University Writing Skills Requirement Courses - ENGLISH 300 - 301 - 302

Sep 4, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo

University Writing Skills Requirement courses explain how Cal State East Bay students can satisfy the University Writing Skills Requirement (UWSR) for graduation and degree conferral. The handbook outlines exemption pathways, including prior UWSR completion, CSU graduation conditions, and qualifying standardized essay scores. It also details two completion options: the Writing Skills Test with required competency outcomes and retake rules, and first-tier writing courses ENGL 300 and ENGL 301 with guidance toward second-tier placement or repetition.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages67

Reading Time2 h 49 min

AccessFree to download

Overview of University Writing Skills Requirement Courses

ENGLISH 300 Writing for Proficiency

ENGLISH 301 Writing for Proficiency (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

ENGL 302 Discursive Writing

University Writing Skills Requirement Courses English 300 , 301, 302 Semester Length Format 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd Hayward, CA 94542 p. 510.885.3151 f. 510.885.4797 [www.csueastbay.edu/class/departments/english/](www.csueastbay.edu/class/departments/english/) Table of Contents 1. Overview of University Writing Skills Requirement Courses 2. ENGLISH 300 Writing for Proficiency 2. ENGLISH 301 Writing for Proficiency (English for Speakers of Other Languages) 3. ENGL 302 Discursive Writing page 3 page 5 page 28 page 45 Acknowledgements The Department of English is grateful to Georgie Ziff, Marina Sapozhnikov, and Dale Ireland for developing this UWSR handbook for the Critical Writing Program at CSUEB. Overview of University Writing Skills Requirement English 300, 301, and 302 are courses that meet or partially meet the University Writing Skills Requirement. The information below is from CSUEB’s Catalog and provides an overview of this requirement and the options students have for fulfilling it. In addition to the lower-division General Education requirements for writing, the California State University system requires that all students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation and to receive a baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degree. This requirement was implemented system-wide in 1977. Students must satisfy the University Writing Skills Requirement (UWSR) in order to receive a degree from Cal State East Bay unless they are exempt by one of the following criteria: 1. Previously satisfied the UWSR at Cal State East Bay or at another CSU campus, Cal State East Bay will accept official certification of completion if the entire requirement, as specified by that CSU campus, was satisfied and the student was a matriculated student at that campus at the time. On some CSU campuses, the requirement is called the “Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) .” 2. Graduated from any one of the CSU campuses; unless it is noted on the transcript that the UWSR (or GWAR) was not satisfied. 3. Received an essay score of 4.5 or higher on the GMAT or GRE or an essay score of 53 or higher on the CBEST. To satisfy the requirement at Cal State East Bay, students may do one of the following: 􀁸 Option One: Register for and pass the Writing Skills Test. See Writing Skills Test (Option One) below. 􀁸 Option Two: Enroll in and pass a first-tier writing course (ENGL 300 or ENGL 301) and possibly a second-tier course, as well. See Course (Option Two) below. Writing Skills Test (Option One) The Writing Skills Test (WST) consists of an analytic essay that requires students to demonstrate that they can think and write critically. A score of Clear Competence (8) is needed to meet the requirement. Students who do not meet receive the Clear Competence designation on the first attempt have only one opportunity to take it again; a score of Clear Competence on the second attempt satisfies the requirement. If both tests are scored as “Limited Competence (6)”, they will be required to take the course option (see below) . If one or both scores is “Developing Competence (7)”, they need only take a second-tier course to satisfy the UWSR (see below) . Note: There is a fee for the WST. See the Fees & Financial Services Chapter for more information. Course (Option Two) ENGL 300 and ENGL 301 are the first-tier writing courses designed to help students meet the University Writing Skills Requirement. Students who have not attempted the WST or those who have taken the Writing Skills Test (WST) and have received Limited Competence (6) must take either ENGL 300 or ENGL 301 and perhaps a second-tier writing course as well. Students who have not taken the WST twice may take it even when enrolled in a writing skills course. Generally speaking, ENGL 300 is intended for native speakers of English, while ENGL 301 is intended for non-native speakers. Based on end-of-course portfolio

FAQs

What is the University Writing Skills Requirement (UWSR) and why must students complete it?

The UWSR is required system-wide for graduation so students can receive a baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degree. Students must satisfy UWSR at Cal State East Bay unless they qualify for an exemption.

What exemption options are available besides taking the courses or the test?

Students may satisfy UWSR through prior completion at CSUEB or another CSU campus, graduation from a CSU campus when the transcript shows satisfaction, or qualifying essay scores on the GMAT/GRE/CBEST. Specific score thresholds and transcript conditions apply.

How do students satisfy the UWSR at Cal State East Bay—through the test or through courses?

Students can either register for the Writing Skills Test (analytic essay) and meet the required competency score with defined retake outcomes, or enroll in first-tier writing courses ENGL 300 or ENGL 301. Depending on portfolio evaluation, students may then meet the requirement, move to a second-tier course, or repeat the first tier.

Sep 4, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo