Faculty Senate

Bachelor of General Studies Writing Courses 

Guidelines

  1. The online course(s) should be at the 300 or 400 level.
  2. Opportunities for writing development may include formal and informal papers, journals, learning logs, writing based on research, writing for professional or general audiences, or writing submitted via the distance learning platforms or by email.
  3. A possible standard for writing in the designated course(s), in keeping with approved WID standards, might be twenty pages (5000 words), which could include revisions of previously submitted work.
  4. The course(s) must include some form of instructional support for writing. This can include but is not limited to: a writing textbook, distance learning-based instructional activities, group work on writing, and email or chat conferences with course instructor.
  5. There should be opportunities for revision of written work after a reader has responded to a draft. Opportunity for peer response is encouraged.
  6. Writing assignments should be used throughout the semester, rather than concentrated at the end, to help students view writing as integral to the University learning experience.
  7. Assessment of writing development should be a significant component of students’ final grades for BOT/BA Writing courses.

In keeping with WID enrollment caps, online courses designated as BOT/BA Writing courses should have a student-to-teacher ratio that does not exceed 25:1.

Options for departmental BOT/BA proposals

  • an existing online course which already includes writing instruction;
  • an existing online course to which a writing instruction component has been added;
  • a new online course;