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GEF Writing Requirements

Courses that are part of the General Education Foundations (GEF) at WVU prepare students to appreciate the broad context of their actions, their choices, and their world.

The introductory composition courses required of all students focus on writing as a process for investigating, analyzing, shaping, drafting, revising, and editing ideas. 

Students fulfill the GEF effective communication requirement by completing ENGL 101 and 102; or by completing ENGL 103.

All three of these courses are also SpeakWrite™ certified by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.  Each course emphasizes awareness of four key concepts that shape responses to many situations: Purpose, Audience, Conventions, and Trouble spots (PACT).

ENGL 101, an Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric, is the first required writing course at West Virginia University. The course aims to help first-year students develop their abilities as writers, readers, and thinkers.  It is required of all bachelor's degree candidates unless equivalent transfer credit or portfolio credit applies.

ENGL 102, Composition, Rhetoric, and Research, builds on the writing abilities earned in English 101. The course (intended for sophomores and juniors) focuses on the research process, argumentation, and critical inquiry. This course is required of all bachelor's degree candidates unless equivalent transfer credit or portfolio credit applies.

ENGL 103, Accelerated Academic Writing, is designed for students who have already demonstrated a certain level of writing proficiency.  It satisfies WVU's introductory writing requirement (English 101 and 102) in a single course by emphasizing both expository writing and researched arguments. Placement is based on a score of 27 or above on the ACT/English exam or 640 or above on the SAT/Verbal exam


Assistance and More Information

  • For help in registering for these classes, please phone Brian Kiger at 304-293-4988 or email him at bkiger2@mail.wvu.edu 
  • For more information about our curriculum, please contact Dr. Sarah Morris, Undergraduate Writing Coordinator

GEF Curriculum Information