The Writing Proficiency Requirement is an assessment of students' abilities as analytical readers, writers, and thinkers - abilities that students need in order to perform strongly and independently in upper-level courses. These habits of mind are vital parts of a liberal arts education.

This graduation requirement applies to all undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS), including the Exercise Science and Physical Education (ESPE) Department. Students can complete the requirement either by taking an examination or submitting a portfolio.

The Writing Proficiency Examination
This examination is offered two times a year, in January and June. The three-hour examination involves writing an essay of seven to ten paragraphs in answer to a question based on a set of readings that students must prepare in advance. A passing essay will demonstrate the student's thorough understanding of the readings, as well as an ability to analyze and synthesize the material, use evidence appropriately, form concepts, draw inferences, and construct a well organized response to the question. Each student who plans to take the examination must register for it and pick up a reading set during the registration period. There are three reading sets to choose from. Before registering, the student should preview excerpts from the reading sets and choose the one he or she wants to prepare; preview materials will be available at the WPR website (http://www.umb.edu/umb/wpr) one week before the registration period begins. Then the student should come to the WPR Office (M/4/603) to register and pick up a complete reading set on the selected topic. Registration begins six weeks before the date of the examination.

Note: The Writing Proficiency Examination is not the same as the English Placement Test, which students take when they enter the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Writing Proficiency Portfolio
The portfolio consists of four papers, each at least five typewritten pages in length. Three of the papers are expository essays, written for three different courses and three different instructors and based on multiple reading sources. Each of these essays must be certified as the student's own work by the instructor of the course for which it was written. Certification forms are available in the WPR Office (M/4/603). The fourth paper is a new one, to be written independently by the student, based on a set of readings and a question distributed by the WPR Office six weeks before the complete portfolio is due.

Portfolios may be submitted on specific dates in January and June and also in October and March.

Deadlines
CAS students are to complete the WPR by the time they have finished 68 credits, or, if they are transferring in 60 or more credits, by the end of their first semester.

CNHS nursing students are to complete the WPR before enrolling in their first clinical course (Nursing 210). ESPE students are to complete the WPR before enrolling in their first internship (ESPE 400, 450, or 486).

For more information, including answers to the questions, "What happens if the requirement is not completed on time?", "Where can I get help?", "Can the WPR be waived?" and "What is the schedule for the WPR?", see the WPR website (http://www.umb.edu/umb/wpr) or visit the WPR Office (M/4/603).