Competency Requirements

Overview of Requirements and Restrictions

All undergraduate students are required to fulfill Competency Requirements by earning the proper number of credits from courses taken in each of five different academic subject areas. Competency requirements may not be fulfilled with dual enrollment credit. The Second Writing Requirement must be taken at the university. The basic list of subject areas and their related credit requirement is as follows:

To help students keep track of their earned competency requirements, the College offers a College Area Requirements Checklist.

First Writing

Although all of the courses that fulfill the first writing requirement will offer guidance on questions of mechanical correctness where needed, students in the classes designed for native speakers are assumed to have control over the basics of English grammar before entering UVa. Instead of offering grammar drills, these courses help students identify and frame academic questions, support and extend conceptual arguments, and develop a range of prose styles.

Students must meet the first writing requirement during their first year at UVa. Dual enrollment courses do not satisfy the requirement.

Students having problems with registration or placement in ENWR 105/106, 110, 210, 220, or 380 should contact the Associate Director of the Writing Program at or go to Bryan Hall 322.

Ways to Fulfill the Requirement

Students can meet the first writing requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses of action:

Take Advanced Academic Writing (ENWR 210) if you are transfer student who has not earned exemption or if you scored 670-710 on the SAT II Subject Test in Writing or the writing portion of the new SAT test.

Transfer students who have completed college composition courses before matriculating to U.Va. may receive transfer credit for these courses, but will NOT automatically be granted exemption from the first writing requirement. This is due to the fact that different higher education institutions have varying goals for their first-year writing programs. Dual enrollment courses do not satisfy the requirement either. Transfer students who have not been granted exemption, but feel they have earned it may request a portfolio review from the Writing Program upon matriculation.

Register for ENWR 210 for the fall semester if you play on a varsity team that travels primarily in the spring OR if you are a transfer student who has not received an exemption OR if you are repeating the course OR if your social security number ends in a zero or an even digit. Otherwise, take ENWR 210 in the spring semester.

Take Accelerated Intro to Academic Writing ( ENWR 110) if you scored 490-660 on the SAT II Subject Test in Writing or the writing portion of the new SAT test.

Register for ENWR 110 for the fall semester if you play on a varsity team that travels primarily in the spring OR if you are repeating the course OR if your social security number ends in a zero or an even digit. Otherwise, take ENWR 110 in the spring semester.

Take the two-semester sequence for English language learners, ENWR 105 and ENWR 107 taken concurrently, followed by ENWR 108 (7 credits)

Students required to take this sequence will be identified either by the Admissions Office, the Center for American English Language and Culture, or the Writing Program.

You should take ENWR 105/107/108 if you are still developing fluency in written American English and you have been recommended for this sequence by the Admissions Office, the Writing Program, or the Center for American English Language and Culture.  

Register for ENWR 105 (Intro to Academic Writing I) and ENWR 107 (American English Workshop) in the fall. After successfully completing ENWR 105 and 107, register for ENWR 108 (American English Language & Culture). This sequence is designed to serve students for whom English is not the first language.

Take the two-semester Introduction to Academic Writing, ENWR 105, followed by ENWR 106 (6 credits) if you did not place into ENWR 110 or 210 (that is, if you scored 480 or below on the SAT II Subject Test in Writing or the writing portion of the new SAT test), and if you are not required to take the ENWR 105/107/108 courses for English language learners.

Regardless of ID number or athletic status, register for ENWR 105 in your first semester at UVa. Register for ENWR 106 in the semester after you successfully complete ENWR 105. You need to complete both ENWR 105 and 106 to fulfill the first writing requirement.

Earn exemption

Earn exemption in one of the following 4 ways:

Courses taken at another Institution	Writing or composition courses completed at another university may qualify transfer students for exemption from the first writing requirement. Dual enrollment courses, however, do not satisfy the requirement. As the goals of first-year writing courses at other universities vary widely, such exemptions are not automatic, even in cases where transfer credits are awarded for those courses. Transfer students whose test scores do not exempt them from the First Writing Requirement should meet the requirement in ENWR 210 during their first year at UVa. Transfer students who have not been granted exemption, but feel they have earned it may request a portfolio review from the Writing Program upon matriculation.
OR
Single-measure	You are automatically exempt from the first writing requirement if at least one of the following statements is true: You are an Echols Scholar; You scored 720 or above on the SAT II writing exam or the writing portion of the new SAT exam; You scored a 5 on the AP English language subject test.
OR
Composite	You are automatically exempt from the first writing requirement if at least one of the following statements is true: You scored 680-710 on the SAT II writing exam or the writing portion of the new SAT exam, AND you scored a 5 or above on the IB (higher level A 1) exam; You scored 680-710 on the SAT II writing exam or the writing portion of the new SAT exam, AND you scored a 4 on the AP English language subject test; You scored 700-710 on the SAT II writing exam or the writing portion of the new SAT exam, AND you scored a 4 or 5 on the AP English literature exam.
OR
Portfolio Review	If you are not automatically exempt, you may be able to earn an exemption from the first writing requirement through portfolio review. You are a good candidate for portfolio review if any of the following is true of you: You have significant experience writing argument papers at the college level. You scored 670 or above on the SAT II Writing test or the writing portion of the new SAT exam. You scored a 4 or 5 on the AP English literature subject test. You scored a 4 on the AP English language subject test. You scored a 5 or above on the IB (higher A1) exam. If you feel that your test scores do not fairly represent your ability to write academic arguments, you may ask the Associate Director of the Academic Writing Program to review a portfolio of your work. To do so, please send a short letter requesting a portfolio placement review and indicating what placement you consider appropriate to your ability level (i.e., ENWR 105/106, 110, or exempt). The letter should indicate your test scores, briefly describe your experience with writing academic arguments, and provide an e-mail address at which you can be contacted. For record keeping purposes, please also include your UVa ID number (typically the same as your SSN.) Along with this letter, include copies of three of your strongest academic argument essays. (Note: rather than simply presenting a narrative or factual summary, each of these essays should forward a focused claim and develop a well-supported argument.) Send your portfolio to Jon D'Errico, UVa Dept. of English, 219 Bryan Hall, Box 400121, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4121. (Portfolios cannot be returned, so please send only copies of your essays--not the originals.) You will be notified of the results of the portfolio review by e-mail as soon as possible. Portfolios for either fall 2007 or spring 2008 exemption must be received by the Writing Program no later than August 1, 2007.

If your exemption does not appear on your VISTAA form, please see the College Registrar in 102 Garrett Hall. You may need to provide proof of your test scores if they are not on file

If you are exempt from the first writing requirement but wish to take a course in academic argument during your first year, consider registering for Advanced Academic Writing (ENWR 210).

Second Writing Requirement (3 credits)

All students except Echols Scholars (but including other students with exemption from the first writing requirement) must complete a Second Writing Requirement (typically a 3-credit course that is writing intensive) with a grade of C- or better by the end of their sixth semester. A course in another School of this University (e.g., Engineering), Advanced Placement credit, advanced standing, dual enrollment credit, or credit transferred from another university will not satisfy this requirement. A course must have at least two writing assignments in English totaling 4,000 words (20 pages) or more (exclusive of quizzes and final examinations) and a student/faculty ratio no greater than 30/1 to qualify as a Second Writing Requirement course (view a list of Second Writing Requirement courses).

Although it is not advised, you may take a course that meets the second writing requirement before or during the semester that you complete the first writing requirement. However, completing the second writing requirement neither exempts you from nor fulfills the first writing requirement.

A course that satisfies the Second Writing Requirement may simultaneously count toward your major or minor program or toward another area requirement. One course, including cross-listed courses such as AAS 101 and HIAF 203, in addition to meeting area requirements (no more than two), may also satisfy the Second Writing Requirement.

This requirement is not complete until you file a Second Writing Requirement completion form (.pdf, 27KB) and have it certified by the College Registrar (102 Garrett Hall). The completion form (.pdf, 27KB) is available online for download or in the lobby of Garrett Hall.

Foreign Language (0-14 credits)

Foreign Language Disability Accommodation Students who are diagnosed by approved services, either before or after their admission to the University, as having specific learning disabilities should contact their Association Dean for information on accommodation within the structure of required courses in foreign language. Detailed information on accommodation may be found on the Disability Accommodation page.

Depending on their language placement examination scores, students must earn anywhere from zero to 14 credits or take the equivalent of four semesters of a foreign language to fulfill the requirement. The types of examinations for foreign language placement and requirement exemption include:

• SAT II Subject Test;
• Advanced Placement (AP) Exam;
• Higher-level International Baccalaureate Exam;
• College Summer Orientation Foreign Language Placement Test.

For specific foreign language placement and exemption qualifications based on the scores of these exams, consult the Foreign Language Placement Index.

Some or all of the requisite 14 credits can be earned by transfer students, prior to matriculation to the College, in coursework completed at a previously attended college or university. Dual enrollment courses, however, do not satisfy the requirement.

Languages taught at U.Va. that do fulfill the requirement are American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tibetan or Urdu. It is also possible for students to fulfill their requirement by gaining exemption through taking the NYU 16-point Foreign Language Proficiency Test in foreign languages not taught at U.Va.

Students who intend to transfer to a School in the University that does not require a foreign language (e.g., Engineering), should still continue to work toward fulfilling their language requirement while enrolled in the College.

Language courses through the 202 level (212 in Portuguese) may not be offered in fulfillment of a minor or major.

The requirement should be fulfilled before beginning a seventh semester in the College.

Ways to fulfill the requirement

Students can meet the foreign language requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses of action.

Take 14 credits or four semesters of a language in the proper sequence (usually 101, 102, 201, 202.)

Do this if...

You do not place above the 101 course level of a language by examination	Sample Scenario You took 1 year of Latin in high school, but your score on the SAT II Subject Test is below 480. You will need to start fulfilling the language requirement at the 101 course level. Instructions For specific foreign language course prerequisites, placement qualifications, and exemption qualifications consult the Foreign Language Placement Index.
OR
You intend to start learning a new language at the College	Sample Scenario You took 2 years of Spanish in high school, but wish to take French instead while earning your degree at U.Va. Instructions You do not need to take the a foreign language placement exam if you wish to start learning a new language.

Take the remaining courses of levels between where you place and the 202 level (212 for Portuguese).

Do this if:

You place above the 101 course level of a language by examination	Sample Scenario: You place beyond the first two semesters of Spanish (101 and 102) with an SAT II Subject Test score of 530, so you only have to complete two semesters of course levels beyond that (201 and 202). Instructions: For specific foreign language course prerequisites, placement qualifications, and exemption qualifications consult the Foreign Language Placement Index.
OR
You are a transfer student who has successfully completed, or achieved the credit equivalent of, between 1 and 3 semesters of language coursework at another college or university	Sample Scenario Your AP exam score placed you beyond the first two levels of Spanish at your previous college or university and then you took one semester of that language there before transferring to U.Va. That status being the equivalent of having taken 3 semesters of college-level Spanish, you are placed directly into Spanish 202. To fulfill the foreign language requirement you must only complete that one last course. Instructions Placement (as opposed to exemption) above the 101 language course level can be achieved by transferred credits only in cases where they are from previous coursework in one of the following languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. These are the languages taught at U.Va. Transfer students who have previous coursework in a language not taught at U.Va. may still test for exemption from the foreign language requirement by obtaining a special referral from Dean Papovich, their Association Dean. Transfer students who have credit for the equivalent of one semester of college work in a language typically enter the 102 level, those who have credit for the equivalent of two semesters of college work enter the 201 level, and those who have credit for the equivalent of three semesters of college work enter the 202 level. Subsequently, a foreign language course must be taken every semester until the requirement is fulfilled. For specific foreign language course prerequisites, placement qualifications, and exemption qualifications consult the Foreign Language Placement Index.

Earn exemption if you place beyond the 202 level by examination (see also Proficiency Testing in Foreign Languages Not Taught at U.Va. )

You are exempt if :

You scored high enough on a language placement examination (see list of examinations)	Sample Scenario: You place beyond the first two semesters of Spanish (101 and 102) with an SAT II Subject Test score of 530, so you only have to complete two semesters of course levels beyond that (201 and 202). Instructions: For specific exemption qualifications consult the Foreign Language Placement Index.
OR
You are a transfer student who has successfully completed, or achieved the credit equivalent of, 4 semesters of language coursework (up to the 202 level) at another college or university	Sample Scenario Your AP exam score placed you beyond the first two levels of Spanish at your previous college or university and then you took two semesters of that language there before transferring to U.Va. That status being the equivalent of having taken 4 semesters of college-level Spanish, your requirement is considered fulfilled. Instructions Exemption from the foreign language requirement can be achieved by virtue of transferred credits from previous coursework in languages taught at U.Va.—American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu—as well as languages not taught at the University. To get exemption for a language not taught at U.Va. transfer students must obtain a special referral from Dean Papovich, their Association Dean, to take the NYU 16 point Foreign Language Proficiency Test. For specific exemption qualifications consult the Foreign Language Placement Index.