2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Dec 21, 2024  
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2024-2025 Pierce College 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 Requirements  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. 

Total Credits: 90

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.

Meet with an English professor and customize your path based on your particular interests.

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: 

    • Successfully completing either COLLG 110 or COLLG 115 will fulfill the College Success requirement. 
    • 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.

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  • Transfers to EWU as ENGL101. Transfers to WWU as ENGL 101: Writing Your Way through WWU and is required before declaring English as your major. Transfers to UW as ENGL 131; 2.5 GPA or better required for English majors. Transfers to UWT as 5 credits, with no direct equivalent.

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.

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.

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  • Note: Fulfills WSU’s DIVS requirement. Transfers to WWU as ANTH 201: Intro to Cultural Anthropology. EWU transfers as a lower division social science with no direct transfer equivalent. Transfers to UW as ANTH 202. Transfers to UWT for 5 transfer credits with no direct equivalent. 

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  • 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. 

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  • Note: Transfers to UW as POLS 101. Transfers to UWT for five credits but with no direct transfers. Transfers to EWU as lower social science with no direct transfer. Transfers to WWU as PLSC 101: Govt/Pol Modern World.

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

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  • Note: Transfers to EWU as SOCI 101. Transfers to UWT as TSOC 165. Transfers to WWU as 1PR: Intro to Sociology.

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5. Math Course Recommendation

  • Course purpose: Having some fundamentals in stats and the graphical methods will support developing skills in working with quantitative research.

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  • Note: CWU accepts MATH& 146 as MATH 122. Fulfills WSU’s QSR requirement. Transfers to EWU as MATH 121. Transfers to UW as STAT 220 or QMETH 201. Transfers to UWT as 5 transfer credits, with no direct equivalent.

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  • Course purpose: PHIL& 120 will build your skills in assessing and composing logical arguments.

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  • Note: Fulfills WSU’s QSR requirement. Transfers to EWU as lower division Humanities and Arts course. Transfers to UWT as PHIL 120. Transfers as 5 credits to UWT, with no direct equivalent. Transfers to WWU as PHIL 102: Intro to Logic.

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  • Distribution Area Fulfilled: Natural Sciences; Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning; General Transfer Elective 
    Formerly: MATH 107 - CCN 

6. Introduction to Literature

Choose one

7. Advanced Composition

Choose one

  • Course purpose: This course will develop writing skills for professional settings including visual rhetoric and design. You will build advanced knowledge of genres conventions introduced in ENGL 101. 

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  • Note: Transfer students should work with their advisor to choose their 2nd composition, effective communication, or communications course based upon requirements at their transfer institution (and their intentions to take the portfolio/Composition certificate).

     

    UW Seattle/Tacoma – ENGL&235 equates to ENGR 231 (recommend ENGL&102). This course is not transferable to PLU. Transfers to EWU as TCOM 205. At EWU, a student must earn a grade of B or higher for credit if majoring in Technical Communication. At UW this course transfers as ENGR 231 (3), 2XX (2). At UWT 5 transfer credits received; no direct equivalent. No transfer equivalent at WWU. 

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  • Course purpose: This course offers you extended practice composing in the context of academic research and argumentation.

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  • Course purpose: This course will help you better understand how to analyze and ethically research and write about different types of texts. This is an especially critical skill for students studying writing since you’ll be doing this work throughout your academic and professional careers.  

8. Natural Science with Lab Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: This natural science course with a lab provides you with the skills and concepts for understanding the physical environment, as well as an intro to global environmental issues. 

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  • Note: CWU recommends NSCI 150 or BIOL&100 (count as lab science). WSU recommends NSCI 150 or BIOL&100. Fulfills the Natural World (NW) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to UW as ENVIR 1XX or BIOL 1XX. No direct equivalent at UWT. Does not transfer to EWU. Transfers to WWU as Tran 1TT Nature.  

     

  • 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.

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  • Note: Fulfills the Natural World (NW) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to UW as BIOL 100. Transfers to UWT as 5 credits received with no direct equivalent. CWU recommends NSCI 150 or BIOL& 100 (count as lab science). WSU recommends NSCI 150 or BIOL& 100. Transfers to EWU as BIOL100. Transfers to WWU as 1TT: Survey of Biology.

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  • Course purpose: Self-care is an important part of all paths. This class will give students the skills needed to stay healthy.  

  • Course purpose: This common course numbered (CCN) class offers a lab, which students need, and writing majors will benefit from a study of planets, the sun and moon, and comets, as much literature uses astronomical concepts in its content. The study of historical perspectives, theory, and direct observation will provide English majors the opportunity to apply their critical thinking skills to scientific subject matter.  

  • Course purpose: This Common Course Number (CCN) class offers a lab, which students need, and writing majors will benefit from a study of stars, galaxies, and The Big Bang theory, as much literature uses astronomical concepts in its content. The study of historical perspectives, theory, and direct observation will provide English majors the opportunity to apply their critical thinking skills to scientific subject matter.   

  • Course purpose: This is a great course for non-science majors to take in order to better understand the role that environmental science plays in our every day lives. This course could benefit students wanting to better analyze and write about texts dealing with the natural world.  

  • Note: ENVS& 101 counts as a distribution area credit for NS and has a lab. At many schools in Washington, if a student completes an AA-DTA, it will be accepted as a part of their degree package at the transfer institution. One school that is an exception to that is UW. UW does not accept degree packages—they select course-by-course. Be sure to check with your advisor to ensure that this is the right course to take based on your desired transfer institution. 

Action Item

Action Item: Please meet with your academic advisor to discuss your World Language course selections in numbers 9 and 10. 

9. World Language I Course Recommendation

Choose one

10. World Language II Course Recommendation

11. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • 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.

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  • Note: Fulfills Individuals and Societies (I&S) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to UW as HSTAA 1XX. Transfers as 5 transfer credits at UWT with no direct transfer. Transfers to EWU as HIST111. Transfers to WWU as History 1XX: History of U.S. I. Running Start students will have to take US history to complete their requirements.

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  • 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 transferring to UW Seattle or Tacoma, this course fulfills the Individuals and Societies (I&S) Area of Knowledge.

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  • Note: Fulfills Individuals and Societies (I&S) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to UW as HSTAM 111. Transfers to UWT as THIST111. Transfers to WWU as Hist 121: World History to 500. There is no direct transfer for lower division social science at EWU for this course. 

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  • 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.

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  • Note: Fulfills Individuals and Societies (I&S) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to UW as POLS 202. Transfers to UWT as TPOLS 202. Transfers to EWU as POLI100.

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

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

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  • Note: Fulfills Individuals and Societies (I&S) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to UWT as TPOLS 203. Transfers to EWU as POLI204. Transfers to WWU as PLSC 250: American Pol. Systm.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details.

12. Creative Writing I Course Recommendations

Choose one

  • 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.

     

    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. 

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    Course purpose: Students who want to hone in practicing composing in a single genre could choose 237 (fiction/short story), 238 (poetry), or 214 (Screenwriting). 

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    Note: 236, 237, and 238 transfers to WSU as ENGL 2xx. Fulfills the Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts (VLPA) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. No direct equivalent to UW or UWT. Transfers to CWU as a lower division transfer elective. ENGL& 237 or ENGL& 238 transfers to WWU as Creative Writing 2. 

13.Creative Writing II Course Recommendations

Choose an additional course from number 12. 

  • Course purpose: Students who want to hone in practicing composing in a single genre could choose 237 (fiction/short story) or 238 (poetry).

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  • Note: Transfers to WSU as ENGL 2xx. Fulfills the Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts (VLPA) Area of Knowledge at UW Seattle/Tacoma. No direct equivalent to UW or UWT. Transfers to CWU as a lower division transfer elective. ENGL& 237 or ENGL& 238 transfers to WWU as Creative Writing 2.

Action Item: Check in with Advisor

You should check in with an advisor if you did not pass any class in order to create a new path to keep you focused. You should also be discussing career and/or transfer options. You should apply to jobs and/or transfer institutions. By this time, you should be thinking about the specific type of writing that is of interest to you.   

14. 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.

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  • Note: Transfers to UW as Phil 240. No equivalency at UWT. Transfers to EWU as PHIL 212. Transfers to WWU as PHIL 112: Intro: Moral issues (which is same as PHIL 230). Transfers to WSU as PHIL 1XX, a PHIL elective.

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  • 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.

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  • Note: Transfers to UW as 2XX (counts as VLPA and I&S credit). No equivalency at UWT. Transfers to EWU as PHIL213. Transfers to WWU as PHIL 112: Intro: Moral Issues (same as PHIL 150). Transfers to WSU as PHIL 103: Introduction to Ethics.

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  • 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.

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  • Note: Transfers to UW as PHIL 338. No equivalency at UWT. Transfers to WSU as PHIL 1XX as PHIL elective. Transfers to WWU as PHIL 2XX: PHIL. Huma Rights. Transfers to EWU as lower division Humanities & Arts course.

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  • Course purpose: CMST 102 will help you understand the relationship between mass media and communication theory and practice. 

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  • Note: Transfers to WSU as CMST 102; counts as Com Media and Society. Transfers to EWU as CMST 208. Transfers to UW as COM200. Transfers to UWT as 5 credits, no transfer equivalent. Transfers to WWU as JOURN 190.

  • Course purpose: The course will encourage students to better understand the historical and contemporary interactions among Pacific Rim peoples (with an emphasis on Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and East Asian) and their respective artistic and cultural productions.  
     

15. Natural Science without Lab Course Recommendation

  • Course purpose: This common course number (CCN) course is for non-science majors, and English majors will benefit from a study of stars, galaxies, and origins of the universe, as much literature uses such concepts in its content.  

  • Course purpose: This is a non-lab course appropriate for non-science majors or for students beginning study in life sciences. If you are interested in the human body (which might be important in your writing), this is a valuable course to take.  

  • 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.  

  • Note: Transfers to UW as ESRM. Transfers to UWT as 5 credits with no direct equivalent. Transfers to EWU as lower division Natural Science course. Transfers to WWU as ESCI 101: Enviro Studies: A Scientific App. Note: Transfers to UW as ESRM. Transfers to UWT as 5 credits with no direct equivalent. Transfers to EWU as lower division Natural Science course. Transfers to WWU as ESCI 101: Enviro Studies: A Scientific App. 

  • 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. 

  • Note: Transfers to EWU as BIOL 320. Transfers to UW as ENVIR 1XX. Transfers to UWT as 5 transfer credits with no direct equivalent. Transfers to WWU as ESCI 1TT: Environmental Issues. 

16. Advanced Composition Course Recommendations

Choose an additional course from number 7.

17. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose one

  • Course purpose: Black Thought and Culture provides you a wide range of African-American voices to develop an understanding of blackness in America. 

    Note: If transferring to UW Seattle or Tacoma, this course fulfills the Diversity requirement.

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  • Note: Transfers to CWU as HUM 106 and fulfills the DIVR requirement. Fulfills the DIVR requirement at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to UW as AFRAM 214 or AFRAM 1XX if Pierce College’s ENGL 220 is also taken. Transfers to UWT as 5 credits with no direct equivalent. Transfers to EWU as Lower Division Diversity course. Transfers to WWU as AMST 1TT: Black Thought and Culture.

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  • Course purpose: Ethnic Thought and Culture offers a broad survey of multicultural America which will develop an understanding of the diverse populations in our society. 

    Note: If transferring to CWU, this course fulfills the Diversity requirement.

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  • Note: Transfers to CWU as HUM 106 and fulfills the DIVR requirement. Transfers as Lower Division Diversity course at EWU. Transfers to UW as 1XX. Transfers to UWT with no direct equivalent. Transfers to WWU as AMST 1TT: Ethnic Thought and Culture. 

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  • Course purpose: Latin American Thought and Culture offers a wide range of Latin-American voices and concepts.  

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  • Note: Transfers to EWU as HUMN379. Transfers to UW as 1XX. No direct equivalent at UWT. Transfers to WWU as HUMA 1TT: Lat. Amer. Thought & Culture.  

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  • Course purpose: HUM 109 focuses on the art, literature, music, and activism of the Black American cultural movement of the 20’s and 30’s.

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  • Note: Transfers to WWU as AMST 1TT: American Thought & Culture. 

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  • Course purpose: HUM 215 explores world cinema, while examining the varied choices during several key cinematic movements.

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  • Note: Fulfills the Diversity (DIVR) requirement at UW Seattle/Tacoma. Transfers to EWU as lower division Humanities & Arts. Transfers to WWU as THTR 2TT: World Cinema.

18. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose an additional course from number 4.

19. Natural Science without Lab Course Recommendation

Choose an additional course from number 15. 

 

Total Credits: 90

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