Core Curriculum and Writing in the Discipline

Good writing is more than just conveying information; it is a powerful way to formulate, clarify, and share good thinking.

Writing skills are essential to a quality liberal arts education, and at UP students take two writing embedded courses as part of the foundation level of the University Core, ENG 112 Thinking Through Literature and PHL 150 Introductory Philosophy. Building on this foundation, students then take two additional “Writing in the Disciplines” (WID) courses embedded with writing instruction appropriate to their major.

WID courses are primarily organized within major programs, while also being connected to the Core through the overall goal of developing effective written expression skills. WID 1 courses should come earlier in a major program and introduce students to the principles of effective writing in the relevant discipline. WID 2 courses should come later in a major program and consolidate writing in the discipline skills for effective communication.

Overall, building from foundation level courses in the University Core to WID courses in a major program allows students to develop broad writing skills essential for clear thinking and communicating, along with more specific writing skills essential for their professional futures.

By providing intentional opportunities to develop and grow their writing skills as they relate to a specific discipline, the goals of the WID program are to:

  • Introduce students to effective writing skills expected in discipline-related professions.
  • Prepare students to effectively express appropriate discipline-related content through writing.

The Writing in the Discipline courses are as follows:

College of Arts and Sciences

  WID 1 WID 2
Arts Administration
Advanced Arts Administration Course
Advanced Arts Administration Course
Biochemistry CHM 376 CHM 471/473
Biology BIO 277/278 BIO Capstone Courses
Chemistry CHM 376 CHM 471/473
Communication CST 300/320/330 CST 475/497
Economics, B.A. ECN 325 ECN 425
English
ENG 225 ENG 499
Environmental Science ENV 383 ENV 400
Environmental Ethics & Policy
ENV 324
ENV 400
French Studies FRN 3XX STAMP Test
Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
GWSS 301
GWSS 498
German Studies GRM 3XX STAMP Test
History HST 420/430/450 HST 470
Mathematics MTH 401 MTH 441
Music MUS 201 MUS 302
Organizational Communication
CST 300/320/330
CST 475/497
Philosophy PHL 371/372/373/374 PHL 499
Physics PHY 441 PHY 472
Political Science & Global Affairs
POL 250 POL 4XX
Psychology PSY 214 PSY 498/499
Social Work SW 313 SW 481
Sociology SOC 380 SOC 498/499
Spanish SPN 3XX STAMP Test
Theater THTR 307 THTR 412/413/414
Theology THE 4XX THE 498

Pamplin School of Business

  WID 1 WID 2
Accounting BUS 250 BUS 465
Economics, B.B.A. BUS 250 ECN 425
Finance
BUS 250
BUS 468
Marketing
BUS 250
BUS 471
Operation & Technology Management
BUS 250
BUS 456

School of Education

  WID 1
WID 2
 Elementary Education
 ED 320
 ED 400
 Secondary Education
 ED 320            
 ED 450

Shiley School of Engineering

  WID 1 WID 2
Civil Engineering CE 376 CE 371
Computer Science CS 341
CS 483
Electrical Engineering EE 373 EE 371
Mechanical Engineering EGR 270 ME 372

School of Nursing & Health Innovations

  WID 1
WID 2
 Nursing
 NRS 104
 NRS 440
 Integrative Health & Wellness  IHW 116
 IHW 312