Previous Education
Have you taken a composition course at a previous college OR completed ENGL 110 in high school via the College Now program?
Get in Touch
Contact Admissions or FYW@qc.cuny.edu to find out if you are exempt from taking ENGL 110 (and can take a CW2 course in your first semester).
If you took the Accuplacer test, follow the placement instructions in your Navigate profile regarding English 108, English 109, English 110, or English 115.1.
Your Language
Are you more comfortable with a language other than English? OR Have you recently completed an ESL course with an English score higher than 78 in the Regents and a SAT verbal score higher than 480?
Comfort Level
Did you write multiple essays in English in high school AND feel comfortable reading essays written in English? See here for some samples of the kind of reading and writing you might do in English 110.
Recommendation: register for ENGL 110 + ENGL 115.1 in your first semester. These classes should be taught by the same instructor.
Recommendation: register for ENGL 108, ENGL 109 in your first semester. Take a linked section of ENGL 110 + ENGL 115.1 in your second semester if you took 108 or 109. Take ENGL 109 in your second semester if you completed ENGL 108 in your first semester. Take ENGL 130 in your second semester if you took ENGL 110+115.1.
English as Dominant Language
Do you feel confident about reading, writing, and speaking in English in academic settings?
Take a linked section of ENGL 110 + ENGL 115.1 taught by the same instructor.
In Spring 2025, the following sections of ENGL 108, 109, 110+115.1 will be offered. Note: you must register for 110+115.1 with the same instructor.
| Class | Course No. | Course Title | Day | Time |
| 110+115.1 | 45612 45611 |
College Writing I AND VT: Topics in Writing | 110 (TTH) 115.1 (TH) |
12pm – 1:50pm 2:00pm – 2:50pm |
| 110+115.1 | 45609 45608 |
College Writing I AND VT: Topics in Writing | 110 (TTH) 115.1 (TH) |
10:05am – 11:55am 12:00pm – 12:50pm |
| 108 | 43726 | Introduction to Academic Communication | MW | 10:05am – 11:55am |
| 109 | 43727 | Introduction to Academic Writing | MW | 10:05am – 11:55am |
How does English 110 fit into the Queens College curriculum?
English 110 is the first of two required courses in college writing and fulfills the English Composition I requirement. The English Composition II requirement is fulfilled with College Writing 2 (CW2), which is offered in a variety of departments in the second semester. Students must fulfill both college writing requirements within their first 45 credits, but preferably within the first 30 credits. Many upper-division courses have CW1 and CW2 as prerequisites.
Students are encouraged to take their second writing course (CW2) in the departments of their majors (or in departments whose methodologies are similar or complementary), so that they learn to gather and analyze evidence in ways that their discipline values most. Thus, students might choose from a variety of College Writing 2 titles such as: Writing about History, Writing about Biology, or Writing in the Social Sciences. Students who become English majors should satisfy the CW2 requirement by taking English 130: Writing About Literature in English.
Ideally, students take ENGL 110 in the first semester of their freshman year, and then take their College Writing 2 course in the following semester.
All students in the college must pass ENGL 110 with at least a grade of a D to continue to their College Writing 2 course. Some departments additionally require students to earn a grade of B or C in English 110 in order to receive admission into special programs or to begin coursework in a major. Once a student has determined their major or whether they will enroll in a program that requires additional admission, it is best to check with the department overseeing this program, or Academic Advising, about any additional grade requirements.
After students complete those two prerequisites, students need to take two writing-intensive (W) classes that are offered throughout the curriculum (e.g., ENGL 151W, SOC 210W).
↖ Back to First Year Writing flowchart guide
What should students take if English is not their dominant language?
If English is one of multiple languages you use and you don’t feel as confident with English, consider these options.
Students who feel more comfortable communicating in a language other than English have the opportunity to enroll in English 109 before taking English 110 OR to enroll in a section of English 115.1 along with English 110. English 115.1 provides an extra hour of instruction and conference time each week. You are advised to consider enrolling in one of these options if you:
- earned 75-78 on their Regents or have an SAT verbal score below 480
- recently completed one or more ESL classes
- have concerns or anxieties about your preparedness to write essays in English
To help you make this decision, we recommend reviewing these materials from the first assignment in past English 110 sections. Keep in mind that the student essays represent strong submissions that were completed in stages over 3 to 4 weeks. In English 110, students receive instructor feedback on drafts, which guide them as they revise and develop their essays into final drafts that are then graded.
ENGL 110: Language & Literacy — sample materials
Reading: YZ Chin, “How I Learned to Claim Space as a Multilingual Author”
Assignment: Essay 1 Formal Draft
Student essay using above reading: “My Asian American Identity”
ENGL 110: Monsters — sample materials
Reading: Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)”
Assignment: Essay 1 Formal Draft
Student essay using above reading: “It’s Not You, It’s Me: A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the ‘Monstrosity’ of Complex Literary Analysis”
Taking these courses strongly increases your chances of success in English 110 by providing you with a firm foundation for writing in English and individualized instructor support to complement your pace of learning. You are also welcome and encouraged to frequent the Writing Center (qc.writing.center@qc.cuny.edu) throughout the semester.
↖ Back to First Year Writing flowchart guide
English 108: Introduction to Academic Communication (An Alternative Start to 110)
English 108: Introduction to Academic Communication is a credit-bearing course specifically designed for those who want or need additional instruction and practice with college-level communication in advance of English 109, which should then be taken in the following semester. You do not need to be an international student or have an official ESL designation to take this course. Those interested in signing up for English 108 can register by emailing FYW@qc.cuny.edu.
English 108: Introduction to Academic Communication
The course is designed to advance emergent multilingual students’ academic practices of language inquiry, close reading, reflection, and revision. The course draws on all forms of communication (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) to help gain practical experience with college-level communication. Specific learning outcomes include: gaining experience with the practical demands of college-level materials (e.g. syllabi, writing assignments, group projects); learning strategies to quickly parse and understand lectures, to take notes, and to summarize readings and arguments; producing and critiquing arguments; and practicing the conventions of writing in different situations. Not open to students who have completed ENGL 110.
↖ Back to First Year Writing flowchart guide
English 109: Introduction to Academic Writing… An Alternative Start to 110
English 109: Introduction to Academic Writing is a credit-bearing course specifically designed for those who want or need additional writing instruction and practice in advance of English 110, which should then be taken in the following semester. You do not need to be an international student or have an official ESL designation to take this course. Those interested in signing up for English 109 can register by emailing FYW@qc.cuny.edu.
English 109: Introduction to Academic Writing (4 hours, 3 credits; Prerequisite: placement by program):
An intensive writing course that aims to prepare emergent bilingual and multilingual students for first-year academic writing practices. Students will develop various academic literary practices and learn to produce writing for different purposes. They will reflect on previous experiences reading and writing in English and in other languages. Specific learning outcomes include developing critical and active reading strategies, engaging in writing as a process and practice, understanding and analyzing various rhetorical situations, developing strategies for revision and editing, and developing a writerly voice. Not open to students who have completed ENGL 110.
↖ Back to First Year Writing flowchart guide
English 115.1: Topics in Writing…For Additional Help in 110
These are credit-bearing courses that provide students who are enrolled in English 110 with additional instruction and support. The small class of 10 or fewer students ensures that you receive quality one-on-one time with your English 110 instructor who will help you draft and revise the essays you are writing in English 110.
You do not need to be an international student or have an official ESL designation to take this course. It is highly recommended for students who are still gaining confidence in writing academic essays, or who are worried about managing their time in the transition to college. Taking a linked 110+115.1 is a great way to build in some additional, structured support while earning college credit.
We recommend that all students who have completed English 108, English 109, or one or more ESL courses take a linked English 110+115.1. If you are interested in signing up for a linked section of English 110 + English 115.1, please email FYW@qc.cuny.edu.
English 115.1: Topics in Writing (1 hour, 1 credit)
A writing course for students who want additional instructor support when taking ENGL 110. Each section of this course is linked with a specific section of ENGL 110, so enrolled students work closely with their ENGL 110 instructor and a smaller group of peers from their ENGL 110 section. The course is designed to support students’ learning in ENGL 110 by providing instructor guidance on the reading, writing, and research projects assigned in ENGL 110. The course meets once a week, and is tuition free for full-time, in-state students.
↖ Back to First Year Writing flowchart guide
English 130: Writing about Literature in English (College Writing 2)
All Queens College students need to enroll in a College Writing 2 class after the successful completion of English 110: College Writing 1. College Writing 2 is offered in departments and divisions across campus. Students will be encouraged to take their second writing course in the departments of their majors (or in departments whose methodologies are similar or complementary), so that they learn to gather and analyze evidence in ways that their discipline values most. Thus, students might choose from a variety of College Writing 2 titles such as: Writing about History, Writing about Biology, Writing in the Social Sciences, or Writing about Literature. Students who become English majors must satisfy the CW2 requirement by taking English 130: Writing About Literature in English. By completing English 110: College Writing 1 and your selected College Writing 2 course, you satisfy the CUNY English Composition requirement.
