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Writing Competency

(18-21 hours)

The Writing Competency requirement develops the ability to write clearly. Writing can be a tool for organizing and clarifying one’s thoughts. Effective written expression is often necessary to contribute to ongoing debates or discussions in personal, civic, and vocational spheres. Students prepare a variety of public texts by applying knowledge of composing processes, rhetorical strategies, and textual conventions. Students must satisfy the Freshman Composition, Intermediate Composition, and Writing Intensive requirements as detailed below.

1. Freshman Composition (3-6 hours)

Students learn how to use composition techniques, strategies for persuasive writing, and modern writing conventions and practices to prepare a variety of papers.

Timeline: Students should enroll in a Freshman Composition course in their first or second semester, and continue to enroll until successfully completed OR successfully complete one of the examinations listed in Item c by the end of the first semester.

Requirement: Students satisfy the requirement for freshman composition during their first year of study at CMU. Student ACT or SAT scores and high school GPA can help shape how a student chooses to meet the Freshman Composition requirement. Most students may satisfy the Freshman Composition requirement in one of three ways:

  1. Earning a grade of C (2.0) or better in ENG 101 Freshman Composition. Students should enroll in ENG 101 Freshman Composition in either their first or second semester at CMU and continue to enroll in subsequent semesters until the requirement is satisfied.

    OR

  2. Earning a grade of C (2.0) or better in ENG 103 First Year Writing and ENG 193 Writing Workshop. Students should enroll in ENG 103 in either their first or second semester at CMU and continue to enroll in subsequent semesters until the requirement is satisfied.

    OR

  3. Successful completion of a College Level Examination Program examination designated as meeting the Freshman Composition requirement by the end of their first semester at CMU or successful completion of the International Baccalaureate English Language Examination. Specific information on these examinations, as well as information on the minimum scores required for Freshman Composition credit, can be obtained from the Computer-Based Testing Center (https://www.cmich.edu/office_provost/AcademicAffairs/CBTC/Pages/default.aspx) or call 989-774-1092.

Freshman Composition Requirement for Non-native Speakers of English: Students for whom English is not their native language may fulfill the Freshman Composition Requirement by earning a grade of C (2.0) or better in ELI 198 American Language for International Students: Written Component.

Freshman Composition Requirement for Students in the Honors Program: Honors students may fulfill the Freshman Composition Requirement by earning a grade of C (2.0) or better in ENG 101H.

Freshman Composition Courses:

ELI 198Freshman Composition for International Students

3(3-0)
ENG 101Freshman Composition

3(3-0)
ENG 103First Year Writing

3(3-0)
ENG 193Writing Workshop

1(Spec)

2. Intermediate Composition (3 hours)

Students acquire writing skills necessary for writing in upper-level major courses and beyond.

Timeline: ENG 201 may be taken only after meeting the Freshman Composition Requirement and must be taken before completing 56 hours of coursework.

Requirement: This requirement is met by earning a grade of C or better in ENG 201 Intermediate Composition.

ENG 201Intermediate Composition

3(3-0)

3. Writing Intensive Requirement (WI) (12 hours)

Writing Intensive courses in the University Program help students to learn course content, increase writing fluency, and to help prepare for more formal writing assignments. The purpose of Writing Intensive courses outside of the University Program is to provide practice with the language conventions, writing styles, and formats within a specific discipline or profession.

Timeline: Two of the four courses of the Writing Intensive requirement must be taken before completing 56 hours of coursework. The Writing Intensive requirement must be completely met prior to graduation. Transfer Students, please see C. Additional Guidelines for Students with Transfer Credit, Item 3, at the end of this section.

Requirement: Students are required to complete, with a grade of C (2.0) or better, four courses (12 credits) that have a Writing Intensive (WI) designation.

At least 6 hours of Writing Intensive coursework must be in the University Program, and 6 hours of Writing Intensive coursework may be fulfilled by courses outside of the University Program.

Writing Intensive Courses:

The following two groups of courses have been approved as Writing Intensive (check the Course Search and Registration for course sections indicated with a “WI” next to the course number). Some of these courses are also approved as UP Courses and are listed at the end of each subgroup for cross reference purposes.

Writing Intensive Courses

The following courses are always offered as Writing Intensive:

ANT 250WIWater as Life, Death, and Power

3(2-2)
ANT 265WIMedicine, Health and Illness: Why Culture Matters

3(3-0)
ATR 390WISeminar in Athletic Training

3(3-0)
ATR 478WIResearch Methods in Athletic Training

3(3-0)
BCA 211WIIntroduction to Writing for Electronic Media

3(3-0)
BCA 311WIElectronic Media Copywriting

3(3-0)
BCA 318WIElectronic Media Newswriting

3(3-0)
BCA 411WILong-Form Electronic Media Writing

3(3-0)
BCA 503WICritiquing Mass Media

3(3-0)
BCA 506WISeries Script Writing For Visual Media

3(3-0)
BCA 508WIScreenwriting for Cinematic Narrative

3(3-0)
BCA 516WIElectronic Media Management

3(3-0)
BCA 540WIRecording Industry & Business

3(3-0)
BIO 250WIWater as Life, Death, and Power

3(2-2)
BIO 403WIUndergraduate Research

3-4(Spec)
BIO 567WIBiogeochemistry

3(3-0)
BIO 576WIMammalian Cell Culture

3(1-5)
BIS 101WIEssential Business Communications Skills

3(3-0)
BIS 260WIGlobal Business Communication

3(3-0)
CSD 432WIClinical Communication in Speech-Language Pathology

3(3-0)
CGL 496WISeminar in Cultural and Global Studies

3(3-0)
CHM 250WIWater as Life, Death, and Power

3(2-2)
CHM 491WIUndergraduate Research

1-3(Spec)
COM 301WISurvey of Research in Communication

3(3-0)
EDU 380WIInterdisciplinary Methods and Pre-Student Teaching

10(Spec)
EGR 489WISenior Design I

3(Spec)
EGR 499WISenior Design II

3(Spec)
ENG 143WILaughing Matters: Comedy and Satire

3(3-0)
ENG 211WIIntroduction to English Education

3(3-0)
ENG 234WIIntroduction to Literary Analysis

3(3-0)
ENG 294WIIntroduction to Creative Writing

3(3-0)
ENG 301WINonfiction Writing

3(3-0)
ENG 303WITechnical Writing

3(3-0)
ENG 315WITeaching Writing in Elementary and Middle Schools

4(3-1)
ENG 381WIChildren's Literature

3(3-0)
ENG 391WICreative Writing: Fiction

3(3-0)
ENG 392WICreative Writing: Poetry

3(3-0)
ENG 402WIArgumentation and Expository Writing

3(3-0)
ENG 435WISenior Seminar: Advanced Literary Analysis

3(3-0)
ENG 491WIAdvanced Fiction Writing

3-6(3-0)
ENG 510WIWriting Center Practicum

1-3(Spec)
ENS 503WIEnvironmental Modeling

4(2-4)
ENV 400WIEnvironmental Studies Capstone

3(3-0)
FNS 577WIAdvanced Topics in Nutrition: Eating Disorders

3
FRN 321WIFrance Today

3(3-0)
FRN 423WIFrance at War in the 20th Century

3(3-0)
GEL 380WIHydrogeology

3(2-3)
GEL 406WISenior Thesis

3(Spec)
GEO 450WIGeography Capstone

3(3-0)
HON 201WIHonors Studies in Human Events and Ideas: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HON 202WIHonors Studies in the Arts: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HON 203WIHonors Descriptive Science: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HON 204WIHonors Quantitative and Mathematical Science: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HON 205WIHonors Behavioral Sciences: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HON 206WIHonors Studies in Social Structures: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HON 207WIHonors Studies in Global Cultures: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HON 208WIHonors Studies in Racism and Diversity in the U.S.: First Year Seminar

3(3-0)
HPS 101WIIntroduction to the Health Professions

3(3-0)
HPS 350WIReadiness: College-to-Career Transition

3(3-0)
HSC 203WILeadership for the Health Professions

3(3-0)
HPS 300WIIntroduction to Baccalaureate Nursing Practice

4
HSC 315WICritical Analysis of Contemporary Issues in Exercise and Health Science

3(3-0)
HSC 419WICommunity Health Assessment, Planning and Program Evaluation

3(3-0)
HSC 538WIDevelopment of Proposals and Reports in Health Administration

3(3-0)
HST 100WIReconstructing the Past: An Introduction to the Study of History

3(3-0)
HST 210WIUnited States History through Michigan Eyes

3(3-0)
HST 222WICherokees, Slaves and the Struggle for Racial Justice

3(3-0)
HST 496WIResearch Seminar

3(3-0)
IET 324WIProduct Design and Development

3(2-2)
IND 332WIHuman Shelter and Environment

3(3-0)
IND 339WIInterior Design Studio III: Special User Groups

3(1-4)
IND 432WISeminar in Interior Design

3(3-0)
JRN 107WILiterary Journalism

3(3-0)
JRN 202WIWriting for the Mass Media

3(3-0)
JRN 205WIShaping the Media

3(3-0)
JRN 312WIReporting

3(3-0)
JRN 348WIBusiness Journalism

3(3-0)
JRN 430WIMagazine and Feature Writing

3(3-0)
JRN 450WIPublic Relations Writing

3(3-0)
JRN 516WIPublic Affairs Reporting

3(3-0)
JRN 551WICase Studies in Public Relations

3(3-0)
MET 460WIGlobal Climate Dynamics

3(3-0)
MET 480WIAtmospheric Modeling

3(2-2)
MUS 314WIHistory of Symphonic Literature

3(3-0)
PAD 523WIFundamentals of Grant Writing and Management

3(3-0)
PHL 490WISenior Seminar in Philosophy

3(3-0)
PHY 491WISenior Physics Project

3(Spec)
PSC 571WIThe Military and Politics

3(3-0)
REL 501WISeminar in the Study of Religion

3(3-0)
REL 505WIResearch Seminar

3(3-0)
RPL 580WIProgramming for Therapeutic Recreation

3(3-0)
SPE 550WITeaching Diverse Students in Educational Settings

3(3-0)
SPN 405WIModern and Contemporary Spanish Novel

3(3-0)
SPN 415WISpanish-American Novel

3(3-0)
SPN 431WIAdvanced Writing in Spanish

3(3-0)
SWK 331WISocial Work Generalist Practice III

3(3-0)
TAI 586WIPlaywriting

3(3-0)

Approved for Writing Intensive Sections

The following courses are approved for Writing Intensive; check the Course Registration for WI sections:

ANT 170Cultural Anthropology

3(3-0)
ANT 276Language and Culture

3(3-0)
ANT 459Anthropology of Religion

3(3-0)
ANT 465Capstone Experience in Anthropology

3(3-0)
ART 126Introduction to the Visual Arts

3(3-0)
ART 380Greek Art and Architecture

3(3-0)
ART 381Early Christian and Byzantine Art

3(3-0)
ART 485Art After 1945

3(3-0)
ART 580Seminar in Ancient/Medieval Art History

3-6(3-0)
ART 581Seminar in Early Modern Art History

3-6(3-0)
ART 582Seminar in Modern and Contemporary Art History

3-6(3-0)
ART 586Special Topics Seminar in Art History

3-9(3-0)
BIO 240Conservation of Natural Resources

3(3-0)
BIO 325Biotechnology

3(1-5)
BIO 338Human Ecology

3(3-0)
BIO 545Molecular Genetics

3(3-0)
BIO 560Avian Ecology

3(2-3)
BLR 202Legal Environment of Business

3(3-0)
BLR 222The Search for Racial Justice through Law

3(3-0)
BLR 235Business Law

3(3-0)
BLR 325Women and the Law

3(3-0)
BLR 330Real Estate Law

3(3-0)
COM 277Video Games and Human Communication

3(3-0)
COM 468Advanced Interpersonal Communication

3(3-0)
EDU 107Introduction to Teaching

3(3-1)
EDU 310Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers

3(3-0)
EDU 290Technology in Education

3(3-0)
ENG 134Introduction to Literature

3(3-0)
ENG 141Comics, Graphic Novels, and Other Illustrated Texts

3(3-0)
ENG 142Literary Interpretation of Sport

3(3-0)
ENG 144Monsters and Their Meanings

3(3-0)
ENG 145Bestsellers and Prize Winners

3(3-0)
ENG 175The Nature of Language

3(3-0)
ENG 235English Literature: Beginning to Romantic Period

3(3-0)
ENG 236British Literature

3(3-0)
ENG 251American Literature: Colonial Through the Romantic Period

3(3-0)
ENG 252American Literature: Realistic Period to the Present

3(3-0)
ENG 261Masterpieces of Ancient Literature

3(3-0)
ENG 262European Literatures

3(3-0)
ENG 323Fantasy and Science Fiction

3(3-0)
ENG 327/WGS 327Women Writers: Gender, Sexuality, and Literature

3(3-0)
ENG 349Shakespeare

3(3-0)
ENG 492Advanced Poetry Writing

3-6(3-0)
ENG 493Creative Nonfiction

3-6(3-0)
ENG 514Language and Media Discourse

3(3-0)
ENG 539Seminar in Major Nonfiction Writers

3-9(Spec)
FMD 250History of Western Dress

3(3-0)
FMD 252Dress and Culture

3(3-0)
FNS 370Nutrition

3(3-0)
FRN 201Intermediate French I

4(4-0)
FRN 202Intermediate French II

4(4-0)
FRN 325French Literature in Translation

3(3-0)
FRN 333Francophone Literature and Culture

3(3-0)
FRN 340Foreigners in France in the 20th and 21st Centuries

3(3-0)
FRN 353Youth Literature in French

3(3-0)
FRN 360Literature and Culture of Quebec

3(3-0)
FRN 375French/English Translation

3(3-0)
FRN 391Topics in French and Francophone Cultures

1-12(Spec)
GEL 370Structural Geology

3(2-3)
GEO 121Human Geography and Globalization

3(3-0)
GEO 400Geographic Education

3(2-2)
GEO 531Integrated Land Use Planning

3(3-0)
GER 325Modern German Literature in Translation

3(3-0)
GER 341German Cultural History I

3(3-0)
GER 342German Cultural History II

3(3-0)
GER 343Survey of German Literature I

3(3-0)
GER 344Survey of German Literature II

3(3-0)
GER 345Survey of German Literature III

3(3-0)
GER 347German Cultural History III

3(3-0)
GER 570Advanced Grammar and Composition

3(3-0)
HDF 100Lifespan Development

3(3-0)
HDF 247Introduction to Gerontology

3(3-0)
HDF 308Theories of Child and Adolescent Development

3(3-0)
HON 499Senior Project

3-6(Spec)
HST 101The Development of Western Civilization: From Ancient Times to 1700 A.D.

3(3-0)
HST 102The Development of Western Civilization: From 1700 to the Present

3(3-0)
HST 106Twentieth Century: Western World Issues

3(3-0)
HST 110The American Experience

3(3-0)
HST 111The Quest for Liberty: The United States to 1865

3(3-0)
HST 112The Struggle for Equality: The United States, 1865-Present

3(3-0)
HST 120Unlikely Princesses: Women of World History

3(3-0)
HST 163The Latin American Experience

3(3-0)
HST 168Modern East Asia

3(3-0)
HST 176The African Experience

3(3-0)
HST 200Medieval Civilization

3(3-0)
HST 221Growing Up in America

3(3-0)
HST 236Babylon and Beyond: Ancient Civilizations of the Near/Middle East

3(3-0)
HST 237Baghdad and Beyond: The Middle East from 600 C.E.

3(3-0)
HST 238Ancient Greece and Rome

3(3-0)
HST 303The American Revolution

3(3-0)
HST 320United States Social History to 1865

3(3-0)
HST 321United States Social History since 1865

3(3-0)
HST 323History of Native Americans

3(3-0)
HST 324'Death is Better than Slavery': African American History to 1877

3(3-0)
HST 325'By Any Means Necessary': African American History, 1877-Present

3(3-0)
HST 326/WGS 328Women in America

3(3-0)
HST 330'We the People': U.S. Constitutional History

3(3-0)
HST 340The High Middle Ages

3(3-0)
HST 341Renaissance and Reformation

3(3-0)
HST 361/REL 361Sinners and Saints of Colonial Latin America

3(3-0)
HST 375Continuity and Change in Contemporary Africa, 1960s to the Present

3(3-0)
HST 379/HUM 340Race, Class and Power: South Africa in the 20th Century

3(3-0)
HST 505Tudor England

3(3-0)
HST 511Colonial British America

3(3-0)
HST 513Era of the Early Republic, 1789-1825

3(3-0)
HST 514Democracy, Expansion, and Reform in America, 1824-1848

3(3-0)
HST 515Civil War and Reconstruction

3(3-0)
HST 516Emergence of Modern America, 1877-1920

3(3-0)
HST 518African Americans and the Law: From Slavery to Civil Rights

3(3-0)
HST 522Indians of the Great Lakes Region

3(3-0)
HST 525The Industrialization of America

3(3-0)
HST 535The Middle East in the Modern Era

3(3-0)
HST 537The Age of Cicero

3(3-0)
HST 543Napoleon

3(3-0)
HST 558Europe, 1914-1945

3(3-0)
HST 576Colonialism in Africa, 1880s-1960s

3(3-0)
HST 580Public History

3(3-0)
HST 585Oral History

3(3-0)
HUM 303Law and Society: Great Trials

3(3-0)
HUM 340/HST 379Race, Class and Power: South Africa in the Twentieth Century

3(3-0)
JRN 207Video Games and Mass Communication

3(3-0)
JRN 372The Asian Media and Cross-cultural Mass Communication

3(3-0)
JRN 380Racial and Cultural Diversity: Mass Media's Role

3(3-0)
MKT 300Introduction to Marketing

3(3-0)
MUS 114Listening Experience

3(3-0)
MUS 213Jazz: An American Art Form

3(3-0)
MUS 310Music and the Mind

3(3-0)
MUS 311Historical Survey of Music III

3(3-0)
MUS 313Musics of the World

3(3-0)
PAD 210Introduction to Public Administration

3(3-0)
PAD 211Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership

3(3-0)
PAD 411Public Sector Human Resources

3(3-0)
PAD 412Nonprofit Administration

3(3-0)
PAD 413Organizational Leadership and Behavior

3(3-0)
PHL 100Introduction to Philosophy

3(3-0)
PHL 118Moral Problems

3(3-0)
PHL 218Ethical Theories

3(3-0)
PHL 230Philosophy of Religion

3(3-0)
PHL 313Justice, Human Rights, and the Philosophy of Nonviolence

3(3-0)
PHL 335Philosophy of Psychology

3(3-0)
PHL 397Special Topics in Philosophy

1-12(Spec)
PHL 404Twentieth Century Philosophy

3(3-0)
PHL 418Advanced Moral Philosophy

3(3-0)
PHL 422Political and Social Philosophy

3(3-0)
PHL 480Philosophy of the Arts

3(3-0)
PHL 497Special Topics in Philosophy

1-12(Spec)
PSC 100Introduction to Political Science

3(3-0)
PSC 101Political Behavior

3(3-0)
PSC 105Introduction to American Government and Politics

3(3-0)
PSC 150Introduction to International Relations

3(3-0)
PSC 261State and Local Government

3(3-0)
PSC 347Europe and the European Union

3(3-0)
PSC 381Slavery, Tyranny, Democracy: Classical Origins of Modern Ideas

3(3-0)
PSC 515Comparative Public Policy

3(3-0)
PSY 285Research Methods

3(3-0)
PSY 385Applications of Research Methods

3(3-0)
REL 101World Religions: An Introduction to the Study of Religion

3(3-0)
REL 130Religion in America

3(3-0)
REL 140Religion, Race and Discrimination in America

3(3-0)
REL 207/WGS 207Women in Religion

3(3-0)
REL 222Religious Traditions of India

3(3-0)
REL 235Religion and Social Issues

3(3-0)
REL 240African-American Religion

3(3-0)
REL 250Creation, Conquest, and Chaos: Introduction to the Old Testament

3(3-0)
REL 260From Gospel to Apocalypse: Introduction to the New Testament

3(3-0)
REL 302/WGS 302Witchcraft, Magic, and Occult Phenomena

3(3-0)
REL 303/WGS 303Goddesses

3(3-0)
REL 305Mysticism: Union with the Sacred

3(3-0)
REL 313Christianity

3(3-0)
REL 315Judaism

3(3-0)
REL 334Death and Dying

3(3-0)
REL 361/HST 361Sinners and Saints of Colonial Latin America

3(3-0)
REL 397Special Studies

1-9(Spec)
RPL 358Foundations of Outdoor and Environmental Education

3(3-0)
RPL 430Planning Recreation Programs and Events

3(3-0)
RPL 470Park and Natural Resource Management

3(3-0)
RPL 545Marketing of Leisure Services

3(3-0)
SOC 223Urban Structures and Change

3(3-0)
SPE 210History of Disability

3(3-0)
SPE 270Disability and Society

3(3-0)
SPN 201Intermediate Spanish I

4(4-0)
SPN 202Intermediate Spanish II

3(3-0)
SPN 214Intermediate Conversation and Composition

3(3-0)
SPN 376Culture and Civilization of Spain

3(3-0)
SPN 377Culture and Civilization of Latin America

3(3-0)
SWK 450Social Welfare Policies and Services II

3(3-0)
WGS 100How Gender Affects Our Lives

3(3-0)
WGS 207/REL 207Women in Religion

3(3-0)
WGS 302/REL 302Witchcraft, Magic, and Occult Phenomena

3(3-0)
WGS 303/REL 303Goddesses

3(3-0)
WGS 327/ENG 327Women Writers: Gender, Sexuality, and Literature

3(3-0)
WGS 328/HST 326Women in America

3(3-0)