Writing Across the Curriculum (Policy 48)

Purpose

This policy is designed to set minimum criteria for writing-intensive courses required for all GovState undergraduate degrees.

1. Scope
   1. This policy applies only to bachelor's degrees. 
2. Requirements 
   1. Undergraduate students are required to complete at least one writing-intensive course for each level of student standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior) before receiving a bachelor's degree. 
   2. Courses Designated as Writing Intensive 
      1. must include significant writing assignments with a minimum of 4,000 words total (or equivalent, if approved by the University Curriculum Committee (UCC); this 4,000 word total may be cumulative across multiple assignments; 
      2. may include a combination of non-revised assignments (e.g., essay exams, reflections, in-class assignments) and revised assignments (e.g., research supported papers, presentations, business letters or memos, reports, lab reports, case studies, data analyses); 
      3. must require that a minimum of 40% of the course grade be dependent on written assignments; 
      4. must include instruction intentionally planned to support writing skills.
   3. Approvals 
      1. Courses must be designated as writing intensive by the UCC. 
      2. Exceptions/equivalencies to the above criteria must be approved by UCC. Requests for exceptions/equivalencies must include documentation demonstrating that the discipline and/or course requires such exceptions/equivalencies.