Before you register for your first-year Composition course, you will complete a short directed self-placement (DSP) process. Rather than relying on a standardized test score to determine your course, Pitt uses DSP to put the decision in your hands, with guidance. The process is designed to help you reflect on your experiences as a reader and writer and choose the course that is the best fit for you.
How It Works
The DSP module includes a reading and writing activity, a short questionnaire about your experiences with reading and writing, and a review of the course options available to you. Once you begin the module, plan to complete it in one sitting. It takes most students between 60 and 90 minutes.
Complete the Directed Self-Placement process for Composition
Your Course Options
All three first-year Composition courses count for college credit. The DSP module will walk you through each option in detail, but here is a brief overview:
ENGCMP 0150 Workshop in Composition is designed for students who want additional support and more time to develop their writing before moving into Seminar in Composition. It offers a smaller class size and a more intensive focus on the writing process.
ENGCMP 0152 ESL Workshop in Composition is designed for students whose first language is not English. Like Workshop in Composition, it provides additional support and a smaller class environment, with instruction specifically tailored to multilingual writers.
ENGCMP 0200 Seminar in Composition (and its variants) is Pitt's standard first-year composition course, taken by most incoming students. It focuses on writing as a form of critical inquiry, asking students to compose, revise, and engage with challenging texts across the semester.
Questions?
If you have questions about the DSP process or would like to talk through your options before making a decision, email the DSP Team at dsp@pitt.edu.