Undergraduate Writing Requirements
This page contains a summary of university-wide undergraduate writing requirements. Please see the SFSU Bulletin for complete details.
All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. The following information lists the ways available to meet this graduation requirement.
Summary of SFSU Written English Requirements:
- Successful completion of First Year English or an approved equivalent.
- Successful completion of Second Year English or an approved equivalent.
- Successful completion of the Junior English Proficiency Essay Test (JEPET), or English 414 if JEPET is not passed, or an approved equivalent (English 411 or English 410).
The First Year English Requirement
All newly-admitted undergraduate students must take the California State University English Placement Test (CSU-EPT) prior to their first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU, except those with with proof of an approved EPT test or course exemption, as listed in the University Bulletin.
Two equivalent pathways satisfy the First-Year Composition Requirement for native speakers of English: Integrated Reading-Writing (ENG 104-105 sequence or ENG 106) or ENG 114.
A. Integrated Reading-Writing (IRW)
All entering freshmen who score 141 or below on the CSU-English Placement Test (EPT) must take the ENG 104-105 course sequence, except that entering freshmen who self-identify as non-native speakers of English may take either the ENG 104-105 course sequence, or courses in the Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS) program (see Written English Proficiency Requirements for Non-Native Speakers in the Bulletin). All entering freshmen who score between 142 and 150 on the CSU-English Placement Test (EPT) must take ENG 106, except that entering freshmen who self-identify as non-native speakers of English may take either ENG 106 or courses in the Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS) program (see Written English Proficiency Requirements for Non-Native Speakers in the Bulletin). The ENG 104-105 course sequence or ENG 106 must be completed within the first year of enrollment. Because the goals of First-Year Experience (FYE) courses are accomplished in the ENG 104-105 sequence and ENG 106, students who successfully complete the ENG 104-105 sequence or ENG 106 will not receive credit towards graduation for other FYE courses.
Grading in all composition courses will be either ABC/No Credit or Credit/No Credit (CR/NC). A grade of CR or C- or better in the ENG 104-105 sequence or ENG 106 satisfies the First-Year Composition Requirement. Students who receive credit for these courses will proceed to ENG 214.
Students scoring 150 or below on the EPT who receive a grade of NC for ENG 105 or ENG 106 must enroll in ENG 114. Students who do not complete the ENG 104-105 course sequence or ENG 106 within one year are out of compliance with CSU Executive Order 665 and will be disenrolled from the University. They may be readmitted after successfully completing a First-Year Composition course elsewhere.
B. English 114
Students who score 151 or above on the EPT should take English 114, prior to completing 30 units of course work. Only those students who can demonstrate one of the following are exempt from English 114:
- A score of 3, 4, or 5 on either the Language and Composition or Composition and Literature examinations of the College Board Advanced Placement Program
- Completion of an equivalent college-level course elsewhere (a 3 semester-unit or a 4 quarter-unit course) with a grade of credit (CR) or C- or better.
Grading on all written composition courses will be either ABC/No Credit or Credit/No Credit. For information about approved ENG 114 equivalents, please visit assist.org.
The Second Year English Requirement
ENG 214, or an approved SFSU alternative, should be taken after completion of 24 semester units and prior to completion of 60 semester units by all students who have not received credit for an equivalent test or course. For information about approved ENG 114 equivalents, please visit assist.org.
- Successful completion of ENG 104-105, ENG 106, or ENG 114 is a prerequisite to ENG 214 or one of the approved SFSU ENG 214 alternatives.
- ENG 114 and 214 may not be taken concurrently. ABC/NC grading is used in both courses.
- Consult the online Class Schedule for the complete list of approved SFSU ENG 214 alternative courses. In the Course Abbreviation section choose “English Comp Requirement, 2nd Year.”
- Students who have passed for credit the CSU English Equivalency Examination or who have received scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English will receive six units of college credit and are exempt from the ENG 114 and ENG 214 course requirements.
Important Note: Critical thinking courses taken at community colleges typically fulfill SFSU’s Critical Thinking requirement. However, they typically do not fulfill SFSU’s Second Year English requirement. Please contact the Composition Office (HUM 209, 415-338-2128) if you have questions.
The Junior Year English Requirement
Upper Division Written English Proficiency Requirements
Undergraduate students must complete the CSU Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) by taking the SFSU Junior English Proficiency Essay Test (JEPET) after completing 48 semester units, and before completing 80 semester units. Some students may be able to satisfy the GWAR requirement with an upper division course in the major, and should therefore check with their major departments to see if such a course is available. The following applies to students who must still take the JEPET:
- Students must pass ENG 114 and ENG 214 or their equivalents or SFSU alternatives with a grade of Credit or C- or higher before they are eligible to take JEPET.
- Passing the JEPET examination satisfies the SFSU upper division written English requirement. Students who do not pass JEPET must enroll in ENG 414 the semester immediately following the semester in which they failed JEPET (i.e., fall, spring, or summer). Students who not enroll in ENG 414 in the semester immediately following the semester in which they failed JEPET will lose their course registration priority date for all subsequent semesters until they complete ENG 414. All undergraduate degree objective students must take JEPET before enrolling in ENG 414.
- Passing ENG 414 satisfies the SFSU Upper Division Written English Requirement for those who did not pass the JEPET examination. Consult the Testing Center Examination Calendar for JEPET examination times and dates. Students who transfer to SFSU with 80 or more semester units and who have completed a course equivalent to ENG 214 should take the JEPET examination during their first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU. Students who do not pass JEPET must enroll in ENG 414 in the semester immediately following the semester in which they failed JEPET, or they will lose their course registration priority date for all subsequent semesters until they complete ENG 414. Students who have taken and passed an upper division expository writing course at another institution may apply for a waiver of the JEPET/ENG 414 requirement.
Written English Proficiency Requirements for Multilingual Students
Non-native speakers of English must take the English Placement Test (the CSU EPT) during their first semester of matriculated attendance at SFSU.
Non-native speakers of English must also take the SFSU English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT) before they can enroll in any Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS) courses.
The ESLPT is a SFSU requirement for placement in all CMS English courses. Placement in CMS courses is determined by the CMS coordinator solely on the basis of ESLPT scores, not on the basis of any course work or examinations taken at other colleges or universities. Consult the Testing Center Examination Calendar for ESLPT and EPT examination times and dates.
Non-native speakers of English who are eligible to take Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS) courses must complete the sequence of CMS courses listed below as substitutes for the English 114, 214, and JEPET requirements. In order to enroll in a CMS course, students must first take the SFSU English as a Second Language Placement Test (ESLPT) and receive a qualifying score for that course. A student who satisfactorily completes a CMS course may proceed to the next level CMS course without retaking the ESLPT. Students may substitute the following courses for the ENG 114, ENG 214, and JEPET requirements.
- ENG 209 for ENG 114
- ENG 310 for ENG 214
- ENG 411 or ENG 410 for the Junior English Proficiency Essay Test (JEPET)
In order to use ENG 410 or ENG 411 to meet the JEPET requirement, students must take ENG 410 or ENG 411 after they have completed 48 semester units and before completing 80 semester units.
Students with bilingual backgrounds who have completed all or most of their previous education in the United States may substitute ENG 410 for ENG 414 only if they qualify for ENG 410 on the basis of their ESLPT scores or receive permission from the CMS coordinator.
Non-native speakers of English may complete the GE Oral Communication requirement by taking ENG 210, Oral Communication-Multilingual, if they qualify for this course on the basis of their ESLPT scores.
