Writing- and communications-across-the-curriculum in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Virginia Tech

Abstract

The Materials Science and Engineering Department (MSE) comprehensive undergraduate writing- and communications-across-the-curriculum program is integrated into eight required MSE courses over students' three years of study in the Department. The program focuses mostly on the development of students' discipline-specific writing skills but also includes instruction in public speaking, interpersonal communications in the workplace, creative scientific thinking, and collaborative writing. In addition, the program includes faculty training and support for integrating writing into technical coursework, developing writing assignments, assisting students in revising their own writing, and grading written assignments. Our writing and communications program is integrated into eight required MSE courses in such a way that the writing and communication tasks in each class do not too often duplicate those addressed in subsequent program classes. We are developing methods for teaching course content using writing and communications as learning tools in such a way that time for technical content instruction is not sacrificed.