Welcome to CSU Channel Islands! Many students arrive here having already completed their first year writing requirement via dual enrollment, a community college course, or AP or IB credit. If that's you, you're all set. If you're choosing to complete first year writing here, we're glad you are, and we want to help you find the right fit.
At CSUCI, we believe you know yourself best. The choice of how to complete your first year writing requirement is yours. Please review the information below before selecting your English pathway.
What are my options for first year writing at CSUCI?
All students who complete their first year writing requirement at CSUCI do so by taking English 105: Composition & Rhetoric. The question is whether you'd like to take it on its own or with an extra layer of support alongside it.
Students who feel ready to jump into college-level writing and research may enroll in English 105 alone. Students who feel they could use more time to develop their writing process, build confidence, or strengthen their research skills are encouraged to pair English 105 with English 299: Writing with Clarity and Power, a 1-unit co-requisite course taken at the same time.
Ask yourself: How do I feel about my readiness for college writing and research right now?
Option 1 | English 105: Composition & Rhetoric
English 105 is a 3-unit General Education course that fulfills the Area 1A: English Composition requirement. It is a carefully scaffolded course designed to support your transition into college-level writing, with guided practice in drafting, revision, and research throughout the semester.
Students must complete English 105 with a grade of C- or higher to fulfill the first year writing requirement. English 105 is offered in both fall and spring.
English 105 is designed for students who are ready to engage actively with the writing process (giving and receiving feedback, drafting and revising their work, and building their research skills) in a structured, supportive environment.
Option 2 | English 105 + English 299: Writing with Clarity & Power
English 299: Writing with Clarity and Power is a 1-unit co-requisite support course taken alongside English 105. It offers a small, supportive, judgment-free community and individualized attention to your specific writing needs. English 299 helps you get the most out of English 105 and sets you up for success across your college career.
This option is worth considering if you'd like more time to develop your writing process, want to become more comfortable sharing your work and giving feedback to peers, or feel you could benefit from additional guidance as you navigate college-level research and revision. It's not a step back; it's a head start.
English 299 is graded Credit / No Credit and counts as an elective unit toward your degree.
Which option should I choose?
That's up to you. We trust you to reflect honestly on your own readiness and make the choice that's right for you.
If you feel ready to take on college-level writing and research independently, enroll in English 105. If you feel you'd benefit from structured support alongside it, choose English 105 + English 299. Either way, you'll be in good hands.
What if I have already completed my first year writing requirement?
Students may also fulfill the Area 1A: English Composition GE requirement via Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam credit, dual enrollment, or a transferable college course. Please check CSUCI's Transfer Credit page for details, and be sure to submit documentation prior to your first semester at CSUCI.
Where can I get more information?
For questions about the first year writing experience at CSUCI, please email Dr. Stacey Anderson, Composition Director, at stacey.anderson@csuci.edu.
Whichever option you choose, you will benefit from a dedicated and experienced faculty team who are experts in the challenges facing first year college writers; you will receive ample, ongoing feedback on your writing in a small class of no more than 20 students; and you will earn credit towards your degree as you become more confident and capable as a writer, researcher, and college student.
First Year Writing @ CSUCI: the Choice is Yours!