RHE 306 FAQs

RHE 306 is an introductory course in writing and argumentation. Credit for this course is required by all UT students. You can receive credit in RHE 306 in one of the following ways: taking the course, placing out of the course by exam, or transferring credit from another university or college.

RHE 306 remains a prerequisite for E 316L/M/N/P, so you are not able to take both courses in the same semester.

No. Wait until after the first class meeting. You will receive a policy statement listing the exact books you will need to purchase. Textbook choices vary from section to section, particularly in the fall and spring terms.

Absolutely.

I am required.

You may place out of RHE 306 by receiving an appropriate score on the SAT Writing and Language section (33+), ACT (26+ if taken before Sep 1, 2016; 9+ on the ACT Writing exam if taken on or after Sep 1, 2016), or the AP Language and Composition exam (3+). You can view test scores and claim credit online through Student Testing Services.

Yes, students can use a score of 7 or 8 on the TSI Essay to claim credit for RHE 306. Beginning with students admitted for summer 2023 and fall 2023, this option will be available to first time in college and transfer students during their first two long semesters enrolled at UT. Students may only attempt the test twice.

Student Testing Services will offer the test in-person. A limited number of testing sessions will be offered over the summer with additional sessions offered in the days leading up to the start of the semester and throughout the school year. Test dates will be available on the STS website where their other testing dates are found.

Students can find information about the TSIA essay here. There are no multiple-choice questions on this exam. It is a single essay, and a prompt will be provided.

Probably. You can always drop the course. It might be much harder to add RHE 306 later, especially in the fall semester.

Students can take the SAT and/or ACT multiple times if they want to improve their score.

No. In fact, very few students fail RHE 306, and there are no grading quotas or curves of any kind in the course. The University and your instructors want you to succeed. Although RHE 306 is demanding, you will be in a small class (25 students or fewer) and receive plenty of support.

Students are encouraged to register for RHE 306 during their first-year at UT Austin. Therefore, the Department of Rhetoric and Writing prioritizes registration for first-year students. During the fall, the majority of seats are reserved during the summer freshman orientation sessions, and a select number of seats are reserved for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. During the spring, the majority of seats are reserved for freshman, with a select number of seats reserved for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Both semesters, any unused seats are released during the third period of registration. In the summer, registration is open, although space is usually limited.

Contact the Department of Rhetoric and Writing (rhetoric@austin.utexas.edu) for assistance.

No.