Composition
The NJCU Composition Sequence
As of Fall 2024, the English Department offers three courses that are part of the General Education Program's Written Communication sequence: ENGL 100, 101, and 102. Though all three courses teach written communication, ENGL 100 focuses on reading comprehension and writing, ENGL 101 focuses on fundamental writing skills, and ENGL 102 focuses on research and more advanced academic writing. These courses foster the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that are indispensable for college and career success.
All new non-transfer students start in ENGL 100. Exceptions: students with three college composition credits—transfer, dual enrollment, or AP/CLEP—will be exempt from ENGL 100 and ENGL 101; students with six credits will be exempt from the entire sequence. New students who would benefit from ESL instruction may be placed directly into ESL-specific sections of 101.
After successful completion of ENGL 100, students move on to ENGL 101 unless their writing demonstrates that they already have the skills required to pass 101, in which case they are placed directly into 102. Placement is determined by an assessment of writing submitted in ENGL 100, which is scored by the ENGL 100 instructor using a standardized rubric. Note that the writing assessment score is separate from the course grade for ENGL 100. The assessment will also indicate whether ESL placement would be appropriate for the student. The English Department’s Composition Committee is the final authority on placement.