Writing Intensive Requirement

For students who matriculated at Tulane AFTER fall semester 2018

Writing is the most important skill that a student masters in a liberal arts education. In order to assure that all of its students have achieved a high level of writing proficiency by the time they graduate, the School of Liberal Arts requires them to complete the Tier II writing requirement of the general core curriculum via a writing-intensive course within the School. Students may satisfy this requirement by taking a course that is designated “writing-intensive” in the course schedule. If a course is to satisfy the Tier-2 writing-intensive requirement, it must require:

  1. That writing equals at least 50% of the total assessment or 3500 words (15 pages) of expository, analytical writing, whether distributed among a number of short assignments or fewer, longer papers. Creative and technical writing assignments do not qualify for inclusion. Only School of Liberal Arts courses may be used to fulfill this requirement.
  2. Sole authorship by an individual student.
  3. That students will revise and resubmit their writing after instructor feedback

Learning Outcomes – Courses that fulfill these requirements will require the student to demonstrate their proficiency in writing through the following objectives:

  1. Demonstrates an understanding of context, audience, and purpose that is responsive to the assigned task(s).
  2. Uses appropriate content to clearly convey the writer’s understanding of the subject.
  3. Demonstrates competence in the appropriate citation systems for their academic disciplines or genres.

Students are encouraged, but not required, to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement with a course in their major. Students may satisfy this requirement with a capstone course in the major, as long as the writing requirements of the course achieve the defined minimum for a writing-intensive course, or with a senior honors thesis. The S/U option may not be used to satisfy the writing requirement.

For students who matriculated at Tulane BEFORE fall semester 2018

Writing is the most important skill that a student masters in a liberal arts education. In order to assure that all of its students have achieved a high level of writing proficiency by the time they graduate, the School of Liberal Arts requires them to take one approved writing-intensive course beyond the writing proficiency requirement of the general core. Students may satisfy this requirement by taking a course that is designated “writing-intensive” in the course schedule.  If a course is to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement, it must require:

  1. At least 5000 words (20 pages) of expository, analytical writing, whether distributed among a number of short assignments or fewer, longer papers. Creative and technical writing assignments do not qualify for inclusion. Only School of Liberal Arts courses may be used to fulfill this requirement. Creative writing theses may count as long as they include an analytic component of at least 20 pages.
  2. Sole authorship by an individual student.
  3. Regular, detailed evaluation by the instructor of the written work for organization, content, grammar and technical presentation.
  4. Revision of at least one project totaling 2500 words, with re-evaluation by the instructor.

Students are encouraged, but not required, to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement with a course in their major. Students may satisfy this requirement with a capstone course in the major, as long as the writing requirements of the course achieve the defined minimum for a writing-intensive course, or with a senior honors thesis. The S/U option may not be used to satisfy the writing requirement.