Graduation Requirement in Writing

Welcome to the site for MSU’s Graduation Writing Requirement.  This page has been developed to define and explain the graduation writing requirement; to introduce the work of the Committee that supports the requirement; to aid faculty in developing and revising writing requirement courses.  

The Committee

The Graduation Writing Requirement is supported by a subcommittee of the University's Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.  The Writing Requirement committee (the UUCCWR) approves courses designated by departments as mandatory for fullfillment of the Graduation Requirement in Writing.  This requirement is separate from the General Education Communication:Writing/Literature requirement--fulfilled by successful completion of College Writing I and II--and the requirement that all General Education courses include substantial written work (minimum of 2,000 words of formal writing).

The UUCCWR evaluates courses designated as writing requirement courses.  Typically this evaluation process comes up when new programs are developed, or when existing programs are revised.  The UUCCWR is also available to facilitate and further writing in the disciplines.

Membership of the UUCCWR, as determined by the UUCC, is made up of one representative from each school or college in the University, and a chair that is a member of the UUCC, or has been appointed by the UUCC.  Currently the chair is Emily Isaacs and committee members are Mark Berenson (SBUS), Yi Lou (CART), Erik Jacobson (CEHS), Arup Mukherjee (CSAM), and Bob Whitney (CHSS). Ex-officio member is Melinda Knight, director of the Center for Writing Excellence (CWE).

Requirement, Catalog description

"Each department must evaluate the writing ability of its majors by means of a required course (or choice of courses) with substantial writing assignments (formal and informal, opportunities for revision, and instructor feedback.  Normally this course should be taken in the junior year.  Students with serious writing problems will be referred to the Center for Writing Excellence and/or provided with individual tutoring by the instructor.  Students may not graduate until they have passed the course.  Students should consult their academic advisor or major department chairperson regarding this course and other aspects of the department's writing policy."
                           (Undergraduate Catalog).
 
   
      
Procedures for Writing Requirement Course Proposal or Alteration
When a new major is created or a current major is revised, sponsors must include a proposal for meeting the Graduation Requirement in Writing.  Proposals should be submitted using Form K (available at Provost's web site).

Within the documentation it should be clear that the writing requirement is central to the course, and it should also be clear how instructors will provide instruction and assessment of student writing.  Successful proposals offer specific examples of assignments and activities, and detail instructor role in providing feedback and assessment.  All proposals include clear language in the course description itself, indicating that the course is designated as the Writing Requirement course.  (For example: This course will fulfill the Graduation Writing Requirement.)

Occasionally departments mistakenly "lose" their writing requirement by eliminating this course from their departmental offerings.  When this happens students will not graduate in the major as the Registrar's office is unable to complete such students' audits.  This problem can be remedied by either writing a new course or revising an existing one for inclusion of the Graduation Writing Requirement.

Useful Links

• Guidelines for the Graduation in Writing Requirement
• An Introduction to Writing Across the Curriculum - A useful source for materials on sound teaching methodologies for writing courses in the disciplines.