Writing Requirement

What is the writing requirement?

There are two parts of the writing requirement that all students need to complete: coursework (in their first year) and a writing portfolio after earning/completing 18 credits. Note that transfer students have to submit their portfolio in their third term (e.g., if a transfer student starts in fall 26, they have to submit their portfolio by the end of spring 27.)

Download the Guided self-placement guide for more info.

Coursework

All entering students must take one writing class in their first year. Courses that meet the writing requirement are designated with a W.

Writing courses that are offered for the current academic year can be accessed through the link to the right (under the menu).

All students take a writing course in their first year to develop their writing, literacy, and research practices. Courses that meet the writing requirement specifically focus on developing writing and literacies in different genres and contexts so students can navigate academic and professional writing, such as course assignments, senior projects, internships, residencies, job applications, and graduate school applications. Courses that meet the writing requirement are pedagogically different from other COA courses as our courses serve to facilitate the continued development of all COA students’academic and professional literacies. Our courses are informed by current research on writing pedagogy and literacy development from fields like applied linguistics, writing studies, rhetoric/composition, and adult literacy.

Our courses conceptualize writing and literacy as a social practice : what do we do with writing in various contexts to accomplish social actions? How are genres shaped by rhetorical situations, such as purpose, audience, and context? How do rhetorical situations shape linguistic structures in genres? What are the connections between writing, identities and communities? How do we locate and evaluate the credibility of information? These questions, and many others, are addressed in our courses.

Another key aspect is the focus on developing transferable writing skills by actively and explicitly building genre knowledge and rhetorical awareness through hands-on activities with authentically produced genres that exist “in the wild.” These activities develop metacognitive and metalinguistic skills. As writing is dynamic, complex, and ever-changing, our courses are grounded in a theme to contextualize writing as a social activity to help students navigate the evolving nature of writing and different expectations across contexts. The themes help students learn about connections between writing, social action, society, and culture. Our courses also help students understand writing as a dynamic and iterative process. It’s through revisions that writers refine their ideas and engage critically with texts. By participating in writing workshops and individual conferences, students develop their abilities to communicate complex ideas.

We have created a guided self-placement to help you select courses that fit your interests and needs. Please read through the entire document and then consult with your advisor about what course would best fit your interests and needs. Note that courses listed as a college seminar have one writing lab/class each week to give you more time to engage with the material and hone the craft of writing. If you have any questions, please contact writingprogram@coa.edu.

Writing Portfolio

The writing portfolio is used submitted after completing your second year at COA with the purpose of assessing how your writing, literacies, and research practices are developing. The portfolio is used to identify potential support you might need to continue your education at COA as more high-stakes writing will be involved as you progress, such as coursework, the human ecology essay, internship reports, fellowship applications, job and graduate school applications and so on. 

The writing portfolio consists of three pieces of writing that you have done during your time at COA. The purpose of the writing portfolio is to demonstrate your ability to write effectively in a range of contexts with different audiences and for different purposes. When selecting those three pieces of writing, instead of simply thinking about what essays showcase your “best” writing, consider including pieces that showcase the breadth of writing you have done at college.

The types of genres of papers that you can submit include short and long essays that demonstrate your ability to, for instance, support a position or argument, but you can also submit research papers, reports, narratives, and ethnographic writing. You can also submit a collection of shorter responses/texts that you have written, such as responses to readings, videos, and other prompts, if you don’t have multiple longer papers to choose from.

Information for transfer students

The submission deadline for transfer students is slightly different. Transfer students typically submit their portfolios in their third term at COA. For instance, if you transfer winter 2026, your portfolio is due fall 2026. 

Transfer students can include one piece of writing from your previous institution, but at least two must be from COA classes. We strongly encourage you to come to the Writing Center before submitting your portfolio. A tutor can help you select three pieces of writing that showcase your breadth as a writer. 

Writing portfolio requirements

Deadline: For most students, Friday during Week 3 of the term after completing 18 credits (fall term for most students). FALL 2025 deadline is October 3, 2025. 

At least one should demonstrate your ability to do evidence-based writing or research a topic and analyze ideas on an in-depth level. This can include research papers or analytical papers where you collect data, analyze it, report your findings, and include citations.

At least one piece must be an essay that provides an informed but not necessarily evidence-based, a piece that states a position or argument, or a unique perspective on a particular topic, such as case studies, legal problem sets, the final version of a speech manuscript, scripts for a podcast, journalistic pieces, extended reports, position papers and so on.

Other genres that may be acceptable include internship reports, project proposals, literature reviews, and fellowship applications. (Fiction and poetry WILL NOT be accepted.)

You cannot submit group projects/papers. All papers must be written individually.

If you’re not sure whether your selected pieces are acceptable, please chat with a tutor about it.

While we would like to see a variety of genres in your portfolio, the self-directed curriculum at COA means that you might not have taken a class that assigns many written assignments. If you, for instance, submit two research papers and one podcast script, that would be acceptable. Similarly, if you have only taken science courses and have only written research papers, submitting three, from different disciplines etc., is acceptable.