All UCLA undergraduates are required to satisfy certain composition requirements. CSI students will be placed into the appropriate composition course based on several factors, including the Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE), any Advanced Placement work in English Composition or Literature, SAT or ACT tests, or appropriate college level coursework.

When you register for CSI, you will be enrolled in English Composition 3 as a placeholder, regardless of any tests or courses you may have taken. This is done in order to initiate the I-20 process for international students and to allow Financial Aid to process aid for those who apply.

When you are at New Student Session 105, your New Student Advisor will review all of your courses and exam results to ensure appropriate course placement. If your placement is a course that is not offered during CSI, you will have the option to change to a different CSI course or choose to take 1 course in CSI.

English Composition placeholder sections students are enrolled in will show as an evening class to avoid time conflicts with other courses. The actual course during CSI will be offered in the afternoon.

WRITING REQUIREMENTS (BY COLLEGE/SCHOOL)

College of Letters & Science:
Entry Level Writing, Writing I, Writing II

Samueli School of Engineering & Applied Science:
Entry Level Writing, Writing I, Ethics

Herb Alpert School of Music:
Entry Level Writing, Writing I, Writing II

School of Arts & Architecture:
Entry Level Writing, Writing I, Writing II

School of Theater, Film, and Television:
Entry Level Writing, Writing I, Writing II

WRITING COURSES OFFERED AND WHAT THEY SATISFY

All courses must be taken for a grade and a “C” or higher must be earned in order to satisfy any composition requirement.

English Composition 3: English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (5 units)

Satisfies: Writing I Requirement (all colleges and schools).
This course may also be a preparation course for certain majors.

English Composition 2: Approaches to University Writing (5 Units)

Satisfies: Entry Level Writing Requirement (all colleges and schools)
Students can only place into this course through the AWPE. This course is held in combination with UCLA summer sessions and is a combination of CSI and other UCLA students.

From the AWPE, students may place into other courses (English Composition 1A, English Composition 1B, English Composition 1C, or English Composition 2i) that are not are not offered in CSI. If a student selects “writing requirement” option and is placed into one of these course, the student can either join one of these classes if they are offered in UCLA Summer Session or choose a different CSI course.

PLACEMENT IN CSI WRITING COURSES

All students who select “writing requirement” will be enrolled in English Composition 3 until scores are received and proper placement can be determined. Once scores have been received and placement been determined, students will be moved to their proper course.

Scores on some national tests can satisfy Entry Level Writing Requirement and Writing I. You must have official reports of your SAT Writing, ACT English/Writing, and AP English scores sent to UCLA if they weren’t submitted as part of your application for admission.

If you haven’t satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement, you must take the UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination (AWPE). The exam is offered by UCLA Writing Programs and is offered online on June 1 and July 6. You must take either it on one of these dates in order to have scores in time for CSI.

Please visit UCLA Writing Programs for details on how to register and take the exam.

The AWPE does have a cost; if you have pending AP English Literature or Composition test scores you may want to wait for those results before taking the exam.