Our courses are:
- free
- offered in fall and spring
- non-credit
- flexibly scheduled
- 80 minutes a week
- graded “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory”
- repeatable for additional support
16:356:600 – Graduate Academic Communication (0 Credits)
This non-credit (P/F) graduate course is designed to support first-year master’s and doctoral students across all graduate programs to develop their academic writing and presentation skills. Taught by language specialists at the Rutgers English Language Institute, students in this course will learn relevant strategies for developing and organizing ideas for academic writing in the disciplines, reading scholarly articles critically, incorporating sources, identifying structural issues and improving coherence, expanding use of academic vocabulary, and improving academic discussion and presentation skills needed in their respective disciplines. Class meetings last for 80 minutes once a week and combine full class sessions with individualized consultations where students’ writing is reviewed. Recommended co-requisites are Graduate Communication Studio (16.356.610) and Graduate Writing Studio (16.356.611). This course (16.356.600) is the first in our Navigating Graduate Education course sequence; subsequent courses, which build upon the skills learned in 16.356.600, are Research Writing and Presentation (16.356.601) and Professional Writing and the Job Market (16.356.602).
16:356:601 - Research Writing and Presentation (0 Credits)
This non-credit (P/F) graduate course is designed for students across all graduate programs who are (or will be) conducting original scientific, empirical, or humanistic research and writing research-based course papers, theses, and/or dissertations. Taught by language specialists at the Rutgers English Language Institute, students in this course will learn useful strategies for analyzing the components of an effective research study, developing and organizing an argument that builds upon prior research, producing smooth, readable texts that show content knowledge in a specialized discourse, identifying and improving grammatical structure, avoiding overuse of jargon and wordiness, and responding to critical feedback in the peer review process. Class meetings last for 80 minutes once a week and combine full class sessions with individualized consultations where students’ writing is reviewed. Recommended co-requisites are Graduate Communication Studio (16.356.610) and Graduate Writing Studio (16.356.611). This course assumes that students already grasp the fundamentals of academic writing and presentation at the graduate level. While not required, it is strongly recommended that students first take Graduate Academic Communication (16.356.600) prior to enrolling in this course.
16.356.602 - Professional Writing and the Job Market (0 Credits)
This course is designed for graduate students who are preparing to write for specific professional and job-related tasks. Taught by language specialists at the Rutgers English Language Institute, students will gain knowledge about typical genres such as CVs, cover letters, grant applications, writing for the public, and various statements (e.g., bio, research, teaching, diversity). Our focus will be on clarifying the content, form, and style of these writing genres, and how to balance clear, concise, engaging writing with appropriate disciplinary knowledge and conventions. Class meetings last for 80 minutes once a week and combine full class sessions with individualized consultations where students’ writing is reviewed. Recommended co-requisites are Graduate Communication Studio (16.356.610) and Graduate Writing Studio (16.356.611).
Special Topic Seminars
16:356:621 – Special Topics Seminar (0 Credits)
This non-credit (P/F) graduate course is designed to provide an in-depth look at a special topic of relevance to graduate academic success across the disciplines. Topics are selected on a rotating basis every fall and spring semester; sample topics include Professional Preparedness, Writing Introductions and Literature Reviews, Effective Reading Strategies: Critical Reading for Writing, Using Data in Research Presentations, and Writing the Master’s Thesis. Class meetings last for 80 minutes once a week and combine full class sessions with individualized consultations where relevant student work is reviewed.
Graduate Academic Success in the Disciplines
16.356.630 - Graduate Academic Success in the Disciplines (0 Credits)
This non-credit (P/F) graduate course provides customized instructional support for graduate academic communication and professional preparedness in a specific disciplinary area. Based on a prior arrangement and collaboration with a Rutgers graduate program, department, or unit, language specialists at the Rutgers English Language Institute build students’ knowledge of discipline-specific writing genres and oral communication tasks, structural and linguistic features of students’ chosen discipline, information literacy and research skills, and preparation for a variety of academic and professional settings. Enrollment is the responsibility of the collaborating unit. Class meetings last for 80 minutes once a week and combine full class sessions with individualized consultations where relevant student work is reviewed. An English placement test may be requested by the collaborating unit.
*If you are a Rutgers graduate program interested in creating a customized support course for your graduate students, please complete the Academic Partnership Needs Assessment form.
Further Questions about Our Courses?
Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to set up an appointment to speak with a RELI advisor about your academic needs and goals.