DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES - Programs

Columbia State Community College offers Developmental Studies courses to help students whose placement scores show a need to prepare further before taking college-level courses. These courses help students who have been out of school for some time and need a thorough review, as well as those students who have never taken courses.

Fifteen years of statistics compiled since the implementation of developmental studies in 1985, show that a large majority of people who complete developmental courses succeed in subsequent college-level courses and matriculate through their general education courses. Basic Studies courses teach skills needed as a foundation for further study while Developmental Studies courses build on these foundations.

If students' scores on the ACT and/or placement test show that students lack these skills, they are placed in the Basic or Developmental courses covering the needed skills.

Learning Strategies (DSPS080) placement is required for students who are placed in at least two subject areas. Students placed in only one DSP course may elect to take Learning Strategies.

Course design and credit given for courses are not the same in all TBR schools. The following list of courses and their content outlines the Developmental Studies Program at Columbia State Community College.

Writing

Developmental Writing: (DSPW0800)
A course in constructing sentences, paragraphing and outlining with emphasis on conceiving ideas for writing, varying writing style, and developing revision and proofreading skills in the context of the short essay.

Reading

Developmental Reading: (DSPR0800)
A course designed to expand reading skills through emphasis on vocabulary application, critical thinking, comprehension, and rate development.

Developmental Mathematics

Pre-algebra: (DSPM0700)
A course emphasizing basic operations with whole numbers fractions, decimals and percents, ratio and proportion, measures, elementary probability and statistics, and applications.

Elementary Algebra: (DSPM0800)
A course emphasizing the fundamental operations of integers, polynomials, exponents, factoring, algebraic fractions, linear equations, applications, solving quadratic equations by factoring, and introduction to graphing.

Intermediate Algebra: (DSPM0850)
A course emphasizing sets, the real number system, fundamental operations of algebraic factoring, rational expressions, linear equations and linear inequalities, stated problems, exponents and radicals, relations, linear functions, graphs, quadratic equations, system of equations and inequalities, ratio, proportion, and variation.

Learning Strategies

Learning Strategies (DSPS0800)
A course emphasizing the following general outcomes:

• The ability to set study goals and priorities.
• The ability to use learning/ testing techniques and strategies including effective note taking.
• The ability to approach a task or problem logically and to apply critical-thinking skills and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to obtain and use resources external to the classroom.
• The ability to function as a successful student in the college environment.
• The ability to make effective use of college/university services

Columbia State Community College is a Tennessee Board of Regents Institution and is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to the education of a nonracially identifiable student body.