Writing Across the Curriculum Program

   The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program encourages faculty to use writing assignments in their courses at all levels and across the disciplines.  Under the program, students take a series of composition and Writing to Learn (WL) courses in their first two years to develop and maintain their writing skills in preparation for additional writing assignments in their junior and senior classes.

The Writing to Learn Series of Courses

   Central to the WAC program is the Writing to Learn (WL) series of courses.  All students must take the WL courses, unless they transfer to PSU with 55 passed credit hours or more or obtain a special waiver.  The WL courses are taught across-the-curriculum, in almost all of the university disciplines. A WL course incorporates writing as an integral part of the course structure; therefore, students write frequently, both formally and informally, about course content. The purpose of the WL classes is to develop the student's ability to organize clearly-stated, well-reasoned responses to the course content.  Students needing special assistance with word and sentence mechanics are referred to the Writing Center.  General education courses comprise a vast majority of the WL courses; however, no course at the 100 or 200 level is  precluded.

   The flow chart below shows the normal progression through the WL series. ENGL 101 English Composition should be considered a prerequisite for the Writing to Learn courses.  ENGL 101 English Composition and two Writing to Learn courses are a prerequisite for ENGL 299 Introduction to Research Writing.

Four Possible Writing to Learn Sequences

*Students who transfer to PSU with fewer than 55 credit hours but who have completed two composition courses will take two WL courses. They will not take English 299.