First-Year Writing Program

As part of the General Education Program (GEP) Introduction to Writing, NC State students are required to take ENG 101. Students can be exempted from ENG 101 based on standardized test scores submitted to NC State as part of their application process. We advise students to review our placement guidelines to determine if they are exempt from ENG 101.

Students transferring college level writing course credit may not be required to take ENG 101, but may need to take ENG 202 to fulfill their GEP requirement. We advise students to review our transfer credit guidelines.

While our program recommends taking ENG 101 or ENG 202 during their first year at NC State, students can take their needed course the second year. Any questions regarding our program, placement, and transfer credit, please email us at firstyearwriting@ncsu.edu.

First-Year Writing Instruction for International Students

Students for whom English is a second language may choose to take WLEN 101 through the Department of World Languages and Cultures. This course can be taken as a substitute for ENG 101 as it fulfills the same requirements. A grade of C- or better in WLEN 101 is required to fulfill the first-year writing requirement.

Contact Jennifer Despain in the Department of World Languages and Cultures or visit the TESOL program website for more information.

First-Year Writing Showcase

The First-Year Writing Program is one of the largest GEP programs at NC State and teaches over 4,000 students every academic year. Our annual showcase highlights the best of the interdisciplinary writing projects completed in ENG 101. Each year First-Year Writing faculty nominate student work to be considered and selected by a committee. Only a handful of students are chosen and given the opportunity to present their research and work in an interactive setting to connect with other students and faculty across campus.