College of Letters and Science
146 Kaplan Hall
Box 951384
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1384
Writing Programs
310-206-1145
Christine Holten, MA, Director; Director, Undergraduate Writing Center
Janet M. Goodwin, MA, Associate Director
Writing Programs is committed to inclusive pedagogy and student success, serving undergraduates through a curriculum in composition and English as a second language (ESL), as well as through the Undergraduate Writing Center (UWC). Writing Programs serves as the chief resource for writing and English language instruction through entry-level writing, first-year composition, writing-in-the-disciplines, and professional writing courses. Its courses play a vital role in preparing undergraduates from diverse linguistic and academic-skill backgrounds to succeed as writers/communicators in their UCLA studies as well as in future professional contexts. Writing Programs’ courses facilitate discovery, understanding, analysis, inspiration, community building, and global citizenship.
In addition, Writing Programs serves international graduate students as writers and communicators through graduate-level academic writing courses that satisfy the UCLA ESL requirement, elective writing workshop courses, and oral communication courses for international students who plan to serve as TAs and need to satisfy the Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) requirement.
During the summer, matriculated UCLA students can complete some of their undergraduate writing requirements. Writing Programs also offers international summer visitors a suite of second language writing and communication courses.
Writing Programs works closely with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to help all students experience academic belonging, and bring together members of the UCLA and Los Angeles communities through service learning courses, summer bridge programs for high school students, the UCLA prison education program, and public events. Writing Programs educational initiatives promote the impact of writing, writ large, around issues of self expression, public discourse, diversity, and experiential learning.
The undergraduate curriculum develops writing skills in linguistic, visual, and digital forms, and encourages students to see the classroom as a place to be challenged by new ideas, to investigate, problem-solve, reflect, imagine, think and rethink, and ultimately, to learn. Writing Program’s undergraduate teaching mission is extended by the UWC, which aids thousands of students annually from all disciplines and all divisions at UCLA to communicate effectively in their coursework.
Every student who does not satisfy the Entry-Level Writing requirement by presenting transfer credit or acceptable test scores is required to take, as early as possible during the first year in residence, English Composition 1, 1A, 1B, 2, or 2I as determined by performance on the Analytical Writing Placement Examination (AWPE). Students who have not otherwise satisfied the Entry-Level Writing requirement and who have not taken the AWPE before entering UCLA must take it in their first term. For more information regarding Entry-Level Writing, see Degree Requirements in Undergraduate Study.
All entering undergraduate students whose native language is not English and who have not otherwise satisfied the English as a Second Language (ESL) requirement may be required to take one or more English composition courses designed for multilingual students (1A, 1B, 2I). First-year undergraduate students are placed in the courses based on the AWPE. Transfer students are placed in the courses based on the UCLA English as a Second Language Placement Examination (ESLPE). Transfer students who are required to take the ESLPE include those who have not yet satisfied the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), and those held at the discretion of Undergraduate Admission. The ESLPE may be taken once only.
A curriculum in writing pedagogy for graduate students is also offered. Graduate writing instructors from across campus benefit from intensive writing pedagogy training as preparation for teaching freshman composition (satisfies Writing I requirement) and writing in the disciplines (satisfies Writing II requirement). Writing Programs also provides writing pedagogy training for teaching assistants (TAs) in the Samueli School of Engineering, and the general education freshman cluster program, and the Freshman Summer Program and Transfer Summer Program in partnership with the Academic Advancement Program. Teaching assistants interested in expanding their professional teaching profile as writing specialists can pursue a graduate certificate in Writing Pedagogy and participate in the certificate’s annual teaching symposium.
All entering graduate students whose native language is not English and who have not otherwise satisfied the English as a Second Language (ESL) requirement may be required to take one or more ESL courses. Students are placed in the courses based on the UCLA English as a Second Language Placement Examination (ESLPE) and may be held for up to two ESL courses (300, 301).
The following students are exempt from the ESL requirement: students who hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university located in the U.S. or in another country (e.g., Australia, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom) in which English is both the primary spoken language of daily life and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution; and students with a score of 100 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT), or at least a 7.5 overall band score on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. See international applicants in Graduate Study.
Writing Programs offers a graduate certificate in Writing Pedagogy.
Writing Programs courses are in the following subject areas:
