Competency Requirements

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Overview of Requirements and Restrictions

All undergraduate students are required to fulfill competency requirements from three subject areas: the First Writing, the Second Writing and Foreign Language. More information on these subject areas, their related credit requirements, competency exemptions and University restrictions can be found in sections below.

Some restrictions apply to completing competency requirements. These requirements may NOT be fulfilled by the following:

• Dual enrollment credit
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests
• Courses taken under the Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) option
• Courses taken under the Audit (AU) option

To help students keep track of their earned competency requirements, Arts & Sciences offers a College Area Requirements Checklist.

First Writing Requirement (FWR)

Students may meet the first writing requirement in one of two ways: by successfully completing one of the FWR-eligible ENWR courses, or by earning exemption.

A. Fulfilling the FWR via course work

There are four paths to completing the FWR via courses:

1.  By successfully completing the two-semester Introduction to Academic Argument, ENWR 1505/1506. Take this sequence if you scored 480 or below on the writing portion of the SAT. Students in this path should register for fall 2009 ENWR 1505, to be followed by spring 2010 ENWR 1506.

2.  By successfully completing the two-semester ESL version of Introduction to Academic Argument. Note that this path is for students who are still developing their skills in English as a second language; students required to fulfill the first writing requirement in the ESL path will be identified by the Admissions Office, the Summer Transition Program, or the Professional and Academic Writing Program. Students in this path should register for fall 2009 ENWR 1559, followed by spring 2010 ENWR 1508.

3.  By successfully completing Accelerated Introduction to Academic Argument (ENWR 1510). You may take ENWR 1510 if you scored 490-690 on the writing portion of the SAT. Students in this path should register for ENWR 1510 for fall 2009 if they play on a varsity team that travels primarily in the spring OR if they are transfer students OR if they are repeating the course OR if their student ID number ends in a zero or an even digit. Otherwise, students in this path should take ENWR 1510 in spring 2010.

4.  By successfully completing the two-semester Pavilion Writers sequence (ENWR 2150 followed by 2160). The Pavilion Writers sequence allows students to satisfy the FWR over two semesters in a pair of one-credit workshops. Consequently, this sequence is particularly well suited for relatively strong writers who need to carry a heavy schedule of other classes while completing the first writing requirement. Space permitting, students may take the Pavilion Writers sequence if they scored 650-690 on the writing portion of the SAT. (If they prefer, students in this group may instead complete the FWR in ENWR 1510.) Students in this pool should register for ENWR 2150 for fall 2009 if they are transfers OR if their student ID number ends in a zero or an even digit. Otherwise, they should take ENWR 2150 in spring 2010. Students should complete ENWR 2160 within two semesters of completing ENWR 2150.

B. Fulfilling the FWR via exemption

There are two ways to earn exemption from the FWR requirement: automatic exemption and portfolio.

1. You are automatically exempt from the first writing requirement if at least one of the following statements is true:

• You are an Echols Scholar.
• You scored 700 or above on the writing portion of the SAT exam.
• You scored a 5 on the AP English language subject test.
• You scored a 5 or above on the IB (higher A 1) exam.

2. If you are not automatically exempt, you may be able to earn an exemption from the first writing requirement through portfolio review.

If you feel that your test scores do not fairly represent your ability to write academic arguments, you may submit a portfolio of your strongest academic arguments for review. To do so, please send a short letter requesting a portfolio placement review and indicating what placement you consider appropriate to your ability level (i.e., ENWR 1505/1506, 1510, 2150/2160, or exempt). The letter should indicate your test scores, briefly describe your experience with writing academic arguments, and provide an e-mail address at which you can be contacted. For record keeping purposes, please also include your UVa ID number.

Along with this letter, include copies of three of your strongest academic argument essays. (Note: rather than simply presenting a narrative or factual summary, each of these essays should present a focused claim, evaluate counter-claims and relevant contrary evidence, and develop a well-supported argument.)

Send your portfolio to Jon D'Errico, UVA Dept. of English, 219 Bryan Hall, Box 400121, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4121. Portfolios cannot be returned, so please send only copies of your essays--not the originals. Also, portfolios sent as e-mail or e-mail attachments cannot be accepted because of the number of submissions we receive, the portfolio committee's need to have printed copies to evaluate, and the risk of computer viruses.

You will be notified of the results of the portfolio review by e-mail as soon as possible after the reading. Note: Portfolios for fall 2009 placement/exemption need to be received by August 3, 2009 as the review committee will not meet again until October 23, 2009. Portfolios for spring 2010 placement/exemption may be submitted either for August 3 or October 23 review. Results from the August 2009 reading will be e-mailed no sooner than August 3 and no later than August 7.

You are a good candidate for portfolio review if any of the following is true of you:

• You have experience writing argument papers at the college level.
• You scored 660 or above on the writing portion of the SAT exam.
• You scored a 4 or better on the AP English literature subject test.
• You scored a 4 on the AP English language subject test.

Note that students who have earned exemption from the first writing requirement may not take FWR classes for credit. If you have completed the FWR requirement, please do not register for ENWR 1505/1506, 1559/1508, 1510, or 2150/2160.

A note for transfer students: The goals of first-year writing courses at other universities vary widely. Therefore, although transfer course credit may be granted, exemption from UVA’s first writing requirement is *not* automatically given to students who have completed a writing or composition course elsewhere.

Transfer students whose test scores do not exempt them from UVA's first writing requirement may submit a portfolio to the writing program for review. Please note that the deadline for review of fall 2009 placement portfolios is August 3, 2009. If you miss that deadline, portfolios will be read for spring 2010 placement on October 23, 2009.

If you have further questions regarding first writing requirement placement, please e-mail the writing program administrators.

Second Writing Requirement

Qualifications

All students except Echols Scholars must complete a Second Writing Requirement with a grade of C- or better by the end of their sixth semester. To meet the Second Writing Requirement, a class must:

• Be a three credit hour course
• Assign at least two writing assignments in English totaling 4,000 words (20 pages) or more independent of quizzes and final examinations
• Have a student/faculty ration no greater than 30/1

Any course meeting those standards can satisfy the Second Writing Requirement. However, this requirement is not complete until you file a Second Writing Requirement completion form (.pdf, 27KB) (.pdf, 27KB) and have it certified by the College Registrar (102 Garrett Hall). The completion form is also available in the lobby of Garrett Hall.

Restrictions and Clarification

The Second Writing Requirement must be taken at the University and within the College. A course in another school of this University (e.g., Engineering), advanced placement credit, advanced standing, dual enrollment credit or credit transferred from another university will not satisfy this requirement.

Although it is not advised, you may take a course that meets the Second Writing Requirement before or during the semester that you complete the First Writing Requirement. However, completing the Second Writing Requirement neither exempts you from nor fulfills the First Writing Requirement.

A course that satisfies the Second Writing Requirement may simultaneously count toward your major or minor program. One course, in addition to meeting the Second Writing Requirement, may also complete area requirements (no more than two).

Foreign Language Requirement

Qualifications

Undergraduate students must earn anywhere from zero to 14 foreign language credits, depending on their foreign language placement examination scores. The requirement should be fulfilled before the seventh semester in the College.

Languages taught at U.Va. that count towards the requirement are:

American Sign Language	Hindi	Russian
Arabic	Italian	Sanskrit
Chinese	Japanese	Spanish
French	Korean	Tibetan
German	Latin	Urdu
Greek	Persian
Hebrew	Portuguese

 

Placement and Exemptions

For languages taught at U.Va.

The types of examinations for foreign language placement include:

• SAT II Subject Test
• Advanced Placement (AP) Exam
• Higher-level International Baccalaureate Exam
• College Summer Orientation Foreign Language Placement Test

Check the Foreign Language Placement Examinations page for details on these tests or the Foreign Language Requirement FAQ for more specific inquiries and contact information.

For languages not taught at U.Va.

It is also possible for students to fulfill their requirement through taking the NYU 16-point Foreign Language Proficiency Test. The test is intended only for exemption from the Foreign Language Requirement; no credit is given for any score. A student is given exemption for a score of 14 or more.

Deadlines and information about the test can be found on the Foreign Language Placement Examinations page.

Completion of the Requirement

Students can meet the Foreign Language Requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses of action:

• Earn exemption if you place beyond the 2020 level by examination
• Take 14 credits or four semesters of a language in the proper sequence
• After placement, complete the remaining courses in the sequence up to the fourth semester (usually 2020)

Consult the Foreign Language Placement Index to determine your exact placement.

Taking introductory language courses which duplicate credits earned from AP or IB tests neither give you credit nor count for the Foreign Language Requirement.

Some or all of the requisite 14 credits can be earned by transfer students from coursework completed at a previously attended college or university, if prior to matriculation to the College. Dual enrollment courses, however, do not fulfill the requirement.

Furthermore, the College provides Foreign Language Disability Accomodation when needed to satisfy this requirement.

Need Help?

Students with questions about testing, placement, etc., should contact the Foreign Language Coordinator.