Reading and Composition Requirement

This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu.

 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 will be blocked for the following semester.

  • A letter grade of C- or better is required.

  • Students who have been admitted to Berkeley and have not completed Entry Level Writingmust enroll in College Writing R1A which satisfies both Entry Level Writing and the first half of R&C.

Satisfying the Reading and Composition Requirement with High School Work

  • Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition—score of 4 or 5 satisfies first semester.

  • Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition—score of 4 or 5 satisfies first semester.

  • International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English: Literature (formerly English A1) - score of 5, 6 or 7 satisfies first semester.

  • A-level English Exam—grade of A, B, or C satisfies first  semester.

Satisfying the Reading and Composition Requirement at Berkeley

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

Satisfying the Reading and Composition Requirement with Transfer Work

  • Transfer courses must be taken on a letter-graded basis and be completed with a grade of C- or better.

  • For courses from California community colleges, review ASSIST for courses equivalent  to English R1A and English R1B.

  • For courses from another four year institution in the US or out of state community college, check http://admissions.berkeley.edu/transfer_info

Meets the First Half of the Reading and Composition Requirement 

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
ITALIAN R5AReading and Composition
LEGALST R1AReading and Composition in Connection with the Law as a Social Institution
NATAMST R1ANative American Studies Reading and Composition
NE STUD R1AReading and Composition in Near Eastern Studies
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
XCOMLIT R1AEnglish Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature

 Meets the Second Half of the Reading and Composition Requirement

AFRICAM R1BFreshman Composition
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
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
MUSIC R1BReading and Writing about Music
NATAMST R1BNative American Studies Reading and Composition
NE STUD R1BReading and Composition in Near Eastern Studies
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

Meets Either Half of the Reading and Composition Requirement

CLASSIC R44Roots of Western Civilization
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