Technical Writing
The typical way to pass the Graduate Writing Assessment requirement is to take either CS200w, CS100w (requires WST) (students starting after Fall 2020 can no
longer use this), or
Engr200w (with permission).
- The Computer Science Department policy is that students should complete the GWAR requirement
in their first year in the MS program and must complete it two semesters before graduation.
- The writing requirement is required by the Cal State system.
- The only substitutes are:
- Having taken the writing course at some other Cal State
- Passing the WST at waiver level
- Getting special permission from Graduate Studies
(e.g. if you wrote a thesis in another subject)
- To obtain a waiver you would also need to fill out the GWAR Waiver Petition Form and get the relevant signature (not easy).
- If you get a waiver, you still need to take 33 total units for our program, so you will need to choose an additional three unit CS graduate elective course to take in the place of CS200w, and get a course substitution form approved by me.