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Analytical Writing Program Analytical Writing Program
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  3. Course Enrollment

AWP Course Enrollment Instructions

Incoming First-Year Students

Writing Course Options

The Writing Placement Process will place you in one of the three course options: College Writing, AWP 3, or AWP 4A-4B. 

If you are placed in College Writing, you will have fulfilled the ELWR and can proceed with your College Writing sequence. Please contact your college academic advisors for enrollment questions, including preauthorization requests. 

If you are placed in an AWP course, you must enroll in the course you are placed into during the first quarter it is offered at UC San Diego. 

  • If you are placed in AWP 3: You must enroll in the course in Fall 2025. We strongly advise students not to enroll in more than 16 units in total when they are taking AWP 3.
  • If you are placed in AWP 4A-4B: We do not offer AWP 4A in Fall 2025. You must plan to enroll in AWP 4A in Winter 2026 and AWP 4B in Spring 2026. Students who enroll in AWP 4A are required to enroll in AWP 4B in the subsequent quarter with the same instructor and cohort. 
  • Earning a grade of C or higher in AWP 3 or AWP 4B fulfills the ELWR.
  • You have limited quarters of eligibility to pass the course and fulfill the ELWR, so it is important to take this requirement seriously. If you do not enroll in the AWP course you are placed into during the first quarter it is offered, you will lose one of your quarters of eligibility. 

Freshmen Enrollment Period

If you have received your placement result before your enrollment period starts, you can enroll in the AWP course you are placed into in your second pass. 

If you plan to take the WPP in late August or in September, you most likely will not be able to enroll in any writing courses during the enrollment period, but you can enroll in other courses at the time. After you complete the WPP and receive your placement result, you can then enroll in the writing course you are placed into and adjust your class schedule if needed. We have saved 114 seats in AWP 3 Monday/Wednesday sections so you won't miss any classes if you are placed in AWP 3. 

If you are placed in an AWP course by the WPP but later realize that you actually have an ELWR-fulfilling test score or composition course received prior to your enrollment at UC San Diego, you can submit the official score/college transcript to meet the ELWR so you do not have to take the AWP course. Visit the ELWR score submission page for detailed instructions. 

Continuing Students

AWP 3 and AWP 4A Enrollment

If you are required to take AWP 3 in Winter 2026, you must enroll in the course. You many enroll in the second pass. We strongly advise students to take no more than 16 units in total when they are taking an AWP course. Pick a section with no waitlist. Do not waitlist unless all sections are full. 

If you took AWP 4A in Spring 2025, you must take your designated AWP 4B section in Fall 2025. You should schedule your other courses around your AWP 4B section. 

If you are required to take AWP 4A, you should plan to enroll in the course in Winter 2026 and enroll in AWP 4B in Spring 2026.

Students must pass AWP 3 or AWP 4B with a C or better to fulfill the ELWR, and then they can proceed with their College Writing course sequence. 

AWP 4B Enrollment

AWP 4A and 4B are linked courses that offer writing instruction to students who need extra support. Students currently enrolled in AWP 4A must enroll in AWP 4B in the next quarter with the same instructor and classmates. This will allow for consistency of instruction, and students will benefit significantly from working with the same community of learners for two quarters.

Students who complete the work in AWP 4A will receive a Pass or No Pass, and those who complete the work in AWP 4B will receive a letter grade.

How to enroll in AWP 4B?

  1. Instructor will let students know the designated AWP 4B section number and class time they must enroll for the next quarter.
  2. Students will be preauthorized to enroll in their designated AWP 4B section. They cannot enroll or waitlist in any other sections nor can they switch sections with the same instructor.
  3. While students will be preauthorized for the designated section, they will have to enroll in the course on WebReg themselves.

When to enroll in AWP 4B?

  1. We recommend that students enroll in AWP 4B on their second pass, so they can use their first pass to enroll in two other courses that DO NOT conflict with the time of their designated AWP 4B section.
  2. Students should not enroll in more than 16 units when they enroll in AWP courses. These 16 units include 4 units from AWP 4B. Note that the assignments in AWP 4B are much more difficult than those in AWP 4A.
  3. Students must enroll in AWP 4B BEFORE the new quarter starts. Only enrolled students are able to view the class Canvas site and upload their assignments on time.

What happens if I don’t enroll in AWP 4B?

  1. Students who do not enroll in AWP 4B next quarter MUST take AWP 3 in the quarter after next. This means that they will lose one quarter of ELWR eligibility, study a new topic, buy a new reader, and take a much more rigorous course.
  2. Note that AWP 4B classes have a much higher pass rate than AWP 3, so completing and passing AWP 4B is students’ best opportunity to fulfill the ELWR.

What if I have class conflict?

  1. Enrolling in the designated AWP 4B section should be students’ priority. Students must schedule other courses around their designated AWP 4B section.
  2. Students who have a class conflict that they cannot resolve should contact the Analytical Writing Program at awp@ucsd.edu right away. The program will make every effort to find a solution that best serves the students.