Most first-year UC Santa Cruz students will do Directed Self-Placement (DSP) in the summer as a part of the UC Santa Cruz Online Slug Orientation.
Undergraduates who begin in Winter or Spring quarters will complete DSP in orientations before they enroll.
The DSP process has three parts:
1. Survey: Students take the DSP survey, which asks students to review authentic Writing Program course materials (sample assignments, sample student writing, and sample course readings) and answer questions about their readiness for and needs around that material. Students identify the course they think is best for them. Completing the survey should take about two hours.
2. Review: The Writing Program will review students’ DSP surveys and chosen courses and confirm students’ placements. Note that the Writing Program is limited in how many Writing 1 courses it can offer, so all students who choose Writing 1 may not be placed into the course. Also, any students who are ELWR-satisfied will be placed into Writing 2 (as required by UC policy).
3. Placement Communication: Students will receive notification of their writing placement. This will come in their student portal. Be patient in waiting for your placement; it will come before you need to register.