First-Year Writing

Incoming and transfer students must complete 12 credits of course work in General Education Category C, Communication. Nine of those credits are in English: English 110/112; English 120/122; and an upper-division (300- or 400-level) writing course. 

All incoming students should take the NDSU English Placement Survey, which will help you choose the first course you should take in the program. This is a survey, not an exam, and will only take 10-20 minutes of your time. After you take the survey, you will receive an email indicating your course options. Please speak with your advisor after completing the survey to make sure you are enrolled in the right course. The English Placement Survey can be accessed through Blackboard. 

Additional information may be found here:

• FAQs for first-year students
• FAQs for transfer students
• Challenging English 120/122  

Upper-Division Writing

Students will not be able to register for an upper-division writing course until they have achieved junior status (at least 60 credits). The English department offers a number of specialized upper-division writing courses, and some departments other than English offer their own writing intensive courses designed for majors, but open to all students. 

• If you are a student who wants to know which upper-division writing course to take, please consult your department's curriculum guide and/or consult with your adviser when you are ready to take an upper-division writing course.
• Please consult this list of upper-division writing courses if you wish to learn more about specific course offerings within the English department.

If you have any questions about the NDSU Writing Program, please contact:

Dr. Lisa Arnold, Director of First-Year Writing 

Ben Melby, (interim) Director of Upper-Division Writing