Writing Requirement & Scheduling

All first-year students are required to fulfill Dartmouth's first-year writing requirement and first-year seminar requirement. Through the first-year writing courses, the College offers entering students a valuable opportunity to develop the thinking and writing abilities that characterize intellectual work in the academy and in educated public discourse.

The first-year writing requirement at Dartmouth is satisfied by taking Writing 5, Writing 2-3, or Humanities 1.

The first-year seminar requirement is satisfied by taking a First-Year Seminar or Humanities 2.

Keep in mind three scheduling guidelines:

• Successful completion of Writing 5 (or its approved equivalents) is a prerequisite for enrollment in a First-year Seminar (or Humanities 2).
• The First-year Seminar (or Humanities 2) must be taken during the first year, in the term immediately following completion of Writing 5 (or its approved equivalents).
• A student is not eligible to take part in an off-campus program until the First-year Seminar (or Humanities 2) is completed.