Our department offers college-preparatory classes in English and Reading to help students develop their academic skills before proceeding with their regular curriculum courses. The number of courses needed, and consequently, the length of time required to complete the courses will vary. Some students may need only one course, while other students may take several semesters to complete a series of courses.
Students are placed in developmental courses on the basis of their placement test scores, the recommendation of their advisor, or voluntary selection. Students may take a combination of developmental and curriculum courses selected by program faculty during the same term ~ provided that the prerequisites have been met and the students are prepared for that level of academic rigor. It is important to note that the students who take required developmental courses must earn a grade of "C" or better in order to progress to the next level course. A grade below a "C" means the student must repeat the course. Developmental grades are not computed into grade point averages and do not count towards hours required for degree, diploma, or certificate programs.
Upon completion of the courses, students should be able to do the following:
Apply basic reading skills at the minimum level established by the curriculum.
Apply basic grammatical principles of standard written English at the minimum level established by the curriculum.
Apply basic writing skills at the minimum level established by the curriculum.
Developmental courses encourage academic skills development and personal growth through small classes, close interaction with instructors, carefully sequenced units of study, recognition of diverse learning styles, immediate and specific feedback, and reinforcement of positive attitudes.
