Critical Writing Seminars

Critical writing seminars are small, innovative, discipline- and genre-based courses organized around a specific scholarly inquiry. These seminars focus on helping students improve their writing skills and each student is required to take one.

Students fulfill the Writing Requirement by taking a critical writing seminar, and are strongly encouraged to do so during their first year.

  • Seminars must be taken for a letter grade, not pass/fail.
  • Seminars may not be used to fulfill any other College General Education Requirement.

Students who transfer to Penn as juniors are eligible to request transfer credit for a writing seminar. The Critical Writing Program’s website will help students determine how to fulfill the Writing Requirement and whether credit from a previous institution is likely to be applicable.