits from other institutions.
You are required to complete the following:
- WR 121 College Writing or an equivalent on your transcript AND
- Any composition course from the following list or an equivalent on your transcript:
- WR 200: Writing about Literature
- WR 222: Writing Research Paper
- WR 227: Introductory Technical Writing
- WR 228: Media Writing
- WR 300: Topics in Composition
- WR 323: Writing as Critical Inquiry
- WR 327: Technical Report Writing
- WR 333: Advanced Composition
- WR 394: Writing Careers for English Majors
- WR 400: Advanced Topics in Composition
- WR 420: Writing Process and Response
- Any 4-credit course designated as a Writing Intensive Course (WIC)1
1Writing Intensive Courses are labeled with "WIC" in the title in the class schedule.
For information about Writing Intensive Courses or for questions about approved equivalents for composition courses, please visit the English Department's page.