ABOUT WAC
The integration of writing instruction into science and engineering classes has a long history at MIT that began in 1898. The modern Writing Across the Curriculum Program evolved out of the Undergraduate Writing Cooperative (the Writing Coop) established by Professor Robert Rathbone in the early 1950's. Under the leadership of Professor James Paradis, the Writing Coop expanded in the 1970's to include activities in all departments in the School of Engineering.
In the early 1990's, Professor Rosalind Williams, the future Dean for Undergraduate Education, established the Writing Initiative to develop new models for integrating instruction throughout the MIT Curriculum. One of the major successes of the Writing Initiative, was the Writing Practicum, a six-unit satellite class in writing and speaking attached to a research or design subject.
The successes of the Writing Coop and the Writing Initiative were major factors in the development of the Communication Requirement, and the WAC program, which incorporates both the Writing Coop and the activities of the Writing Initiative, serves as a major vehicle for implementing communication-intensive classes |
