FAQ
Q: What are the required writing courses at Northeastern?
A: All students take College Writing (ENG 111 or equivalent) in their first year. Some international students are placed into ENG 101, Introductory Writing-SOL (Speakers of Other Languages) and/or ENG 102, College Writing-SOL (Speakers of Other Languages) as equivalent courses. Other students may take a sequence: ENG 110 and ENG 111.
Students also take an Advanced Writing in the Disciplines (AWD) course in their "middler" or junior year. We offer an array of courses tailored to major and interests.
First-year writing courses and AWD courses cannot be taken at the same time.
Q: How are grades distributed in required writing courses?
A: A student must receive a grade of C or better in order to pass all required writing courses in the Department of English. (C or better is necessary for graduation.) No C- or D grades are allowed in required writing courses. If a student's work in a required writing course is not up to the level of C, that student will receive a U grade, and repeat the course.
An F grade indicates that the student has not fulfilled the requirements of the course as specified in the course syllabus.
A U grade indicates that the student has made an effort and has met all the requirements as specified, but is not writing at C level or above. In effect, repeating the course with a U grade simply gives the student more time to work on her or his writing.
Q: How do I know which first-year writing course is right for me?
A: All students, except for some international students, are automatically registered for ENG 111, College Writing. For help with deciding if you are ready for College Writing, take a look at the Are You Ready for College Writing? section.
If you are an international student, you may prefer to take ENG 101 Introductory Writing-SOL (Speakers of Other Languages) and/or ENG 102 College Writing-SOL (Speakers of Other Languages) as equivalent courses. If English is not your first (or strongest) language, find out if ENG 101 or ENG 102 is right for you.
Q: How do I know which Advanced Writing in the Disciplines course is right for me?
A: Talk to your advisor about which AWD course is the best one for you. We offer a number of courses that focus on writing in the major or discipline. However, there are other options for you as well. Learn more about AWD courses.
Q: I am a transfer student. How do I get help with my writing before taking my AWD course?
A: Students who transfer to Northeastern sometimes find that they do not do as well in their AWD course as they would have liked - in spite of having taken writing courses elsewhere. There are many reasons for this: a student may not have written anything for quite a while before transferring to NU, or the kind of writing she or he did in the past was very different from the kind of writing that NU requires.
If you think that you need help with your writing before taking your AWD course, you may want to take a diagnostic exam to see how well you do. If you have questions, contact Professor David Kellogg (d.kellogg@neu.edu).
Writing courses at Northeastern are certainly challenging, but offer students the chance to hone their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills and to develop a number of writing strategies that ought to serve them well in their professional lives.
Q: I am an international student. How do I get help with my writing before taking my AWD course?
A: If you think that you need help with your writing before taking your AWD course, you may want to take a diagnostic exam to see how well you do. If you have questions, contact Professor David Kellogg (d.kellogg@neu.edu).
Writing courses at Northeastern are certainly challenging, but offer students the chance to hone their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills and to develop a number of writing strategies that ought to serve them well in their professional lives.
Q: How do I get help if English is not my first or strongest language?
A: Students whose first language is not English, or whose best language is not English, regardless of their status as American citizens or as international students, have several options to work on their writing.
Q: How can I get extra help or support for my work in required writing courses and writing in other courses?
A: The Department of English oversees a Writing Center for students who would benefit from one-to-one tutoring.
Q: I have AP credit OR I have taken the CLEP exam; how do I get credit for College Writing?
A: AP credit: students must score a 4 or a 5 on either portion of the AP exam (English Language/Composition or English Language/Literature) to exempt the first-year writing requirement.
CLEP Exam. CLEP exams are administered in the Counseling and Testing Center and may be used to fulfill the First-Year Writing Requirement. Students must take the "College Composition" test. The essay is then sent to the Department of English where a member of the Writing Programs Committee reads it. A student must earn a score of 50 or above in order to receive CLEP credit and to satisfy the first-year writing requirement. In order to receive credit, the CLEP test must be taken before or within one academic year of enrolling in Northeastern University.
Q: How do I get credit for a writing course that I took at another institution?
A: Transfer credit for first-year writing courses is assessed and credited by the Admissions Office. See your advisor for help.
All students must take an AWD course in order to graduate. No transfer credit is accepted for AWD courses.
Q: I want to take my required writing course at another institution; why do I have to clear it with the Department of English?
A: The English Department advises that students currently enrolled at Northeastern check with Linda Collins (li.collins@neu.edu) or Professor Kathleen Kelly (k.kelly@neu.edu) before they register for a first-year writing course elsewhere that they then intend to transfer to Northeastern. Not all courses will transfer or are considered equivalent.
It is best to check with departmental advisors before taking any course outside of Northeastern's day program.
All students must take an AWD course in order to graduate. No transfer credit is accepted for AWD courses.
Developed by the