A.  Competency Requirements:

 

1.  English Writing Skills:

 

                The faculty of the University of Montana-Missoula requires that all graduates of the University possess the ability to write with clarity of thought and precision of language.  Specifically, a graduate’s writing will:

                -  Respond appropriately and effectively to new or given information;

                -  Communicate a unified message supported by evidence, examples or arguments;

                -  Develop ideas thoroughly and logically with clear connections among them;

                -  Have a purposeful organizational plan that befits the message;

                -  Use language that is clear and precise;

                -  Possess a voice that is consistent and appropriate to the audience and purpose;

                -  Use correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.

 

                To ensure that all graduates have acquired the writing skills outlined above, students should satisfy the following requirements in this order:

                a.  English (ENEX 101 or its equivalent);

                b.  One approved writing course;

                c.  The Writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA), to be taken between 45-90 credits;

                d.  The upper-division writing requirement in the major.

 

                ENEX 101.  All students must successfully complete English 101 (ENEX 101) unless exempted.  Students may be exempted from ENEX 101 by transferring credit verified as an equivalent of ENEX 101 or by score on The University of Montana-Missoula placement exam.  Except for those who transfer an equivalent course, students must take the placement exam.  On the basis of this exam, students will be placed in either ENEX 100 or ENEX 101, or they will be exempted from ENEX 101.

 

                One Writing Course.   Students, unless exempted, must pass an approved writing course (chosen from the following list of approved courses) before attempting the WPA.  Students are exempted from this requirement by transferring more than 27 semester credits at the time of their initial registration at the University. 

                The following courses are designated as writing courses for 2003-2004.  Students are cautioned that approved courses may change from year to year.  To be used for General Education, a course must be listed as approved in the Class Schedule for the semester a student registers for it.

(n.b. course list has not been updated since 2001-02)

                African American Studies 478

                Anthropology 340H, 359, 450

                Art 203, 303H, 367H, 368H, 384H, 386H, 389H 403L

                Asian Studies 340H

                Biology 405, 418, 419

                Business Administration 445, 446, 448

                Chemistry 334

                Communication Studies 330

                Computer Science 415E

                Curriculum and Instruction 187, 317, 352E

                Dance 334, 494

                Drama 320, 321

                Economics 350, 440

                English 120L, 121L, 222L, 223L, 224L, 225L, 301, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325

                Environmental Studies 302, 367, 440

                Foreign Languages and Literatures 310L, 311L, 312L, 330H, 331H, 365E, 431L

                Forestry 220, 340, 342, 489E

                French 301, 311L, 312L, 408

                German 301, 302, 303H, 304H, 311L, 312L

                Geography 305S

                Health and Human Performance 410, 450, 499

                Health Sciences 440E

                History 107H, 108H, 300, 383H, 385, 400, 437, 470, 471, 478,

                Japanese 311L, 312L, 431L

                Journalism 270, 280, 331, 333, 340, 350, 351, 489

                Liberal Studies 151L, 152L, 321H, 322H, 323, 325E, 350E, 351L, 355L, 356

                Management 348, 444

                Marketing 461

                Mathematical Sciences 406

                Microbiology 418, 419, 420, 421

                Music 325H, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425

                Native American Studies 200, 202L, 367H, 368H, 494

                Pharmacy 412

                Philosophy 443E, 453, 455, 461, 463

Political Science 324H, 328H, 329H, 335, 341, 343, 350E, 352, 353E, 354, 355, 366, 370, 387, 433E, 461, 463S, 471, 472

                Psychology 320

                Radio-Television 494

                Recreation Management 482

                Religious Studies 252L, 260H, 276

                Russian 301

                Social Work 310

                Sociology 456, 466, 485

                Spanish 301, 311L, 312L, 408

                Wildlife Biology 470

               

                Writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA).  All students (including transfer students) who have completed ENEX 101 (or its equivalent or have been exempted), a writing course (or its equivalent or have been exempted), and have completed at least 45 semester credits must take the WPA.  Students must pass the WPA in order to graduate.  The Assessment is designed to be a “gating exam” to ensure that the student is prepared for the writing required in upper-division major courses. Students must attempt the writing proficiency assessment prior to completing the upper-division writing requirement in their major.

 

Students should note the following:

                - Students must take the assessment after 45 but no later than 90 credits;

- Transfer students may take the assessment concurrently with either their writing course or the writing requirement(s) in their major.

 

                The WPA consists of a two-hour proctored examination written in response to a text released two weeks prior to the examination date.  The assessment is offered 7 times annually.  For more information on the assessment and copies of the text students should see www.umt.edu/provost/writingassessment.

 

                Upper-Division Writing Course.  Students must meet the approved upper-division writing requirements specified in their major.  The writing courses offered in each major vary–some students may be required to take only one upper-division writing class offered by their major department; students in a different major may be required to take a group of courses that provide an integrated series of writing expectations; students in yet another major may be required to write a senior thesis.  Students must check the writing requirements in their respective majors.

               

                Students should refer to the above list of writing courses and the appropriate Class Schedule to determine which are designated as upper-division writing courses for 2003-2004.  Students are cautioned that approved courses may change from year to year.  To be used for General Education, a course must be listed as approved in the Class Schedule for the year a student registers for it.