English Department 
Old Main, Room 115-B
607-753-2086

English Composition Requirement for Freshmen

SUNY Cortland requires students to complete an English composition program designed to help them develop the ability to write acceptable English prose. Two courses are required:

1. either CPN 100: Writing Studies I (3 cr. hr.) or 
   CPN 102: Writing Studies in the Community I (4 cr. hr.) 
   and
2. either CPN 101: Writing Studies II (3 cr. hr.) or 
   CPN 103: Writing Studies in the Community II (4 cr. hr.).

Students must complete both writing courses, except for those who are exempted through an accepted qualifying examination. Students must pass these courses with grades of C- or better. D grades are passing grades and will count in overall credit hours; however, D grades in CPN do not satisfy the College's bachelor's degree requirements. Students must retake CPN courses in which their grade falls below C-, especially before registering for any course for which successful completion of CPN is a prerequisite. Courses in which students receive D grades must be retaken at SUNY Cortland.

Students may choose to retake CPN 100 (3 cr. hr.) by enrolling in CPN 102 (4 cr. hr.) and vice versa. Likewise, students may choose to retake CPN 101 (3 cr. hr.) by enrolling in CPN 103 (4 cr. hr.) and vice versa. In the event that the first enrollment is in a four-credit-hour class and the second enrollment is in a three-credit-hour class, students who pass the three credit-hour-class will incur a net deduction of one credit hour from their cumulative credit total.

In addition, all students must complete a minimum of two Writing-Intensive (WRIT) courses that must be taken at Cortland. Students must successfully complete CPN 100 or CPN 102 and CPN 101 or CPN 103 with a minimum grade of C- or better before enrolling in a Writing-Intensive course. The WRIT requirements are described below.

Advanced Placement of Freshmen

Placement and credit on the basis of examinations sponsored by the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board are determined on the following basis

Composition Requirements for Transfer Students

Writing courses passed at other institutions will be assigned credit as follows:

1. For a one-semester composition course equivalent to CPN 100 or CPN 102, students will receive three credit hours and will not be required to take CPN 100 or CPN 102 but must take CPN 101 or CPN 103.
2. For a two-semester composition course sequence equivalent to CPN 100 or CPN 102 and CPN 101 or CPN 103, students will not be required to take CPN 100 or CPN 102, or CPN 101 or CPN 103. They will be eligible to enroll in a 200-level English course.
3. Students who transfer credit hours equivalent to the CPN 101 or 103 level will not be required to take CPN 100 or 102.
4. Transfer students are strongly urged to complete the composition requirement during their first year at Cortland.

Transfer students also are required to complete six credit hours of Writing-Intensive (WRIT) courses at SUNY Cortland. This must include at least one course in the major; the other course can be in or out of the major. WRIT requirements are described below. Writing courses from other institutions cannot be used to satisfy the WRIT requirements.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements for Freshmen and Transfer Students

Most college courses involve a certain amount of writing. However, the extent of writing assignments will vary from class to class. To ensure that students receive a minimum amount of writing experience and writing instruction while at Cortland, several courses have been designed as Writing Intensive (WRIT). Students are required to take a minimum of two WRIT courses at Cortland (six credit hours), at least three credit hours of which are in their major.

WRIT courses are offered in all academic departments. These courses are intended to help students think critically and write effectively while they are learning course content. No WRIT course may enroll more than 25 students. Although they differ widely in content, WRIT courses require the equivalent of at least 15 pages of assigned writing and adhere to the following guidelines:

1. At least two written assignments that are reviewed before the end of the semester or in some upper division courses a single assignment that is written and reviewed in multiple drafts.
2. Instructors respond to students' work in written comments, conferences or both, and students use this feedback to revise the assignment.
3. Classroom time spent on work directly related to writing.

Course offerings may change from semester to semester. Each term's WRIT courses are specially designated and may be found under the writing intensive attribute on the Web.

Writing Assistance

The Academic Support and Achievement Program (ASAP) offers professional assistance to help students improve their writing skills. Tutoring is available in brainstorming/prewriting, organizing, revising, proofreading and editing for many types of writing, including essays, syntheses, research papers, speeches, critical analyses, summaries and critiques.

For more information, contact the ASAP office, Van Hoesen Hall, Room B-205, 607-753-4309.