Requirements for Certifying Upper Division Writing Courses
I. Courses to be considered for the Communication Category of General Education Category 1 should follow the "New Course" guidelines at the bottom of the University Senate General Education Committee website.
II. In order for a writing-intensive course at NDSU to be considered for the Communication Category in General Education, it must meet the following General Education Outcomes and specific requirements:
- GE Outcome #1: Students should learn to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and genres. To meet this goal, a course should include these elements:
- assigned readings in a variety of genres, acknowledging that models can be helpful for writing and that good writers are typically good readers;
- multiple writing assignments in at least two different genres;
- structured elements within a course that will promote drafting, revising, and editing.
- GE Outcome #6: Students should learn to integrate knowledge and ideas in a coherent and meaningful manner. In order to meet this goal, writing assignments should include these elements:
- reading of primary or secondary sources as a prompt or starting point for writing;
- research (field, lab, or library) that will be integrated into a written document;
- a clearly specified audience and context for writing.
III. A writing-intensive course at NDSU must also include these elements:
- English 120 as a pre-requisite;
- three (3) credits;
- a student cap of 22 is strongly recommended but not required;
- at least three (3) writing assignments;
- opportunities for revision;
- the production of at least 15 pages of finished text or an appropriate equivalent in another medium.
