Developmental Education

Developmental education at Joliet Junior College (JJC) is a social and economic imperative which enriches students' lives through affordable, accessible pathways to college completion.

What is Developmental Education?

Developmental classes are fee-based classes numbered below the 100 level. These classes provide students with knowledge and skills that empower them to achieve academic, professional, and personal growth through the highest quality of instruction as well as support services such as counseling, advising, and tutoring. Students benefit from developmental classes because reading, writing, and mathematics are relevant in courses throughout the college-level curriculum and are also useful in students' lives outside of college.

For speakers whose primary languages are not English, we offer a sequence of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses designed to provide intensive English language instruction while also celebrating the global diversity of our student population. Based on placement scores, students can enroll in EAP courses that address English language learners' needs in reading, writing, grammar, or speaking and listening. Although the material taught these courses is similar to what is taught in our non-EAP developmental reading and writing courses, the delivery of the material is specially formatted for students who are primarily fluent in other languages.

For a listing of courses available in the Developmental Education program, visit:
Minimum Competencies and Developmental Course Sequences

Overview

Content Area: Joliet Junior College is an open access institution that believes that all students, with a little help, can experience success in college. To verify students' readiness for college-level courses, we assess all students by reviewing their ACT and/or COMPASS placement scores. Based on these scores, we determine whether students need to complete developmental courses in order to strengthen their abilities in reading, writing, or mathematics. Developmental Education provides programs and services addressing:

  • Academic preparedness
  • Assessment and Placement
  • Development of general & discipline-specific learning strategies
  • Solutions for barriers to learning

  • Placement Process

    Prospective JJC students can place into English, mathematics, and reading courses in multiple way. Our accepted placement tools include:

    • ACT
    • PARCC
    • SAT
    • Accuplacer
    • ALEKS
    • Success Navigator
    • GED
    • HiSET

    Access information about accepted scores for each placement tool.

    Previous College-level Coursework

    Students may use some previous college-level English or mathematics courses to place out of developmental courses. This course work must be verified with an official transcript from the prior college or university. More information is available on the Transcript Evaluation web page.

  • Course Descriptions

    Developmental English and Mathematics Course Descriptions

    Many general education (100 level and above) courses require students to have college-level reading, writing, and mathematics placement scores to be eligible for enrollment. Based on placement scores, students who are not ready for college-level reading, writing, and/or mathematics demands are required to take the appropriate developmental education courses. Joliet Junior College offers courses in reading, writing, mathematics, and student success to help learners attain the skills they need to perform successfully in college-level courses and achieve college completion.

    For course descriptions, select each link below for more information.

     

    Native English Speakers

    English Language Learners*

    Courses for
    Reading Preparation

    ENG 020: College Reading I
    ENG 021: College Reading II
    ENG 022: Reading Supplemental Instruction (SI)

    ENG 076: Reading I
    ENG 077: Reading II
    ENG 078: Reading III
    ENG 079: Reading IV

    Courses for
    Writing
    Preparation

    ENG 098: Fundamentals of English
    ENG 099: Fundamentals of Writing**

    ENG 086: Writing I
    ENG 087: Writing II
    ENG 088: Writing III
    ENG 089: Writing IV

    Recommended
    Courses

     

    ENG 066: Listening and Speaking I
    ENG 067: Listening and Speaking II
    ENG 068: Listening and Speaking III
    ENG 069: Listening and Speaking IV
    ENG 092: Advanced Modern English Grammar I
    ENG 093: Advanced Modern English Grammar II

    *English Language Learners: These courses are intended for students who hold a high school diploma or its equivalent and have previously studied English in the United States or their native countries.

    Visit the English Philosophy and World Languages page for more information.

    **Students who place into English 099 for writing have the opportunity to participate in a special pilot section of English 101 if they place into English 101 for reading.

    ***Only students who place into both English 021 and English 099 (or successfully complete both English 020 and English 098) are eligible to enroll in English 096.

    College-level Mathematics Preparation*

    *College-level Mathematics courses have a Geometry prerequisite


    Ability-to-benefit

    Your high school diploma or GED may restrict your ability to apply for certain JJC programs including, but not limited to, Nursing and Radiology Technology. Likewise, in order to be eligible for some form of financial aid, you must have either a high school diploma or GED. If a student does not have a high school diploma or equivalent and also did not complete secondary school in a home-school setting, s/he can still qualify for financial aid by passing an “Ability-to-Benefit” test. This test is available to both ESL (English as a Second Language) and non-ESL students and must be completed in one sitting. If a student does not achieve or exceed all three required tests (Writing, Reading, and Pre-Algebra; or ESL Reading, ESL Grammar/Usage, and ESL Listening) during a single administration, the student must retake all three tests in a new session 30 or more days later.

  • Student Support

    Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC)

    JJC offers a number of free tutoring services on campus and online. Many of these services are conveniently located in our new Tutoring and Learning Center located in C-2010. This 7,500-square-foot area provides JJC students with free in-person or online tutoring for more than 300 JJC courses. Learn more about these services by clicking on the links below.

    • Course Tutoring: The TLC provides in-person and online tutoring with peer or professional tutors for hundreds of courses.
      • In-Person Tutoring
      • Online Tutoring (Smarthinking)
    • Drop-in Math Assistance: TLC tutors are available every day the center is open to provide math tutoring for all math courses with no appointment necessary.
    • Presentation Tutoring: If you are working on a presentation for a speech class or any other JJC course, professional tutors are available to you. There is even a recording studio so you can record and review your presentations.
    • Reading and Writing Tutoring: You may seek assistance with reading and/or writing for any JJC course. Peer or professional tutors will assist you with reading comprehension strategies and writing assistance for any paper you are assigned. These tutors will even assist with scholarship essays and college application essays.
    • Study Aids: Biology models, chemistry models, accounting solutions manuals, and biology flashcards are available for students to use within the TLC
    • Test Preparation: TLC tutors are well-versed to provide preparation for different exams including the ones listed below.
      • Placement Testing Preparation
      • GED Preparation
      • TEAS V Preparation - Available for a nominal fee


    Project Achieve (TRIO) Tutoring

    Project Achieve (TRIO) offers free tutoring and other services to special populations within the JJC community; this service is not available to all JJC students. Eligible students are those whose parents did not graduate from a four-year university or college or are Low-income students or disabled students. All students must be working on either a transfer or applied associate degree.

    Disability Services

    We offers free tutoring and other disability services. To be eligible for disability services students must register & have a documented disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

  • Staff & Coordinators

    TBA
    Dean, College & Career Readiness
    Title III Activity Director

    Laura Egner
    Coordinator, Developmental Mathematics
    Office: J-3008B
    Phone: (815) 280-2882
    Email: legner@jjc.edu

    Teresa Carrillo
    Associate Professor, Developmental Reading
    Reading Coordinator
    English Tutor Coordinator - Academic Skills Center
    Office: C-1061
    Phone: (815) 280-2868
    Email: tcarrill@jjc.edu

    Jack Haines
    Associate Professor, English as a Second Language (ESL)/Developmental Education
    Developmental Writing and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Coordinator
    Office: C-1064
    Phone: (815) 280-2349
    Email: dhaines@jjc.edu