Writing Requirements at the University of California

All University of California students must fulfill two writing requirements: the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) and the College Writing Requirement. 

The Entry Level Writing Requirement

The University of California requires all undergraduate students to fulfill the Entry Level Writing Requirement. Students can fulfill the ELWR either by achieving certain test scores or by passing an approved community college course prior to matriculating at UC San Diego. Those who have not fulfilled the ELWR via one of these methods must take the Writing Placement Process (WPP). 

Through the WPP, students will be placed in College Writing and thus will have fulfilled the ELWR, or they will be placed in an Analytical Writing Program’s ELWR-fulfilling course – either an accelerated one-quarter writing course (AWP 3) or a two-course sequence (AWP 4A-4B). Students who are placed into AWP courses work on the analytical reading and writing skills they will need to engage with the more complex academic texts assigned in College Writing. Once students complete AWP 3 or AWP 4B with a C or better, they will have fulfilled the ELWR. 

The College Writing Requirement

Once the ELWR is fulfilled, all students at the University of California must fulfill a second writing requirement that consists of completing at least two university writing courses. These writing courses are offered by UC San Diego’s eight different colleges. While each College Writing Program has a different focus in terms of content, they all aim to further develop students’ critical reading, thinking, and writing abilities as a way of preparing students for the more complicated assignments they will encounter later in their academic careers.

Here are the College Writing Programs:

Revelle College:      Humanities Program (HUM)
Muir College:           Muir College Writing Program (MCWP)
Marshall College:    Dimensions of Culture Program (DOC)
Warren College:      Warren College Writing Program (WCWP)
Roosevelt College:  Making of the Modern World Program (MMW)
Sixth College:          Culture, Art, and Technology Program (CAT)
Seventh College:     Synthesis Program (SYN)
Eighth College:        Critical Community Engagement Program (CCE)

Ideal Pathways Toward Fulfilling UC Writing Requirements

The table below presents the ideal pathways for AWP 3 and AWP 4A-4B students to complete their UC Writing Requirements when they pass their AWP course at the first attempt. Students must enroll in the AWP course they're placed into in the first quarter it is offered. Depending on the college, some students can enroll in the first course in their college writing sequence while taking an AWP course, but most students must pass AWP 3 or AWP 4B with a C or better and fulfill the ELWR before they are allowed to start their college writing sequence. Some Colleges offer writing courses (in-person or remotely) in Summer Session while some don't. Please consult with your college academic advisors to plan your path toward fulfilling the ELWR and college writing sequence.

Pathways (download a PDF file)

*Though Muir and Warren Colleges typically offer writing courses every quarter, AWP students from these two colleges are more likely to enroll in the first course of the sequence in a later quarter as suggested in this table if they attempt to enroll in their first pass.