What makes a course "writing intensive"?

College Life
1

I’m currently filling out an application for a job through my University’s English Department and it asks to list all writing intensive courses I have taken.

I have taken three Religious Studies courses; one course (let’s call it Course A) last semester required one 7 page research essay and a take home final exam that was entirely essay based (about 10 essays in total - ~20 pages in total.)

The second and third Religious Studies courses this semester (Course B and Course C) regularly require short writing assignments to be submitted (5 assignments in total for each) that are 2-3 pages in length. There are also final essays that are 7 pages long and a separate 7 page essay due mid semester.

I also took an American Studies course (Course D) that had multiple homework assignments due for each class (so, maybe like 20 in total? Something like that) which involved short answer (paragraph long) responses to a list of questions. The assignment was 2-3 pages typed on its own but it was not a coherent essay. The question would be something along the lines of:

3 pages in total, due every class.
There was also an in-class essay for the midterm and final.

My question: What constitutes “writing intensive” for a class? Would Courses A-D be considered “writing intensive”?

2

Assuming your university doesn’t have some method of distinguishing “writing intensive courses” on your transcript (some do). I would consider any class where the majority of your grade is derived from not timed, closed book writing (i.e. you have the ability and time to research and revise when constructing your work) to be writing intensive. So B and C are absolutely writing intensive. A is too, particularly if the take home exam was untimed. D is probably not.

For example most upper level biology class exams are largely “essay” based but I would not consider these classes writing intensive since all the writing was done under strict time limit with no access to source materials.

3

In my experience they usually are designated as a Writing Intensive course.

4

While that would make my life so much easier, my school doesn’t designate writing intensive courses, unfortunately. @dolphnlvr6

5

also google " writing intensive" Many of them have a definition.

6

I did that as well and nothing relevant comes up (just information about our creative writing minor.) @bopper

7

Have you tried asking your university’s english department what they consider a writing intensive course? Their opinion is the one that matters.

8

I’d consider any course that has any type of significant writing component to be writing intensive. English classes clearly are. Many philosophy classes involve a heavy writing component, which I would consider writing intensive. Classes like world religions and various humanities classes often have a heavy enough writing component to be considered writing intensive.

I’ve completed honors projects in some of my physics and calculus classes that have basically taken the form of a research paper. This is definitely writing intensive. I think the definitions can vary a bit, but pretty much anything with a significant amount of writing can be included in my opinion.

9

Mine doesn’t either. But you’re probably overthinking it. Throw in courses where you could provide at least 3-4 writing samples.

Good luck on the app!