Course Offerings
The University Composition Program offers a range of lower and upper division writing courses including required and elective classes. You can explore new communication approaches, hone technical skills, and experiment with language and style in courses focused on academic writing skills, argument, digital design, and public engagement.
See Course Offerings in the Course Catalog
Composition Course Hierachy
Critical reading and writing skills are significant components of every program and degree at CSU. Moreover, research at CSU, as well as nation-wide, demonstrates a clear connection between academic success and the ability to write effectively for various audiences. The CSU Composition Placement Program is designed to ensure that you register for the composition course most suited to your needs.
All composition courses are structured to build on one another. Pre-requisite requirements will determine the sequence of courses in most cases. However, students have many options available at the upper-division level which they can use to tailor their learning style and interests to their personal and career needs.
CO130
Academic Writing
- Academic writing, critical thinking, and critical reading through the study of a key academic issue.
- This course is approved under gtPathways in the content area of Introductory Writing (GT-CO1).
Satisfies the Introductory Writing (GT-CO1) requirement.
CO150
College Composition
- Understanding and writing for rhetorical situations; critical reading and response; writing source-based argument for academic and public audiences.
- Must have taken CO 130 or Composition Challenge Essay (score of 3, 4, or 5) or SAT Verbal/Critical reading score of minimum 570 or SAT Evidence Based Reading/Writing score of minimum 620 or ACT COMPOSITE score of minimum 26 or Directed Self-Placement Survey code of 15.
Satisfies the Intermediate Writing 1A, Intermediate Writing (GT-CO2) requirement.
Upper-Division
The English department offers a variety of upper-division composition courses for students of all backgrounds. All of the options below satisfy the Advanced Writing 2, Advanced Writing (GT-CO3) requirement
CO300
Writing Arguments
Learning to read, analyze, research, and write arguments.
The 301 Series
The course options below allow for writing in specialized disciplines.
CO301A
Writing in the Arts & Humanities
Learning writing strategies for addressing general audiences in arts and humanities.
CO301B
Writing in the Sciences
Learning writing strategies for addressing general audiences in sciences.
CO301C
Writing in the Social Sciences
Learning writing strategies for addressing general audiences in social sciences.
CO301C
Writing in Education
Learning writing strategies for addressing general audiences in education.
CO302
Writing in Digital Environments
Writing strategies, patterns, and approaches for online materials.
Love Your Composition Course?
Other Writing Courses in the English Department
- E210: Intro to Creative Writing
- E305: Principles of Writing and Rhetoric
- E320: Intro to Study of Language
- E402: Teaching Composition
- E403: Writing the Environment
- E406: Topics in Literacy
- E501: Theories of Composition
- E502: The Politics of Literacy
- E503: Investigating Classroom Literacies
- E603: Critical Digital Rhetoric
- E605: Critical Studies in Reading and Rhetoric
- E637: Histories of Writing and Rhetoric