Developmental education at Joliet Junior College (JJC) is a social and economic imperative which enriches students' lives through affordable, accessible pathways to college completion.
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
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:
Prospective JJC students can place into English, mathematics, and reading courses in multiple way. Our accepted placement tools include:
Access information about accepted scores for each placement tool.
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.
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 076: Reading I |
|
Courses for |
ENG 098: Fundamentals of English |
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. More Details here.
**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 courses have a Geometry prerequisite
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
