Developmental education is coursework below college level that is designed to build skills in reading, writing, or mathematics so a student can succeed in college-level courses.
How it works
Placement results or multiple measures assign the student to developmental or co-requisite coursework. The student enrolls and, upon successful completion, becomes eligible for the corresponding college-level course. Aid offices track the number of developmental credits funded. SAP calculations include the attempted credits. Degree-audit systems exclude non-degree developmental credits from the total required for graduation.
Example: a student places into two developmental math courses. Each is 3 institutional credits that do not count toward the 120-credit degree. Both attempts count toward the 180-credit maximum timeframe. After passing them, the student enrolls in college-level math. The developmental credits have used part of the student’s aid eligibility and maximum timeframe.
How it differs
College-level coursework counts toward the degree. English-as-a-second-language instruction may overlap with developmental education but is often classified separately. A co-requisite support lab is developmental in purpose but is taken alongside, rather than before, the college-level course.
Common errors
Assuming developmental credits always count toward the degree. Ignoring their impact on maximum timeframe and pace. Expecting unlimited federal-aid funding for developmental coursework.
References
- 1. IPEDS developmental education reportingNon-credit or below-college-level coursework
- 2. Complete College America and corequisite modelsAlternative delivery approaches
Developmental education is coursework below college level that is designed to build skills in reading, writing, or mathematics so a student can succeed in college-level courses.