Undergraduate

Writing Program

The First-year Writing Requirement

A first-year writing course is required of all University of Michigan students. Students cannot fulfill the requirement through Advanced Placement (AP) scores. The First-Year Writing Requirement should be completed in the first-year. It can be met by taking an approved first-year writing course alone or by taking SWC 100/102 (Writing Practicum) followed by an approved first-year writing course.

The U-M College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LS&A) Course Guide states the following about the first-year writing requirement: "The goal of the First-Year Writing Requirement is to teach students the discipline and skills needed for college writing. Without these skills, college students can find it difficult to master the art of argument and to achieve the academic sophistication that University of Michigan courses demand."

The majority of students fulfill the first-year writing requirement through English 125 (College Writing) and English 124 (Writing and Literature). There are a few other courses around the university that also fulfill the requirement, such as History 195, Classical Civilization 101, Comparative Literature 122, Great Books 191, Lloyd Hall Scholars Program 125, Engineering 100 (only for Engineering students). Students must receive at least a C- in the course to fulfill the first-year writing requirement.

The Specific Goals of English 125 and English 124