Program Overview

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Program

The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program is an interdepartmental program that aims to expand the role of writing in courses across all disciplines on campus. Research has shown that student writing in the disciplines, including mathematics and physics, fosters better thinking and active learning. The program is based on the principle that writing and learning are intrinsically linked.

Program Objectives

• Experiential Learning: Engage students in writing that stimulates learning about their field of study.
• Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Empower students to navigate between disciplines as they develop skills related to professional writing in their field of study.
• Professional Development: Prepare students to communicate effectively using the conventions of their field of study.

Program Details

The WAC Program supports instructors in developing instructional materials that connect the subject matter of a discipline with communication-based projects that have real-world applications. The program is grounded in Writing to Learn pedagogy, which engages students in higher-order thinking. It assists instructors in designing courses that teach students to write effectively in a discipline or subfield.

Writing-Intensive Courses

Writing-intensive courses in the disciplines are the core of the WAC program at Howard University. These courses are designed to show students that writing is essential to success in whatever field of study or career they pursue. In the College of Arts & Sciences, these courses fulfill the Third Writing requirement (following the First Year Writing Sequence). Writing-intensive courses in the disciplines are designated by a 700-level number and a -WRTG suffix.

Faculty Support and Certification

Faculty Consultations

The WAC Program offers faculty consultations to discuss course design or program development within their department. During these consultations, faculty can explore ways to expand their curriculum to incorporate writing-based, experiential learning opportunities for their majors.

WAC Seminar

The WAC Program hosts an interdisciplinary WAC Seminar, a hands-on, collaborative venture for colleagues to help each other develop content for writing-intensive courses. The seminar provides a collaborative space for faculty to exchange ideas and practices that transfer across fields. Participants investigate Writing to Learn methods, which focus on cultivating the metacognitive processes that students need to take their critical thinking skills to the next level.

Certification for Teaching the Third Writing Requirement

The WAC Program certifies faculty members to teach the Third Writing requirement for the College of Arts & Sciences. WAC-certified faculty may teach courses that fulfill the Third Writing requirement. Certification requires the successful completion of the WAC Seminar and the development of a course syllabus that meets the requirements for Third Writing courses. Only Certified WAC Instructors may teach the 700-level courses that fulfill the third writing requirement.

Certified WAC Instructors

The following faculty members are certified WAC instructors:

• Marina del Sol, Ph.D.
• Stacy Farina, Ph.D.
• Eliseo Jacob
• Emily MN Kugler
• Molly Myerowitz Levine
• Esther Mukewa Lisanza, Ph.D.
• Aaron Livingston
• Marguerite E Neita, Ph.D.
• Amy Yeboah Quarkume, Ph.D.
• Debra D Roberts, Ph.D.
• Monica Styles, Ph.D.