Writing Across the Curriculum: Where does Horticultural Science Fit In?

Abstract

In Fall 1999, the Univ. of Minnesota implemented a writing intensive requirement for undergraduates. As part of the requirement, students must take one writing intensive (WI) course in their major. Formal and informal writing in critical draft review are key components of intensive writing. The Dept. of Horticultural Science offers an Environmental Horticulture Major which currently has only one writing intensive course in its curriculum. Teaching faculty (13/14), responsible for 21 courses in the curriculum, were interviewed and syllabi were reviewed to gather information on what types of writing are currently being assigned and to discuss where WI courses should be placed in the Environmental Horticulture curriculum in the future. The majority of classes utilize formal writing and the majority of faculty review, or are willing to review, a draft of an assignment. Informal writing assignments are less common, indicating a deficient area of the curriculum. With slight modifications, many classes in the curriculum can meet the requirements to become WI. Faculty agreed that WI courses should be placed in upper level, smaller classes that place less emphasize on production techniques or plant identification.