Policies and Procedures

Notice: CSUN has suspended the GWAR for students with catalog years prior to 2023. The Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE) is no longer offered. The GWAR policy will be revised for the 2023-24 Catalog. See Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) for additional information.

All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. At CSUN, all students who have met the lower division writing requirement, completed 56 units or more, and intend to graduate with a baccalaureate or master’s degree are required to demonstrate their writing proficiency in one of two ways.

1. Students may pass an essay examination as a demonstration of their proficiency in writing. The Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam will be offered throughout the academic year.
2. Students may meet the GWAR requirement by receiving a grade of “C” or better in a minimum of 6 units of coursework in the upper division portion of the General Education curriculum.

Undergraduate students are required to meet the Graduation Writing Requirement no later than the semester in which they complete 90 units. Students who have not met this requirement by the completion of 90 units may have a registration hold placed on their subsequent registration.