Guidelines for Completing the CSULB
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)
To obtain a degree or certificate from CSULB, students must demonstrate upper-division competence in academic writing in English by satisfying the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). To satisfy the GWAR, students should complete the following steps:
- Undergraduate students must attempt the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) during the semester in which they complete 65 units. Transfer students and graduate students must attempt the WPE during their first semester of enrollment. Most students satisfy the GWAR by successfully completing the WPE on their first attempt. Three-hour WPE Workshops are offered during the 2-week periods prior to each test date. Registration is not required and there is no fee for these workshops. Dates, times, and locations of the workshops are posted on the Testing and Evaluation Services website (http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students2/testing/ ).
- Graduate and undergraduate students may also satisfy the GWAR by completing the analytic writing portion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with a score of 4 or higher. These tests are administered throughout the year at locations around the world. For information about the GRE, visit www.gre.org. For information about the GMAT, visit http://www.princetonreview.com . To satisfy the GWAR, students must submit a copy of their GRE or GMAT scores to Enrollment Services (#123 Brotman Hall) or to Testing and Evaluation Services (#216 Brotman Hall).
- Students who are unsuccessful in their first WPE, GRE, or GMAT attempt and who lack English language proficiency skills should immediately seek tutoring, enroll in an appropriate course, or do both. Students should use the following resources:
- WPE 10 and WPE 20 are 1-unit, non-baccalaureate courses designed to prepare students for the WPE that meet 1 hour and 45 minutes per week during the first 12 weeks of the semester. These courses are listed in the catalog under WPE Preparation and Review. Contact the English Department for more information.
- English 301A (English Proficiency) is 3-unit, intermediate course in English usage for students who need English language development beyond English 100. Contact the English Department for more information.
- The LAC (#104 Horn Center) provides one-on-one and group tutoring for students who need to develop English language proficiency.
- The Writers Resource Lab (#212 Learning Arts Building) provides writing instruction through tutoring, workshops, and online resources. Activities include one-on-one tutoring, group tutoring, and tutoring support for writing classes.
- After attempting the WPE once, graduate and undergraduate students may satisfy the GWAR by successfully completing assessments connected to upper-division, writing intensive courses that have been approved for this purpose. Currently, the following courses are approved:
- COTA 300: Writing in the Arts is a writing-intensive course for all majors in the College of the Arts.
- ENGR 310: Business Communication in the Engineering Profession is an established writing-intensive course for Engineering majors.
- ENGL 301B: English Proficiency is a well-established course designed to help Second Language Learners develop writing skills necessary to satisfy the GWAR.
- FMD 450: Cultural Perspectives of Dress is a well-established, writing-intensive course offered by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. It is an upper-division GE course that satisfies the Global Issues requirement.
- HIST 301: Methodology of History is a well-established, writing-intensive course for History majors, which was first offered as a GWAR course in Spring 2007.
- IS 301L: Business Communications (IS 301) is a well-established, writing-intensive course for Business majors. IS 301L is a new two-unit, elective writing laboratory for students who need help developing their English writing skills. To satisfy the GWAR, students must successfully complete IS 301 and IS 301L and submit a portfolio for evaluation.
The following course is not a GWAR course but is designed for Second Language Learners who do not have access to on-campus resources:
- ENGLISH WRITING PROFICIENCY: English Writing Proficiency (EWP) is a new non-credit, entirely online, English writing skills course offered through University College Extension Services. This 10-week course, which provides students with a minimum of 2 hours per week of instruction, is designed to prepare students to satisfy the GWAR by passing the WPE or the analytic writing portion of the GRE or GMAT. Faculty and advisors should contact Rebekha Abbuhl (rabbuhl@csulb.edu) or Matt Reimers at UCES (mreimers@uces.csulb.edu) for more information.
- Students may attempt the WPE a second time and may also request one of the following testing accommodations:
- Students may request extended time to complete the WPE. This testing accommodation gives students 2 hours rather than 75 minutes to complete the test. Students who fail the WPE with extended time will not be eligible to petition for extended time again until they have completed a writing course with a grade of "C" or better or "Credit" or have followed recommendations of a WPE Advisor. Extended time applications can be obtained from Testing & Evaluation Services, in Brotman Hall #216.
- Students who have physical or learning disabilities that interfere with their ability to demonstrate writing proficiency may qualify for accommodated testing. Students who believe they qualify should request a referral from the Office of Disabled Student Services (#270 Brotman Hall).
- Students who fail any approved GWAR assessment two times may not attempt the WPE for a third time unless they first obtain a diagnostic assessment of their writing skills from a designated GWAR advisor in the LAC and then pursue the prescribed corrective measures (usually tutoring, enrollment in appropriate courses, or both).
- In unusual and exceptional cases, students may petition for a special circumstances waiver of the GWAR. Special circumstances generally refer to rare situations or conditions (e.g., writing-related medical issues, related learning disabilities, or physical conditions) that have prevented the student from successfully completing the GWAR in spite of the student’s sustained efforts to prepare using appropriate resources. Students who believe they qualify for a special circumstances waiver must provide evidence of their sustained efforts to satisfy the GWAR and must document the qualifying circumstances. This documentation might include, for example, medical records and/or medical, educational, psychological, counseling, or occupational evaluations. Petitions for special circumstances waivers are available from Testing and Evaluation Services (#216 Brotman Hall).
- Failure to satisfy the GWAR will prevent students from receiving their degrees, even if they have satisfied all other degree requirements. Therefore, students should act promptly to seek appropriate instruction, tutoring, or both to develop the English writing skills necessary to satisfy
the GWAR. Repeated attempts to pass the WPE, GRE, or GMAT are likely to be unsuccessful without appropriate corrective measures.
- To ensure successful completion of the GWAR, students should follow these guidelines:
- Take the WPE promptly to determine your English writing proficiency.
- If your first attempt is unsuccessful, see your advisor and identify available resources.
- Immediately seek tutoring, enroll in appropriate writing courses, or enroll in a GWAR course.
- If your second attempt is unsuccessful, immediately obtain a diagnostic assessment from an advisor at the LAC and pursue the prescribed corrective measures.
- Consider requesting extended time or other testing accommodations.
- Don’t attempt the WPE, GRE, or GMAT repeatedly without obtaining appropriate assistance.
- If you’re unsure of how to improve your English writing skills, ask your advisor or go the LAC or Writers Resource Lab for advice.
