English Rhetoric and Writing and Writing Portfolio Requirements
To qualify for a bachelor’s degree from the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, a student must complete Rhetoric and Writing course requirements and demonstrate writing competency by successfully passing the writing portfolio assessment. There are four different ways in which students may meet these requirements, described as follows:
1. Successfully complete ENGL 1310 and 1410 at UCCS and then pass the portfolio assessment.
a. To be admitted to ENGL 1310, the student must meet one of the following requirements:
- Score 19-28 on the English ACT.
- Score 450-640 on the English SAT.
- Complete ENGL 99, Components of Writing, offered through LAS Extended Studies, or an equivalent course completed elsewhere. (Credit hours do not count toward graduation.)
- Students without ACT or SAT scores must submit a writing sample to the Writing Program, Columbine 1041, for placement purposes.
b. To be admitted to ENGL 1410, students must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete ENGL 1310 at UCCS.
- Score 29+ on the English ACT.
- Score 650+ on the English SAT.
- Score 4 on the CEEB Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Exam.
- Score 5 on the IB English exam.
- Successfully complete a first-semester composition course (equivalent to ENGL 1310) at an accredited college or university with a C or better.
- Score 50 and receive a ‘pass’ on the essay portion of the CLEP College Composition Modular Exam with essays. (Not an option for Engineering majors)
c. To demonstrate writing competency after course completion, students must pass the writing portfolio competency exam administered by the Writing Program. The “final” composition course for each undergraduate program is listed below:
- For LAS and nursing students: ENGL 1410.
- For BUS students: ENGL 2080 or INOV 2100.
- For EAS students: ENGL 2090 or INOV 2100.
2. Transfer equivalent course work in written communication taken elsewhere at an accredited college or university with a C or better and demonstrate competency by passing the writing portfolio assessment.
Students may transfer equivalent composition courses taken elsewhere by successfully completing one or two semesters of composition at an accredited college or university with a C or better. Transfer students must also demonstrate competency by passing the writing portfolio assessment after completing their final composition course at UCCS or upon transfer of their complete composition requirement from an accredited college or university. Students must demonstrate competency by passing the writing portfolio assessment exam within thirty (30) credit hours of having completed their second writing course at UCCS or within thirty (30) credit hours upon transfer of the required course. Students who choose not to demonstrate competency by earning a ‘pass’ on their writing portfolio may alternately meet the competency requirement by successfully completing a 3000-level, advanced rhetoric and writing course at UCCS with a grade of C or better. Students who do not take the exam within thirty (30) credit hours after completion of their composition course requirements will alternately complete an additional writing course at the 3000-level, a course beyond those stipulated within their degree plan.
3. Qualify for a waiver of composition coursework through the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination.
- Score 4 on the AP English Language and Composition to receive credit for ENGL 1310, successfully complete ENGL 1410 and then pass the portfolio assessment.
- Score 5 on the AP English Language and Composition to receive credit for both ENGL 1310 and ENGL 1410 and then pass the portfolio assessment.
4. Qualify for a waiver of composition course work through the International Baccalaureate higher-level English exam.
- Score 5 to receive credit for ENGL 1310, successfully complete ENGL 1410, and then pass the portfolio assessment.
- Score 6 or 7 to receive credit for both ENGL 1310 and 1410, and then pass the portfolio assessment.
CLEP COLLEGE COMPOSITION MODULAR EXAM WITH ESSAYS: Students who would like to CLEP out of ENGL 1310 may take the College Composition Modular Exam with essays. For testing information, contact the University Testing Center in MH 105C, 719-255-3354. Not an option for Engineering majors.
JUNIOR LEVEL WRITING PORTFOLIO COMPETENCY EXAM: For information and applications, walk into the Writing Program office in Columbine 1046. A $5.00 assessment fee will be billed to all students who submit a portfolio to demonstrate writing competency.
PLACEMENT IN ENGLISH 99: Student who do not meet enrollment criteria for placement in ENGL 1310 are required to complete ENGL 99 or an equivalent course as a prerequisite. Placement criteria for ENGL 99 are: ACT of 18 or below, SAT of 449 or below. Contact LAS Extended Studies, Columbine 4007, 719-255-4071, to enroll in ENGL 99. Students with an ACT of 18 may submit a writing sample to the Writing Program, Columbine 1041, for placement into ENGL 1310. Students with an ACT of 17 or lower may retake the ACT English portion, earn a higher score and place into ENGL 1310. To retake the ACT, contact the University Testing Center in MH 105C, 719-255-3354.
ESL ENGLISH 1310: The Writing Program offers ESL students the opportunity to enroll in ENGL 1310 for non-native speakers. Enrollment is limited to students whose writing demonstrates the need for additional support with the ENGL 1310 curriculum. Enrollment is by permit only. ESL ENGL 1310 has the same competency requirements as the standard ENGL 1310 course. Please contact the Writing Program in Columbine 1041 for placement information.
COMPUTER-MEDIATED INSTRUCTION: All composition courses are taught in computer classrooms. Students are billed $10.00 per course to cover technological support for the classrooms and materials for these courses.
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES: ENGL 1310 (and in some cases ENGL 1410) is required for all advanced writing courses and those in the Professional Writing Program. All students must have taken ENGL 1310 (or qualified transfer course) in order to take any literature course offered in the English Department. Students may take ENGL 1310 during the same semester that they take ENGL 2000. Note that starting with majors declared in fall 2009, ENGL 2000 and ENGL 3000 are prerequisites to all 4000-level literature seminars. Students are billed $10.00 for online literature course lab fees.
WRITING LABORATORY COURSES: Students interested in taking ENGL 1450 as a lab course should contact the Writing Center Director at 719-255-4335, or visit the Writing Center, Columbine Hall 316.
Foreign Language Requirement
As of January 1, 1993, the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences no longer has a foreign language requirement. However, a variety of language classes will continue to be offered for students who wish to study a foreign language. Students contemplating graduate school should be aware that many graduate schools require proficiency in a foreign language.
Newly admitted freshmen are still required to have completed two units of foreign language at the high school level. Freshmen admitted who are deficient in this requirement may make up the deficiency as outlined in the beginning of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences section of this Catalog. The foreign language placement examination will continue to be administered for those students wishing to determine their level of placement in a foreign language course. For information, contact the Language Technology Center on the second floor of Dwire Hall at (719) 255-3691.
Students are urged to continue language study in a timely manner, as proficiency declines rapidly without application of skills.
