Reading and Composition Requirement

Guidelines for Reading and Composition Courses

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing and critical thinking for work in the major, the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition—Reading and Composition (R&C), Parts A and B, in sequential order.

  • All undergraduates must complete the Reading and Composition (R&C) requirement by the end of their fourth semester or their enrollment may be blocked for the following semester.
  • All courses used to satisfy Part A or B of Reading and Composition must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better.
  • Students who have been admitted to Berkeley and have not completed Entry Level Writing, must enroll in College Writing R1A which satisfies both Entry Level Writing and the first half of R&C. Please note: A minimum grade of C is required in COLWRIT R1A in order to satisfy Entry Level Writing. 
  • AGRS (formerly CLASSIC) R44 (completed with a C- or higher) may be used to satisfy either Part A or Part B of R&C. This course may also be used to satisfy Arts and Literature, Historical Studies, or Social & Behavioral Sciences breadth.
  • With the exception of AGRS (formerly CLASSIC) R44, courses fulfilling the Reading and Composition requirement may not be applied to Seven-Course Breadth.

Satisfying Reading and Composition with an Exam

  • Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition - Minimum Score of 4 satisfies Part A
  • Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition - Minimum Score of 5 satisfies Parts A & B
  • Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition - Score of 4 or 5 satisfies Part A
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level (HL) English A: Literature* - Score of 5, 6, or 7 satisfies Parts A & B
  • Beginning with students admitted in fall 2018 - International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level (HL) English A: Language and Literature* - Score of 5, 6, or 7 satisfies Parts A & B
  • GCE A-Level English Literature exam for students entering Berkeley fall 2017 and PRIOR - Score of A, B, or C satisfies Parts A & B
  • GCE A-Level English Literature exam for students entering Berkeley fall 2018 and BEYOND - No longer accepted for this requirement

* The IB Literature and Performance, exam, as well as the Standard Level (SL) exams in English A: Literature and English A: Language and Literature are NOT eligible for satisfaction of Reading and Composition.

Satisfying Reading and Composition with Berkeley Courses

  • Successful completion with a C- grade or better of two designated Reading and Composition courses in sequence order. Review all approved below.

Satisfying Reading and Composition Requirement with Transfer Courses

  • Transfer courses must be taken on a letter-graded basis and be completed with a grade of C- or better. 
  • Students admitted with IGETC Certification from a California community college or UC Reciprocity have satisfied Reading and Composition. No additional coursework is required.
  • Transfer applicants from campuses outside of the California Community College System should review admissions.berkeley.edu/transfer_info for currently articulated courses from non-CCC institutions. If the institution is not listed on the website, once an admission application is filed, the admissions office will facilitate a review of prospective courses.  Courses that are at least 3 semester units or 4-5 quarter units in value, and focus on instruction on English composition are eligible for consideration.
  • Students can complete a pre-approved Reading and Composition course at a California Community College. Pre-approved courses can be found on ASSIST. Refer to the L&S Transfer Coursework page for instructions on how to take transfer credit as an L&S student before enrolling at a California Community College.

Satisfies Part A of the Reading and Composition Requirement

Please scroll down to see complete list of courses.

AFRICAM R1AFreshman Composition
AFRICAM R1ANReading and Composition
ASAMST R2AReading and Composition
CELTIC R1AVoices of the Celtic World
CHICANO R1AReading and Composition
CHICANO R1ANReading and Composition
COLWRIT R1AAccelerated Reading and Composition
COLWRIT R4AReading and Composition
COM LIT H1AEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature
COM LIT N1AEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature
COM LIT R1AEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature
COM LIT R2AEnglish Composition in Connection with Reading of World and French Literature
COM LIT R3AEnglish Composition in Connection with Reading of World and Hispanic Literature
ENGLISH R1AReading and Composition
ENGLISH R1ANFirst-Year Reading and Composition
FILM R1AThe Craft of Writing - Film Focus
FRENCH R1AEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of Literature
GERMAN R5AReading and Composition
HUM R1AGlobal Humanities I: From California to the Global
ITALIAN R5AReading and Composition
LEGALST R1AReading and Composition in Connection with the Law as a Social Institution
MELC R1AReading and Composition in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
NATAMST R1ANative American Studies Reading and Composition
RHETOR R1AThe Craft of Writing
SASIAN R5AGreat Books of India
SCANDIN R5AReading and Composition
SEASIAN R5ASelf, Representation, and Nation
SLAVIC R5AReading and Composition
SPANISH R1AReading and Composition Through Readings from the Spanish-Speaking World
THEATER R1APerformance: Writing and Research
XCOLWRI R1AAccelerated Reading and Composition
XCOMLIT R1AEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature
XENGLIS R1AReading and Composition
XFILM R1AThe Craft of Writing - Film Focus
XRHETOR R1AThe Craft of Writing
XSEASIA R5ASelf, Representation, and Nation

Satisfies Part B of the Reading and Composition Requirement

Please scroll down to see complete list of courses.

AFRICAM R1BFreshman Composition
AHMA R1BReading and Composition on Topics in Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology
ANTHRO R5BReading and Composition in Anthropology
ASAMST R2BReading and Composition
CELTIC R1BVoices of the Celtic World
CHICANO R1BReading and Composition
COLWRIT R4BReading, Composition, and Research
COM LIT H1BEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature
COM LIT N1BEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature
COM LIT R1BEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature
COM LIT R2BEnglish Composition in Connection with Reading of World and French Literature
COM LIT R3BEnglish Composition in Connection with Reading of World and Hispanic Literature
EA LANG R1BReading and Composition on topics in East Asian Humanities
ENGLISH R1BReading and Composition
ENV DES R3BReading and Composition in Energy, Society, and Environmental Design
FILM R1BThe Craft of Writing - Film Focus
FRENCH R1BEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of Literature
GERMAN R5BReading and Composition
GWS N1BReading and Composition
GWS R1BReading and Composition
HISTART R1BReading and Writing about Visual Experience
HISTORY R1BReading and Composition in History
HUM R1BGlobal Humanities: Old World, New World, Our World
ITALIAN R5BReading and Composition
LEGALST R1BReading and Composition in Connection with the Law as a Social Institution
LINGUIS R1BEndangered Languages: Why does linguistic diversity matter?
LINGUIS R2BLanguage and Linguistics in Science Fiction
MELC R1BReading and Composition in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
MUSIC R1BReading and Writing about Music
NATAMST R1BNative American Studies Reading and Composition
NWMEDIA R1BNew Media Reading and Composition
PHILOS R1BReading and Composition Through Philosophy
RHETOR R1BThe Craft of Writing
SASIAN R5BIndia in the Writer's Eye
SCANDIN R5BReading and Composition
SEASIAN R5BUnder Western Eyes
SLAVIC R5BReading and Composition
SOCIOL R1BSociological Reading & Composition
SPANISH R1BReading and Composition Through Readings from the Spanish-Speaking World
THEATER R1BPerformance: Writing and Research
XASAMST R2BReading and Composition
XENGLIS R1BReading and Composition
XFILM R1BThe Craft of Writing - Film Focus
XHISTAR R1BReading and Writing about Visual Experience

Satisfies Either Part A or B of the Reading and Composition Requirement

AGRS R44Classics of the Ancient Mediterranean World5
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