Consider Class Modality
The Writing program offers several different modalities which can be viewed in each section’s Class Search listing.
SWAP, Don’t Drop
Once enrolled in a section, remember to Swap NOT Drop when switching sections to make sure you don’t end up without a seat in any section.
Utilize Waitlists
Review how waitlists work, and set up your waitlist details appropriately to maximize your chances of getting a seat in the section you want.
When is the Course I need offered?
| Course | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WRIT 1 & 1E | Yes | Yes | Limited* | Varies** |
| WRIT 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (continuing students only) |
| WRIT 26 | Yes |
*A very small number of WRIT 1/1E sections are offered in Spring, specifically reserved to accommodate students needing to repeat the course before their ELWR deadline.
**WRIT 1/1E will NOT be offered in Summer 2025
First Week of Class Policies
Early Deadline to Add/Swap
For Fall 2025, Oct 3 @ 4PM is the deadline to add, swap, or be enrolled off the waitlist into a WRIT class.
Writing courses have an earlier add/swap deadline from the rest of campus due to the importance of attendance in the first week and to help with waitlist management.
You may still choose to drop by the campus-wide deadline
Attend Class to Keep your Seat
Enrolled students who do not attend class in the first week will be administratively dropped from the course. Waitlisted students must attend class as if they are enrolled in order to keep their place on the waitlist.
If something comes up that prevents you from attending, you must notify your instructor to prevent being dropped.
For online asynchronous sections, follow your faculty’s instructions on how to verify your participation in the first week.
Full-time Enrollment is Required
Students enrolled in only one course will be dropped from their course by the Registrar on the day before the quarter starts.
All students must be full-time unless approved and registered through the part-time student process.
If you need to enroll in additional courses, consult Best Bets Course Guide for recommendations.
Enrollment FAQs
General Questions
How can I change the section I’m enrolled in?
You may swap into any other section of your WRIT course provided there is an available seat. (This is true whether you were auto-enrolled or self-enrolled).
- How to Swap a Class
- It’s important to SWAP (not DROP) to ensure that you don’t lose a seat in any WRIT course altogether.
If there is not an available seat in your desired section, you may waitlist for the section. Jump to: Utilizing Waitlists
What are the chances I will get off the waitlist?
When it comes to waitlists, we are not able to predict your chances of enrolling as it depends solely on whether other students in your chosen section drop the class.
WRIT 2 sections are capped at 25 or the fire capacity of the room (whichever is lower). WRIT 1/1E sections are capped at 20 or the fire capacity of the room (whichever is lower). There are no exceptions in regards to class capacity.
You must attend your waitlisted section in the first week of class in order to maintain your spot on the waitlist. We encourage you to read the waitlist info/tips here.
How do I know what writing course(s) I need to take?
You should check your ELWR status, C status, and writing placement. If you are ELWR-required, you will need to start with the course indicated by your writing placement.
If you are ELWR-satisfied and C-required, you will need to take WRIT 2 before the start of your 7th quarter.
Most transfer students enter UCSC having already met their ELWR/WRIT 1 and Composition/WRIT 2 Requirement.
What grade do I need to get to meet the writing requirements?
You must earn a C or better in your Writing course to pass and satisfy the relevant requirement. If you choose to take the course pass/no pass, you must earn a P.
Who will be teaching my class?
Use the Class Search to view a specific section’s instructor. Your class will be taught by one of our Writing Program faculty, who you can learn more about here!
For Summer 2025, some sections still have the instructor unlisted in the Class Search. You can view each section’s instructor here.
What can I expect from class?
View more about course content and class details here.
About Writing 2
Do I need to take Writing 2 this quarter?
Writing 2 is the only UCSC course approved to satisfy the General Education Composition requirement (or “C Requirement”) which all students must complete (minimum C grade) by the start of their 7th quarter. In addition to being a graduation requirement, WRIT 2 is also a prerequisite for many upper division major courses.
During the academic year, priority enrollment is given to 6th quarter students only. Remaining seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
Writing 2 is offered every quarter (including Summer). Writing 2 does NOT need to be taken immediately after Writing 1/1E. We recommend you consult with your major advisor on the best quarter to plan for Writing 2.
Keep in mind that ELWR satisfaction is a prerequisite for Writing 2. Learn how to verify your ELWR status and writing placement below.
Do I enroll myself or will I be auto-enrolled?
As a courtesy, the Writing Program works with the Registrar to auto-enroll students who are at their writing deadline into the appropriate course during the academic year.
For Fall 2025, 6th+ quarter C-required students will be auto-enrolled into WRIT 2 prior to first pass.
- Beginning with your first pass appointment, you may swap your auto-enrolled WRIT section with a different one, based on availability and your preferences.
- All students being auto-enrolled will receive an email notification in advance of the auto-enrollment. Make sure you are aware of the issues that prevent auto-enrollment.
All other students should self-enroll provided they meet the course prerequisites and there are seats available.
This will be my 2nd or 3rd time taking WRIT 2. What do I need to know?
If this will be your second attempt, you may use self-enrollment to enroll normally. If you are in your 6th+ quarter, you will likely be auto-enrolled to guarantee you a spot in the class. (See FAQ above)
If this will be your third (or more) attempt, you must work with your college to submit a Double Repeat Petition prior to the start of the quarter you wish to enroll. Enrollment will not be possible until a double repeat petition is approved by your college. We strongly encourage you to start this process with your college as soon as possible since Double Repeat petitions can take up to 2-4 weeks for processing.
About Writing 1/1E
Do I need to take Writing 1/1E this quarter?
Writing 1 and Writing 1E are the only UCSC courses approved to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (or ELWR). If your writing placement is WRIT 1 or WRIT 1E, you must take the specific course indicated by your placement in either the Fall or Winter of your first year. Note that Writing 1 and Writing 1E are NOT interchangeable for enrollment.
Learn how to verify your ELWR status and writing placement below.
Do I enroll myself or will I be auto-enrolled?
For Fall 2025, incoming first year students needing WRIT 1 or 1E should self-enroll during their enrollment appointment.
If you are a continuing student still needing to take WRIT 1/1E, you will receive email outreach from the Writing Program with guidance for your specific situation.
This will be my 2nd or 3rd time taking WRIT 1. What do I need to know?
If this will be your second attempt, you may use self-enrollment to enroll normally.
If this will be your third (or more) attempt, you must work with your college to submit a Double Repeat Petition prior to the start of the quarter you wish to enroll. Enrollment will not be possible until a double repeat petition is approved by your college. We strongly encourage you to start this process with your college as soon as possible since Double Repeat petitions can take up to 2-4 weeks for processing.
If you are beyond your deadline for the requirement (in your 4th+ quarter), you will receive email outreach from the Writing Program with guidance for your specific situation. In the meantime, please review the ELWR hold information here.
About Writing 26
Do I need to take Writing 26 this quarter?
All incoming first years with a writing placement of WRIT 26 must take Writing 26 in the Fall of their first year.
Students that start in WRIT 26 must then take WRIT 1E in the following Winter quarter to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR).
Writing 26 is specifically for international students still acquiring conversational and academic English.
Learn how to verify your ELWR status and writing placement below.
Do I enroll myself or will I be auto-enrolled?
For Fall 2025, incoming first year students needing WRIT 26 should self-enroll during their enrollment appointment.
There is usually only 1-2 sections of WRIT 26 offered. Be sure to plan your schedule accordingly to ensure you can enroll in WRIT 26 for the Fall.
Utilizing Waitlists
If there is not an available seat in your desired section, you may waitlist for the section. Comprehensive waitlist information is available here. Here are some important highlights:
You can waitlist for a WRIT section while also enrolled in a different WRIT section.
You must set up “drop if enrolled” to be successfully swapped into your waitlisted section if a seat opens up.
You may waitlist for two sections of the same course at the same time.
Be sure to review the details of how your enrollment for these is managed if seats become available.
Waitlists are processed based on waitlist position if/when a seat opens up in the section.
You will not be enrolled from the waitlist if you have any enrollment errors. Set up “drop if enrolled” to avoid errors related to credit overload and time conflicts.
Waitlists are processed from the start of second pass until the second week of class.
You must attend class to maintain your spot on the waitlist. Waitlists will close at the WRIT Early Add/Swap Deadline. See Class Policies
Enrollment Holds & Errors
Students with registration errors will not be able to enroll via auto-enrollment or self-enrollment. Common errors include:
Log into MyUCSC to resolve the hold ASAP. Once resolved, you may self-enroll into an open class or waitlist for closed sections.
If this will be your third attempt, you must work with your college to submit a Double Repeat Petition prior to the start of the quarter.
Adjust your schedule to resolve the time conflict.
Swap or drop a course to make room for your WRIT course.
Important Dates
Spring 2025
Mar 31 | First Day of Classes
Apr 4 | WRIT class Add/Swap Deadline
Apr 18 | Campus Add/Drop Deadline
May 9 | Deadline to withdraw (W) from a class (withdrawal FAQs)
May 30 | Grading option change deadline
Jun 6 | Instruction ends
Jun 9-12 | Final exams
Jun 12 | Quarter ends
Jun 17 | Grades due
Summer 2025 (10-Wk Session)
Jun 23 | First Day of Classes
Jun 27 | WRIT class Add/Swap Deadline
July 7 | Campus Add/Drop Deadline
Jul 27 | Deadline to withdraw (W) from a class (withdrawal FAQs)
Aug 24 | Grading option change deadline
Aug 29 | Quarter ends
Sep 4 | Grades due
Fall 2025
Sep 25 | First Day of Classes
Oct 3 | WRIT class Add/Swap Deadline
ELWR and C Status
“ELWR” and “C” are terms we use to refer to writing requirements that ALL UCSC students must satisfy. Most transfer students enter UCSC having already met both their ELWR and C Requirement.
ELWR or the Entry Level Writing Requirement
The Entry-Level Writing Requirement must be satisfied by the start of the 4th quarter.
Students who enter UCSC with a writing placement of WRIT 1, WRIT 1E, or WRIT 26 are considered ELWR-Required until completion of WRIT 1/1E.
Students who enter UCSC with a writing placement of WRIT 2 are considered ELWR-Satisfied.
C or the Composition Requirement
The General Education Composition (GE C) requirement must be completed by the start of the 7th quarter.
Students are considered C-required until completion of WRIT 2.
Check your ELWR/C Status
Verify your official ELWR and C status in your Degree Progress Report
Use this to confirm satisfaction of university requirements.
If you think there is an error related to test scores, make sure that your official scores have been submitted and contact admissions@ucsc.edu for further assistance.
Check your Writing Placement
In your UCSC student portal, Go to My Academics>Test Scores.
Use this to confirm the writing course you will start in.
With the exception of late submitted ELWR-satisfying test scores, writing placements from DSP are final. Contact writingplacement@ucsc.edu with questions/concerns.
More Questions?
Check out our Writing Program FAQs, and view campus-wide Enrollment Info here.