1st Year English Composition

Current Students

1st Year English Composition

In order to remain eligible to enroll through University Division, undergraduate students who matriculate at Indiana University Bloomington in Summer 2002 or later must complete the English composition requirement within the first 55 hours of credit on their university transcript or within their first two semesters at IUB (fall or spring).

All schools at Indiana University Bloomington have a composition requirement, and this policy is intended to ensure that all students make adequate, timely progress toward completion of this important requirement.

To ensure that students are making appropriate progress toward completion of this basic requirement, students' records in University Division will be monitored. Those students who have not completed the requirement within 55 hours of credit or within their first two semesters will have a HOLD placed on their record and will not be allowed to register further through University Division until they have met with their advisor and made a written plan to complete the requirement. If they have already enrolled for further classes, their enrollments will be monitored and their registrations may be cancelled.

Although grade minima vary among the schools, for the purposes of this policy, a student must complete one of the following:
Exemption through test scores (SAT, ACT, AP):

  • SAT (recentered) Verbal score of 670 or higher
  • ACT English Composition score of 32 or higher
  • AP Program English: Composition and Literature score of 4 or 5
  • AP Program English: Language and Composition score of 4 or 5

Completion with a minimum grade of C- in any of the following options:

  • ENG W131
  • ENG W170
  • ENG L141 and L142
  • AFRO A141 and A142
  • Two semesters of ENG W143 combined with any two of the following courses: CMLT C145, CMLT C146, SLAV R145, SLAV R146
  • A combination of two courses from the two-semester sequences (e.g. ENG L141 and AFRO A142, or AFRO A141 and CMLT C146 combined with ENG W143, etc.)

Some schools do not accept all of these options. See an advisor for details!

Note for students who have just transferred to Indiana University Bloomington:

If you have 17 or more hours on your record, you will be expected to enroll in an appropriate course to satisfy all or part of the requirement EACH semester (fall or spring) you enroll until you complete the requirement. See your advisor IMMEDIATELY if you encounter course availability issues.