Writing Across the Curriculum

INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is a national initiative that seeks to integrate writing throughout the undergraduate curriculum. WAC gained currency in the late 1970s and early 1980s as colleges and universities broadened the scope of student writing beyond the confines of English departments.  WAC programs usually consist of faculty from a wide variety of disciplines who are committed to improving students’ writing skills and to developing students’ abilities in using writing to improve learning.

Writing Across the Curriculum at USM involves curricular requirements for all undergraduates, a variety of teaching practices, and ongoing faculty development.

WAC’s most visible components are the requirements of the Core Curriculum.  Students must demonstrate writing proficiency and writing competence and must take a writing-intensive course.  These requirements (and the courses which satisfy them) are designated in the Core Curriculum by the letters A, C, and W. 

This page was last updated on March 5, 2004.