Entry Level Writing and Composition Requirements

• Recommend: Take the UCSC Online Directed Self-Placement (DSP) to be held during the UC Santa Cruz Online Slug Orientation Course 1 June ELWR satisfaction will be determined by the course students self-select based on their DSP recommendation. Learn more about DSP here.
  
  
• Satisfy ELWR through accepted standardized test scores or other means before UCSC. Every student will take the DSP, but ELWR-satisfied students will not be able to select their own course; those students will enroll in Writing 2 after successful completion of College 1.  

Note: UCSC will accept Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE) scores of 8+ for ELWR satisfaction from the system-wide AWPE if students opt to take it.

Students who take the AWPE and receive a score of 6 or below are ELWR-required.

The results of the AWPE will not affect your acceptance to any University of California campus. For more info on the universitywide AWPE (sample examinations, scoring guide, and FAQs), see http://www.ucop.edu/elwr/index.html  

Course Sequences 

UCSC Online Directed Self-Placement (DSP)

Each course sequence offers a different level of support for students. ELWR satisfaction will be determined by the course students self-select based on their DSP recommendation or via accepted standardized test scores or other means.

Placement into Writing 2 - ELWR-Satisfied

If you select Writing 2 through DSP, or if you have accepted standardized test scores or other means, you have satisfied the Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). After passing the College 1 (C or higher) prerequisite, you are able to enroll in Writing 2, which satisfies the Composition (C) GE requirement. You must satisfy the C requirement by the start of the 7th quarter of enrollment.  

Placement into Writing 1 or 1E - ELWR-Required

If you place into Writing 1, you will take College 1 in the fall. After passing the College 1 (C or higher) prerequisite, you will enroll in Writing 1. Once you have passed Writing 1, you will be able to enroll in Writing 2, which satisfies the Composition (C) General Education Requirement. You must satisfy the C requirement by the start of the 7th quarter of enrollment.

Placement into the Multilingual Curriculum - ELWR-Required

If you place into WRIT 25 or 26 and have not satisfied ELWR, then you are considered ELWR-Required. If you place into Writing 25 or 26, in fall, you will take one Multilingual Curriculum (MLC) course concurrently with College 1. After completing the required MLC course(s) and the College 1 prerequisite, you will proceed to Writing 1. Once you have passed Writing 1, you will be able to enroll in Writing 2, which satisfies the Composition (C) GE requirement. You must satisfy the C requirement by the start of the 7th quarter of enrollment.

Per campus policy, the ELWR Requirement must be satisfied before the start of your 4th quarter at UCSC. Except students placed into Writing 25 who must satisfy ELWR before the start of the 5th quarter of enrollment. Please note that the ELWR deadline has been waived for the 2022-23 academic year (fall, winter and spring).

ELWR Enrollment Hold

Students who have an ELWR/Writing 1 hold and are returning to UCSC, contact the Writing Program office (writingprogram@ucsc.edu).

See Nearing the ELWR Deadline, ELWR Enrollment Hold