2020-2021 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Apr 18, 2024  
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2020-2021 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Writing Studies (AA-DTA) Course Map

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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field and for transfer to a four-year institution. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career.  The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. If you want to change a course on this map you must speak with an advisor to assure you meet all degree requirements. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time.  While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete an Associate in Arts - Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA)  Degree, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements.  Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

Important note about transfer: colleges and universities may change their requirements at any time, so this map is not a guarantee of transfer. You will need to check transfer requirements with your intended four-year school. 

1. College Success

  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond. 

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  • Note: The College Success course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following. Your advisor will assist you in selecting either the 3- or 5- credit version of the course. Should you choose to repeat a College Success course you must enroll in a College Success course with the same credit amount as the original course; a COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course.

2. English Composition I

  • Course purpose: Clear and strategic communication with others is a central feature of all careers in English. This class provides necessary skills for analyzing and documenting primary and secondary sources which are necessary skills for an English major.

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  • Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course.

3. Research Essentials

  • Course purpose: This course will help you apply research skills and strategies needed to better access information, evaluate it for credibility, and apply it for a variety of purposes in your life. This course facilitates primary and secondary source knowledge which is key in literary analysis and is useful in literature and Humanities classes.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: Cultural Anthropology introduces you to ethnography. Ethnography is both a method of inquiry and a compositional practice that has value within many of the academic and professional/technical situations in which a Writing Studies student might hope to work.

  • Course purpose: This course will provide you with a foundation for understanding how humans function within the political landscape, a key facet of how cultures are shaped. 

  • Course purpose: A foundation in sociological research methods will build your understanding of human relationships and social systems.

5. Math Course Recommendation

The math course you select will depend on the transfer institution you plan to attend and your math placement. Your advisor will assist you in selecting the appropriate course(s).

Mathematics Course Distribution List   

6. Introduction to Literature

  • Course purpose: This course gives you an overview of several kinds of literature such as poetry, short stories, essays, novels, and plays. This course may foster the ability to interpret and connect literary works to culture and history from a reader’s perspective.

     

    Note: If transferring to CWU, this course is required to declare major. If transferring to UW Seattle or Tacoma, this course counts as Visual, Literary & Performing Arts [VLPA] credits.

7. Advanced Composition

Choose one

8. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: Lab science courses provide you with opportunities to develop the scientific method of inquiry by creating hypotheses, conducting experiments, and writing lab reports using specialized vocabularies and communicating complex information. This course offers you a comprehensive understanding of how the human body works, and will also provide a foundation for further study in life sciences.

  • Course purpose: Lab science courses provide you with opportunities to develop the scientific method of inquiry by creating hypotheses, conducting experiments, and writing lab reports using specialized vocabularies and communicating complex information. Natural Science provides you with the skills and concepts for understanding the physical environment, as well as an introduction to global environmental issues.

  • Course purpose: Lab science courses provide you with opportunities to develop the scientific method of inquiry by creating hypotheses, conducting experiments, and writing lab reports using specialized vocabularies and communicating complex information. BIOL&100, a survey of the life science, will introduce or develop your understanding of how life develops, adapts, and evolves. 

     

    Note: If transferring to UW Seattle or Tacoma, all of the above courses fulfill the Natural World (NW) Area of Knowledge. If transferring to CWU, NSCI 150 or BIOL& 100 is recommended.

9. World Language

Choose one

10. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: This course provides you with context for understanding early political, economic, and cultural systems. Civilizations from the Stone Age to 1100 are covered in this course.

    Note: If transfering to UW Seattle or Tacoma, this course fulfills the Individuals and Societies (I&S) Area of Knowledge.

  • Course purpose: This course develops writer’s content knowledge in history and/or political science in the disciplines, while focusing on the origins of social and political systems. US History I covers everything prior to 1840.

  • Course purpose: American Government provides you with a review and analysis of US political and government systems as well as additional perspectives for understanding communication in a variety of contexts.

  • Course purpose: International Relations develops awareness of global problems and potential solutions. 

    Note: If transfering to UW Seattle or Tacoma, this course fulfills the Individuals and Societies (I&S) Area of Knowledge.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

11. Creative Writing I

  • Course purpose: Exposure to composing in creative writing genres will help you build composing skills. If you want to hone in practicing composing in a single genre could choose 237 (fiction/short story), 238 (poetry), and 214 (screenwriting), but the survey course remains the recommendation based on transfer opportunities.

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  • Note: UW Seattle/Tacoma, CWU, and WSU accept courses as English electives. EWU direct transfer as CRWR210. If majoring in Creating Writing, must earn a grade of B or better UW direct transfer/equivalent as ENGL 2XX; UWT 5 transfer credits received. No direct equivalent. WWU no direct transfer equivalent. 

12. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: Studio, performance, and production courses strengthens your composing skills in multiple modes, and with multiple mediums and materiality. Art 260 will enhance your awareness and knowledge of genre into other disciplinary notions of composing.

  • Course purpose: In this course, you will learn some of the basics of making movies using digital technologies which strengthens composing and tech skills necessary for writing students. 

  • Course purpose: This course introduces you to acting, and the various methods actors employ for film and stage productions which will enhance your understanding for communicating in a performance discipline.

  • Course purpose: CMST& 101 will introduce you to theories of communication in another discipline, while building knowledge of how language practices connect to social norms and identity.

Action Item: Transfer Institutions

Please affirm your choices for transfer institutions as these specific requirements may help you choose from the remaining courses in your path.

13. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: This course introduces you to theories of ethics and the application of theory to contemporary social problems, thus building important frameworks for understanding the world. 

    Note: If transferring to UW Seattle, the course equivalency is PHIL 240. If transferring to UW Tacoma, please work with your advisor regarding the best transfer course option.

  • Course purpose: This course introduces you to the application of theory to today’s most urgent contemporary social problems.

    Note: If transferring to UW Seattle, this course can fulfill Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts [VLPA], and Individuals and Societies [I&S] Areas of Knowledge. If transferring to UW Tacoma, please work with your advisor regarding the best transfer course option.

  • Course purpose: This course poses thought-provoking questions to explore: such as “Are there human rights? Are human rights universal or are they culturally determined? Do future people have rights? Are minority rights exceptions to or different from human rights?”

    Note: If transferring to UW Seattle, this course has an equivalency. If transferring to UW Tacoma, please work with your advisor regarding the best transfer course option.

  • Course purpose: CMST 105 will help you understand how culture affects communication theory and practice, and prepares you to communicate effectively across cultures.

14. World Language

Choose an additional course from 9.

15. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose an additional course from 8.

16. Advanced Composition

Choose an additional course from 7.

17. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose one

18. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose an additional course from 4.

19. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: Environmental science courses explore the connection between hard science and its application via public discourse, which includes policy work, advocacy, and communication across a variety of situations and contexts. You should take this course if you are interested in a general overview of environmental science. 

  • Course purpose: Western Water Problems will develop your understanding of historical and current water issues in the western U.S.

  • Course purpose: Environmental science courses explore the connection between hard science and its application via public discourse, which includes policy work, advocacy, and communication across a variety of situations and contexts. You should take this course if you are interested in a general overview of environmental science through case studies. 

Total Credits: 90

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