Participation in Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)

All Dickinson State students seeking a certificate, associate, or baccalaureate degree will participate in the University program to develop writing skills. This program is called “Writing Across the Curriculum” and involves completing a minimum number of credit hours in course work that includes intensive written assignments and the development of writing skills. All major programs will include writing intensive courses and a capstone course that includes extensive student writing. As part of this program, the required college composition courses (ENGL 110 – College Composition I and ENGL 120 – College Composition II) will be completed no later than the sophomore year with mandatory enrollment during the first year of college. Successful completion of these two basic composition courses are necessary pre-requisites for enrollment in any 200, 300 or 400 level writing intensive courses.

The Dickinson State University Writing Across the Curriculum Project has endorsed the following goals:

1. To measurably increase the use of the writing as a teaching and learning technique in the Dickinson State University curriculum.
2. To implement sequences of writing activities within the Dickinson State University curriculum.
3. To implement entrance evaluation of students’ reading and writing skills, and to offer appropriate placement to entering students.
4. To introduce students to the kinds of academic and professional writing performed in specific disciplines.
5. To improve student writing for a general, college-educated audience, and to enhance future employability.
6. To provide cultural and professional communication models for a cross-section of the University community including parents and families of students.

This project is on-going. Each student will complete the six semester hours of College Composition I and II (or Honors Composition) required in the general education component. Each department will develop or designate a writing intensive course/s within the courses required for each major at the 200, 300, and 400 levels of course work. Finally, each capstone experience required for degree majors will include sufficient writing components to meet the writing intensive standards. Thus, students will have three specific points in their undergraduate careers which will emphasize the development and application of writing skills across the academic curriculum and have a minimum of 18 semester hours of writing intensive courses.