WHS Facts

The MIT Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies comprises four sections: the Core Curriculum, the Graduate Program in Science Writing, Writing Across the Curriculum, and Writing and the Communication Center.

The Core Curriculum was founded in 1974 and offers MIT students about forty undergraduate subjects in three areas: creative writing, science writing, and digital media. The Core Curriculum includes introductory writing subjects in the three major areas, which are taken by about one third of MIT freshmen.

The Graduate Program in Science Writing is a one-year Master of Science program in writing about science for the public. Established in 2002, the program has produced forty graduates who have launched successful writing and journalism careers. Among the organizations for which they work are IEEE Spectrum, Toronto Star, Boston Globe, PBS, and NOVA.

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)dates back to 1952, and represents the core educational resource of the Institute’s Communication Requirement. WAC participates closely in the teaching of departmental CI-M (Communication Intensive in Major) subjects, and supports teaching of CI-H (Communication Intensive in Humanities) subjects. Additionally, WAC administers the Freshman Essay Evaluation (FEE) each summer. WAC collaborates on teaching written and oral communication in seventeen departments in the Schools of Science, Engineering, Management, and Architecture, and works with about 3,700 MIT students per year.

The Writing and Communication Center (WCC) has been providing free professional advice about all types of writing and speaking to all members of the MIT community since 1982. It serves about 950 clients a year. More than 50% of clients are international students and more than 50% are graduate students and postdoctoral students. WCC  maintains an extensive website on writing pedagogy and writing fundamentals.