Core Curriculum and Writing in the Discipline

The Writing in the Discipline program (WD) supports writing objectives already in place in the two-course Writing Embedded core sequence, consisting of courses in English 112 and Philosophy 150 required of every student. This program incorporates both a prominent contemporary theory of college writing instruction and a national trend—the rise in universities adopting this interdisciplinary model for the teaching of writing. The WD program provides students with writing intensive courses and various kinds of writing assignments to deepen thinking about disciplinary content and to gain a better understanding of the forms of writing in their professions.

By offering writing intensive courses in every major, this program:

  • Helps students to master learning outcomes related to writing articulated by their department or school
  • Introduces students to the type of writing required in the discipline and to think and write in their respective disciplines
  • Provides all students courses with a significant writing component that will increase the ability of student to write and think critically
  • Offers students writing assignments consistent with the discipline. The type of writing can vary depending upon the major. Some examples are a research paper, an argumentative essay, lab reports, project memos/reports or a critical reflection on a clinical, teaching or field experience.

The Writing in the Discipline courses are the following:

College of Arts and Sciences

  WD 1 WD 2
Biology BIO 277 BIO 453
Chemistry CHM 376 CHM 471/CHM 473
Communication CST 434/440/445/452 Capstone Project
Economics, BA ECN 325 ECN 429
Environmental ENV 383 ENV 400
French Studies 3XX 4XX (except for FRN 411)
German Studies 3XX 4XX
History HST 420/430/450 HST 471
Mathematics MTH 401 MTH 441
Music MUS 301 MUS 302
Philosophy PHL 471/472/473/474 PHL 499
Physics PHY 441 PHY 472
Political Science 4XX 4XX
Psychology PSY 214 PSY 498/PSY 499/PSY 491
Social Work SW 313 SW 480
Sociology SOC 380 SOC 498/SOC 499
Spanish 3XX 4XX (except for SPN 480)
Theater THTR 307 THTR 498
Theology THE 492 THE 499

Pamplin School of Business

  WD 1 WD 2
Accounting BUS 250 BUS 411
Economics, BBA BUS 250 ECN 429
Finance
BUS 250
BUS 441
Marketing
BUS 250
BUS 443
Operation & Technology Management
BUS 250
BUS 456






Shiley School of Engineering

  WD 1 WD 2
Civil Engineering CE 200 CE 371
Computer Science CS 400 CS 441
Electrical Engineering EE 373 EE 371
Mechanical Engineering EGR 270 ME 374

Schools of Nursing and Education

The School of Nursing has designated two WD courses: NRS 301, Nursing Theory and Knowing; and NRS 422, Maternal Child Nursing.

The School of Education chose the following courses:

  1. The first WD course for all students in Education is ED 320. This course is taken by nearly all ED students in either the freshman or sophomore years (some take ED 320 as juniors).
  2. ED 400 or ED 450. ED 400 is taken by elementary students as juniors. ED 450 is taken by secondary students as juniors.