Comprehensive Studies

Enrolling in Comprehensive Studies
The Comprehensive Studies Department offers developmental courses in math, reading, and English to prepare students for success in their college-level coursework. We also offer college skills and success courses that aim to teach students valuable college and life skills for success. Our mission is to cultivate in students the foundational knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for success in college and life. We focus on helping students successfully transition from where they are to where they want to be; we prepare students with the hard skills to succeed in their college and work careers while also instilling in them the soft skills they need to reach their goals now and after leaving college.

Comprehensive Studies Department Includes:
The Comprehensive Studies Department offers preparation in the following academic areas provided below. See our online college catalog for prerequisites and/or exit competency requirements.

COL 103 College Skills - 3 credits
COL 105 Freshman Seminar - 3 credits
COL 106 Skills for College Success - 1 credit
COL 111 e-Learning Success - 1 credit
ENG 031 Developmental English - 3 credits
ENG 032 Developmental English (Basic Writing) - 3 credits
ENG 150 Basic Communications (Non-Degree Credit) - 3 hours
MAT 031 Basic Math - 3 credits
MAT 032 Developmental Math (Pre-Algebra) - 3 credits
MAT 150 Fundamentals of Mathematics (Non-Degree Credit) - 3 hours
RDG 100 Critical Reading - 3 credits
RDG 032 Developmental Reading - 3 credits

What is Express Track?
After completing a diagnostic test to determine exactly what he/she knows and doesn't know, each student will be placed on an individualized "Learning Path." These classes are designed to take the instructors "off the stage" and put them in the classroom to offer individualized, on-demand instruction based on individual student needs.

Why Express Track?
Express Track students will spend most of their time actually doing math and English work. Because they will only be practicing, learning, and mastering what they individually need to know, students can progress through as much of their pre-curriculum sequence as possible and move into the credit classes required for their programs more quickly.

Math Express
If your ACCUPLACER or Multiple Measure placement scores indicate you need a pre-curriculum math course, such as MAT 031, 032, or 101 before beginning the credit math courses required for your program, you may opt to enroll in the Math Express Track courses, MAT 150. MAT 150 students spend part of their class time in whole group instruction, and the rest of class time working in the Math Flex Lab on their individualized learning plan.

English Express
If your ACCUPLACER test scores indicate you need a pre-curriculum English course, such as ENG 031, 032, or 100 before beginning the credit English courses required for your program, you may opt to enroll in the English Express Track course, ENG 150.

After Express Track
Your math and/or English placement after your Express Track experience will be based on your successful completion of the modules on your Learning Path. Because of the individualized nature of the Express Track, students will exit at different levels. Your instructor or a Comprehensive Studies advisor will help you determine your next steps.

Fast Track
Fast Track classes allow students to complete a sequence of courses in a shorter but faster-paced time period. Our Fast Track courses are offered in 7-week back-to-back sessions. For example, students who place into ENG 031 may elect to take a 7-week ENG 031 followed by a 7-week ENG 032 and attempt to complete both requirements in one semester instead of spending 14 weeks on each. The Fast Track program allows students to move through their developmental sequence and into their college-level courses as quickly as possible. Check with your instructor, advisor, or the schedule of classes if you are interested in Fast Track courses.

College Skills
The Comprehensive Studies Department also offers student success courses, including College Skills (COL 103) and Freshman Seminar (COL 105). These courses are offered each term. Students who successfully complete the courses earn 3 semester-hour credits which can, with advisor's approval, be used as elective credit toward graduation in associate degree programs. COL 103 may include selected topics such as career planning, study skills, stress management, campus resources, time management, memory techniques, and other subjects to facilitate student success. COL 105 is a study of the purposes of higher education and provides a general orientation to the functions and resources of the college. This course is designed to help freshmen adjunct to the college community, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic survival skills. COL 106 is a 1-credit-hour course for our dual enrollment students. Its purpose is to better prepare these high school seniors for their first-year college experience. COL 111: e-Learning Success is specifically designed to help students who are or will be enrolled in online or hybrid classes learn the skills needed to succeed in those courses.

Learning Communities
The Comprehensive Studies Department offers a variety of learning communities featuring both our developmental courses and our Freshman Seminar. Learning communities are courses that provide a community environment made up of your peers. Learning communities increase your ability to accomplish your academic and personal goals, along with providing you with a network to form friendships that can help you adjust to the college environment academically and socially. Some of the communities are themed, some are linked, and some are both. A thematic learning community is simply linked experiences centered on specific topics that are embedded in the curriculum of COL 105 (Freshman Seminar). A linked learning community consists of one or two academic courses linked to a COL 105 (Freshman Seminar). If you're not already enrolled in a learning community, but think you would like to be now or in the future, speak to your instructor or advisor.

Credit for Developmental Courses
Developmental courses offered through the Comprehensive Studies Department (courses numbered less than 100) generate no credit hours, do not affect the GPA, and do not count toward graduation. However, credits earned in the College Skills course (COL 103) may be used for elective credit in associate degree programs, with advisor approval. Courses numbered 100 generate credit hours and affect the GPA but do not count toward graduation in any certificate, diploma, or associate degree program.

Financial Aid for Comprehensive Studies
To find out more about financial aid opportunities for developmental coursework, please contact Financial Aid.

Standards of Progress for Comprehensive Studies Students
When students enroll in the Comprehensive Studies program, their skills are evaluated and study programs are planned for them. Students may take from four months to a year to complete their basic skills improvement.

1. Reasonable progress is determined by the completion of one 0-level course within a maximum of three (3) terms and entry into a higher course level in Comprehensive Studies (i.e., Developmental English is a first course and Basic Writing is a second course; Developmental Math (Basic) is a first course and Developmental Math (Pre Algebra) is a second course; Developmental Reading is a first course, and Critical Reading is a second course).
2. The total number of credits in which students may enroll in Comprehensive Studies may not exceed 30 semester hours.
3. If students enroll late or withdraw from 0-level courses and the enrollment time is less than, but not including, 50 percent of the term, the term will not be counted as one of the three allowed to complete a 0-level course. If students enroll late or withdraw from 0-level courses and the enrollment time is 50 percent or more, the term will be counted as one of the three allowed to complete a 0-level course.
4. Any exceptions to these guidelines must be evaluated by the Comprehensive Studies Department Head and approved by the Dean of Arts and Sciences and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Contacting the Comprehensive Studies Department Office

Location: Oconee Hall, room 303

Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
(The Comprehensive Studies Department Office is closed during most holidays when the College is officially closed. Call ahead to verify availability of Comprehensive Studies staff, if you plan to receive assistance during a holiday period.)

Phone: 646-1395 or toll-free 1-866-269-5677, ext. 1395.
Fax: (864) 646-1898
Email: jbeattie@tctc.edu, Jennifer Beattie Hulehan,  Associate Dean, Academic and Career Foundations