Winthrop University New and Renewal
Writing Intensive Course Application
Nominated courses must be numbered higher than 299. They may have prerequisites or other enrollment restrictions.
Each approved writing intensive course will be reviewed every four years by the Writing Intensive Committee.
Departments must initiate the review by submitting updated documents by the end of the seventh semester following
course approval. If a course is taught in multiple sections, each section must meet the guidelines. However, only one
course application must be submitted for such a course. This application must document the writing intensive
components and other requested information common to all sections of the course.
Recommendations by the Writing Intensive Committee
Passed by Academic Council, September 2016
1. We recommend that students be encouraged to take writing intensive courses within their majors or minors if at all
possible, and in cognate areas if not. Since many departments are concerned with the number of hours of General
Education courses their majors take, we encourage all departments to review their courses numbered above 299 to see
which ones are now or can become writing intensive.
2. We recommend that faculty development resources be made available to help instructors who wish to make their
courses writing intensive (perhaps in conjunction with the faculty development supporting the writing component for
General Education courses).
3. We encourage instructors of writing intensive courses to examine the three categories of writing assignments described
in the Writing Component for General Education courses and to select assignments for their own courses that
complement and build on these types of writing, as appropriate to the discipline.
4. We recommend that enrollment in writing intensive courses continue to be capped at 20 students to allow faculty
members sufficient opportunity to respond to students’ writing. In some situations, however, it may be acceptable to
have a larger enrollment if additional faculty resources (e.g., graduate teaching assistant) are provided for the course.
Such arrangements must be clearly spelled out on the course application.
5. We recommend that a clear and consistent procedure be developed with the Office of Records and Registration to
remind departments when courses need to be submitted for re-approval.
Directions:
Submit one copy of the following required documentation with appropriate signatures to the Chair of the Writing Intensive
Committee:
1. A completed Writing Intensive Course Application with all requested information listed – the course application must
include signatures from the department or division chair and the school’s dean.
2. A course syllabus (submit only one representative syllabus if a course has multiple sections).
Course Designator and Number (numbered higher than 299):
Course Title:
Credit Hours:
Effective Semester:
Please explain how this writing course meets the following requirements. The goal of the course should be to provide
students with thorough instruction on writing appropriate to the discipline, including discussion of writing styles,
formats, and forms of evidence.
