English Rhetoric and Writing and Writing Portfolio Requirements
To qualify for a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, a student must complete C01 and C02 core writing requirements and demonstrate writing competency by passing the junior-level writing portfolio assessment.
ESL or ELL Students Enrolled in ENGL 1300 + 1305 or ENGL 1310
The Rhetoric and Writing Program advises ESL students to enroll in ENGL 1310 sections with faculty who are qualified for ESL writing instruction for non-native speakers. Please contact the Rhetoric and Writing Program, Columbine 1041 for ESL placement and enrollment consultations and advising.
Students may meet core C01 and C02 writing requirements in the following ways:
1. Successfully complete ENGL 1300 + ENGL 1305 Stretch (C01 ENGL 1310 equivalent) and ENGL 1410 at UCCS and then pass the junior-level portfolio assessment.
a. To be admitted to ENGL 1300 Stretch, students must meet one of the following requirements:
- Score 14-18 on the English ACT.
- Score 400-440 on the verbal SAT.
- Complete ENGL 99 with a C- or an approved ENGL 99 equivalent in transfer with a C-.
- Early college or high school concurrent enrollment students must present an ENGL ACT score of 14-18 (UCCS on site ENGL ACT testing is available).
b. To be admitted to ENGL 1305 Stretch, students must meet the following requirement:
1. Complete ENGL 1300 Stretch with a C- or better.
2. Successfully complete ENGL 1310 and ENGL 1410 at UCCS and then pass the junior-level portfolio assessment.
a. To be admitted to ENGL 1310, students must meet one of the following requirements:
- Score 19-28 on the ENGLISH ACT.
- Score 450-640 on the verbal SAT.
- Complete ENGL 99 with a C-, or approved ENGL 99 equivalent with a C-.
- Students with high school diplomas or GEDs, but without ENGL ACT or SAT scores may submit a writing sample to the Rhetoric and Writing Program, Columbine 1041, for placement.
- Early college or high school concurrent students without high school diplomas or GEDs must present an ENGL ACT score of 19-28 (UCCS on site ACT testing is available) or a SAT score of 450-640.
b. To be admitted to ENGL 1410, students must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete ENGL 1300 + 1305 Stretch with a C- or better, or 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 a 5 on the IB English Examination.
- Successfully complete a first semester writing course (an approved 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 C01 and C02 core writing, students must pass the writing portfolio competency assessment administered by the Rhetoric and Writing Program.
The “final” C02 rhetoric and writing course for each undergraduate program is listed below:
- For LAS, SPA, and Nursing students: ENGL 1410
- For BUS students: ENGL 2080 or INOV 2100
- For EAS students: ENGL 2090 or INOV 2100
- For PTW students: ENGL 2080 or 2090
Students may transfer C01 and C02 writing courses if approved as equivalents by successfully completing one or two semesters of writing at an accredited college or university with a C- or better. Transfer students must also demonstrate writing competency by passing the junior-level writing portfolio assessment after completing their final writing course at UCCS or upon transfer of their complete C01 and C02 writing requirement from an accredited college or university.
Students must demonstrate competency by passing the writing portfolio assessment within thirty (30) credit hours of having completed their second writing course at UCCS or within thirty 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 completed a 3000-level, advanced rhetoric and writing course at UCCS with a grade of C- or better. Students who do not submit a portfolio within thirty credit hours after completion of the C01 and C02 writing requirements will alternately complete an additional writing course at the 3000-level.
3. Qualify for a waiver of writing coursework through the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination.
a. Score 4 to receive credit for ENGL 1310, successfully complete ENGL 1410, and then pass the portfolio assessment.
b. Score 5 to receive credit for both ENGL 1310 and 1410, and then pass the portfolio assessment.
4. Qualify for a waiver of composition coursework through the International Baccalaureate higher-level English exam.
a. Score 5 to receive credit for ENGL 1310, successfully complete ENGL 1410, then pass the portfolio assessment.
b. Score 6 or 7 to receive credit for ENGL 1310 and 1410, then pass the portfolio assessment.
CLEP College Composition Modular Exam with Essays
Students who would like to earn CLEP credit for ENGL 1310 may take the College Composition Modular Exam with essays at PPCC Testing Center. 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 Portfolio Office in Columbine Hall 1046. A $15.00 assessment fee will be billed to all students who submit a portfolio to demonstrate writing competency.
All students may take or retake the ENGL ACT exam on site in the UCCS Testing Center. To retake the ACT, contact the University Testing Center in MH 105C, 719-255-3354.
Computer-mediated Instruction
All composition courses are taught in computer classrooms or laptop sections. Students are billed $10.00 per course to cover technological support for the classrooms and printed 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 2010, ENGL 2000 and ENGL 2010 (formerly ENGL 190) are prerequisites to almost all upper division English courses, and ENGL 3000 is a prerequisite to all 4000-level literature seminars. Students are billed $10.00 for online literature course lab fees.
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.
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