Developmental Studies Courses

Assessment Testing

Assessment Testing is required for registration in the courses listed below. To book an assessment call 604-527-5463 (New Westminster) or 604-777-6196 (Coquitlam).

DVST 0100 Reading/Writing - Fundamental Level 1 (6 credits)

This course is designed for non-readers.  Reading and writing will focus on basic decoding, developing a sight vocabulary for spelling and reading, and introducing students to simple reading and sentence writing.  Students will also work on reading environmental and workplace signs and other literacy tasks which they identify as personally relevant.  The course will emphasize behaviours and learning skills appropriate to the classroom, community and workplace.

Prerequisite: Admission to DVST

Offered: Monthly entry, Fall and Winter

MATU 0110 Mathematics - Literacy Level (3 credits) (Formerly DVST 0110)

This course is designed to help students learn basic computation using whole numbers, fractions and decimals. Skills addressed will include the algorithms for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; counting, naming and writing numbers; estimating, comparing and measuring; solving word problems; and making change.

Prerequisite: Math Upgrading Assessment

Offered: Monthly entry, Fall and Winter

DVST 0115 Reading/Writing - Fundamental Level 2 (6 credits)

This course is designed for beginning readers and writers who want to continue developing basic decoding skills, increase sight word recognition and spelling, improve their comprehension of simple reading passages and begin writing groups of sentences.  Students will identify short and long-term personal goals for literacy learning.  The course will emphasize behaviour and learning skills appropriate to the classroom and the community.  Job related skills will be identified and integrated throughout the course where appropriate.

Course Prerequisites: DVST Assessment and interview, or DVST 0100

Offered: Monthly entry, Fall and Winter

DVST 0125 Reading/Writing - Fundamental Level 3 (6 credits)

This course is designed for students who require greater ability with reading and writing in order to achieve a functional literacy level.  The reading focus is on comprehension and developing a range of decoding strategies, and the writing focus is on composing sentences and paragraphs and developing a range of spelling strategies. Students will identify short and long-term personal goals for literacy learning.  The course will emphasize behaviour and learning skills appropriate to the classroom and the community.  Job related skills will be identified and integrated throughout the course.  Reading content will include current events.

Course Prerequisites: DVST Assessment and interview, or DVST 0115

Offered: Monthly entry, Fall and Winter

DVST 0140 Study Skills - Literacy Level (1.5 credits)

This course introduces those study skills which are necessary for successful classroom learning. It is for adults who have spent little time studying. As a beginning level, it covers how to organize and remember, how to use the library and basic reference books and how to read for information.

Prerequisite: Instructor Permission

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0146 Reading/Writing - Fundamental Level 4 (6 credits)

This is an integrated reading and writing course.  It is designed for students who need to develop and improve basic skills with composing and comprehending written texts and with meeting the demands of a college classroom.  The course focuses on reading and writing as processes and attention is given to spelling and vocabulary development. Assignments and exercises include attention to current events and issues relevant to the students' lives.  Attention is given to learning and study skills throughout the course.

Prerequisite: DVST 0125 or permission of Instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0156 Reading/Writing - Fundamental Level 5 (6 credits)

This is an integrated reading and writing course.  It is designed for students who need to develop and improve basic skills with composing and comprehending written texts and with meeting the demands of a college classroom.  The course focuses on reading and writing as processes and attention is given to spelling and vocabulary development. Assignments and exercises include attention to current events and issues relevant to the students' lives.  Attention is given to learning and study skills throughout the course.

Prerequisite: DVST 0125, 0146 or permission of Instructor

Offered: Fall and Winter

MATU 0210 Mathematics - Fundamental Level (3 credits) (Formerly DVST 0210)

This course is designed to help students develop and consolidate skills in the arithmetic of whole numbers, common fractions, decimals and percents, focusing on the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. As well, students will develop the ability to use appropriate strategies in applying arithmetic to the solution of practical problems, including specific use of proportion as a technique. Other topics include metric measurement and perimeter, area and volume of simple, common geometric figures and forms.

Prerequisite: MATU 0110, Math Upgrading Assessment, or permission of instructor

Offered: Fall, Winter and Summer

DVST 0220 Spelling - Fundamental Level (1.5 credits)

This course is designed for adults needing to improve their spelling skills. Students will study specific skills such as recognizing basic affixes and roots, applying appropriate rules and generalizations and distinguishing homonym spellings. Using the dictionary for vocabulary development and correct spelling will also be covered.

Prerequisite: DVST 0100 or DVST Assessment

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0230 Word Study - Fundamental Level (1.5 credits)

This course is designed for adults needing to improve their word analysis skills. Students will receive individual assistance with specific skills such as recognizing affixes and roots and pronouncing stressed syllables.

Prerequisite: DVST 0100 or DVST Assessment or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0241 Learning and Study Skills I (3 credits)

This course is for students who are new to the College and are enrolled in, or intend to enrol in, further Developmental Studies courses. This course will help students learn about and use College facilities and resources. Students will develop skills in personal time management, goal setting, basic study techniques and learning strategies. This course will focus on the development of skills necessary for success.

Prerequisite: DVST Assessment or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0245 Reading and Writing for Student Success (1.5 credits)

This is a seven week reading, writing and study skills course designed to assist those needing preparation for 0200- and 0300-level coursework. Skills introduced/reviewed will include basic reading strategies appropriate to success and guided writing experiences designed to develop greater volume, clarity and precision of expression. Attention will be given to developing attitudes and behaviours appropriate to academic success. Reading materials will include newspaper and periodical articles and published essays as well as student essays.

Prerequisite: DVST Assessment or instructor permission

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0250 Writing - Fundamental Level (3 credits)

This course is designed for students with little writing experience who wish to develop their self-expression on paper. The course focuses on writing as a systematic process. Assignments encourage students to move from personal to public forms of writing. Students receive assistance with developing the complexity of their sentence structure and learning how to edit their writing. Assignments and exercises focus on current events and issues that are relevant to the students' lives.

Prerequisite: DVST 0155, DVST Assessment, or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0256 Reading/Writing - Fundamental Level 6 (6 credits)

This is an integrated reading and writing course. It is designed to develop and improve basic skills with composing and comprehending written texts and and with meeting the demands of a college classroom. The course focuses on reading and writing as processes and attention is given to spelling and vocabulary development. Assignments and exercises include attention to current events and issues relevant to students' lives. Attention is given to learning and study skills throughout the course.

Prerequisite: DVST 0156 or permission of instructor

Offered: Fall, Winter, Summer

DVST 0260 Reading - Fundamental Level (3 credits)

This course is for students who need to develop their basic reading comprehension and vocabulary skills. The course focuses on reading as a process for gathering and reacting to information and ideas. Students receive assistance with specific skills such as identifying main ideas and details, drawing inferences and recognizing an author's tone and intent. Assignments and exercises focus on current events and issues that are relevant to the students' lives.

Prerequisite: DVST 0155 or DVST Assessment or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

MATU 0310 Mathematics I (3 credits) (Formerly DVST 0310)

The course deals with a variety of topics in algebra and geometry. It is designed for students with no previous experience in algebra. Algebra topics include operations with rational numbers; order of operations; roots; powers; rules for exponents; polynomial operations; factoring; solving linear equations in one variable; problem solving and solving linear equations by graphing. Geometry topics include perimeter, area and volume of geometric figures and forms; lines, angles and triangles.

Prerequisites: MATU 0210, Math Upgrading Assessment, or instructor permission

Offered: Fall, Winter and Summer

DVST 0320 Spelling - Intermediate Level (1.5 credits)

This course is designed for adults needing to improve their spelling skills beyond the level achieved in DVST 0220. Students will receive individual assistance with specific skills such as recognizing affixes and roots, applying appropriate rules and distinguishing homonym spellings. Using the dictionary for vocabulary development and correct spelling will also be covered. Students who have completed this course will be competent spellers.

Prerequisites: DVST 0220 or DVST Assessment, or permission of the instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0341 Learning and Study Skills I (3 credits)

This course will help students to gain the learning and study skills needed in various types of learning situations. The course is useful for students who are enrolled or intend to enrol in developmental courses, remedial courses, correspondence courses, vocational coursework or career coursework. The course will help students to develop and practice effective learning strategies, study skills and techniques and approaches to learning and study. It will focus on the improvement of learning and academic performance.

Prerequisites: DVST Assessment or DVST 0255 or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0350 Developmental Writing (3 credits)

This is a course for students who wish to develop their expression of ideas in different written formats including letters, reports and essays. The course is designed for students who lack experience with practical writing tasks and who are preparing for entry into vocational and career programs or preparing to take the GED exam. Emphasis is placed on the process of generating appropriate material for different audiences and expressing this in standard written English.

Prerequisites: DVST 0250 or 0255 or DVST assessment, or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0355 Reading/Writing Intermediate Level (6 credits)

This is an integrated reading and writing course. It is designed for students who need to develop comprehension of academic text and the expression of ideas in a variety of formats including academic essays and reports. The course is appropriate for students who are preparing to write the GED exams, to enter vocational or career programs at a college level, or to enter the sequence of preparatory courses for university transfer reading and writing work. Reading work in this course will emphasize summing up main points, analyzing points of view and responding critically. Reading material used will be at an introductory college level. Writing work will require students to make use of information, concepts and analyses from their reading work and to employ these in developing academic organization, content and language in their writing.

Prerequisites: DVST 0250 and DVST 0260, or DVST 0255, or DVST Assessment

Offered: Fall, Winter, Summer

DVST 0356 Human Services Foundations Program (9 credits)

This is an integrated course for students who are interested in pursuing future training and employment in human services, but who first need to strengthen their reading, writing and vocabulary skills. These skills will be developed based on human-services-related content including the development of personal and professional identity and roles; historical perspectives and ethical decision making; and significant current social policy trends. Reading material used will be at an introductory college level. Writing work will require students to make use of information, concepts and analyses from their readings in a range of academic formats and to apply these skills to academic writing. Students who receive Mastery in this course and are subsequently accepted into one of the Integrated Programs in the Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies at Douglas College will receive credit for CFCS 1110.

Prerequisites: DVST 0255 or DVST Assessment or CFCS English Language Assessment

Offered: Fall

DVST 0360 Academic Reading I (3 credits)

The purpose of this course is to develop comprehension of academic text. The course is appropriate for students who are preparing to write the GED exams, enter vocational or career programs at a college level, or who want an introduction to comprehension of academic text. Work in this course will emphasize summing up main points from academic material and responding critically to the information and ideas. Skills instruction will include: paraphrasing and reporting on text material, critically evaluating ideas in reading material and participating in class discussion. Reading material used will be at an introductory college level.

Prerequisites: DVST 0255 or DVST 0260, or DVST Assessment, or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0399 - Editing: Intermediate/Advanced Level (3 credits)

This course supplements both DVST 0355 and DVST 0455. It is designed for students whose many grammar and usage errors create awkwardness and interfere with the intended meaning of their writing. Students will work at the word, sentence and paragraph levels to develop editing strategies for basic clarity and style, and proofreading strategies for errors in grammar, word choice, spelling and punctuation. Journalistic readings will be used as prompts for brief composition practice.

Prerequisite: DVST 0255, DVST Assessment or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

MATU 0410 Mathematics II (4.5 credits) (Formerly DVST 0410)

This course deals with a variety of topics in algebra and analytic geometry including number and number operations; roots and powers; integer and rational exponents; monomials and polynomials including operations and factoring of combined types; operations with rational expressions; equation-solving and problems leading to linear, quadratic and rational equations; graphs of linear equations; systems of linear equations solved by substitution or elimination; functions and function notation, and the graphing and analysis of linear and quadratic functions.

Prerequisite: MATU 0310, Math Upgrading Assessment or instructor permission

Offered: Fall, Winter, Summer

MATU 0411 Mathematics III (4.5 credits) (Formerly DVST 0411)

This course deals with a variety of topics in geometry, trigonometry, and algebra - including relations and functions - and is equivalent to the curriculum for BC Schools Mathematics 11. It is designed for students who plan to take further courses in mathematics for transfer credit. Topics include: quadratics, factoring expressions requiring grouping, rational expressions and complex fractions, quadratic equations using the quadratic formula, rational equations and formula rearrangement, radical equations, exponential equations with related bases, relations and functions, direct and inverse variation, sketching graphs and functions, graphing techniques and the determination of equations, and trigonometry.

Prerequisite: MATU 0410, Math Upgrading Assessment or instructor permission

Offered: Fall, Winter, Summer

MATU 0412 Mathematics IV (4.5 credits) (Formerly DVST 0412)

This course deals with a variety of topics in geometry, trigonometry, quadratic relations, exponential and logarithmic functions, polynomials, sequences and series. It includes an introduction to calculus and problem solving and follows the curriculum for BC Schools Mathematics 12. It is designed for the student who plans to take further courses in mathematics for transfer credit.

Prerequisites: MATU 0411 or Math Upgrading Assessment, or permission of instructor

Not offered: 2012/2013

MATU 0413 Mathematics Advanced Level - Study Skills (1.5 credits) (Formerly DVST 0413)

This course is a lab course to complement MATU 0411. Students will develop math study skills to support their MATU 0411 coursework. Activities will help students develop the mathematical comprehension and skills they need to participate effectively in the classroom, to complete course assignments and to perform well on tests and exams.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: MATU 0411
Not offered: 2012 /2013

DVST 0425 Writing and Learning Skills Adjunct for CFCS Students

This course is a writing and study skills adjunct course for students enrolled in the CFCS programs. It is intended for students who have some experience in writing for academic purposes, but require further instruction and practice in the kinds of writing required in program courses. Therefore, exercises will be based on integrated course writing assignments. Students will develop writing and learning skills and strategies specific to these assignments. Students will improve their ability to take notes, generate appropriate content, organize information and ideas and use language accurately.

Course Prerequisites: CFCS Assessment Referral or Instructor Permission

Offered Fall

DVST 0441 Learning and Study Skills II (3 credits)

This course will help students prepare for the learning and study skills needed in first-year coursework. The course will provide opportunities to develop and practice effective strategies, skills and approaches to learning that focus on improving learning and academic performance at a college level. Learning strategies will be covered as well as the use of specific external study aids and techniques (for example, study formulas, note-taking methods for both texts and lectures and exam writing). Emphasis will be on study aids and techniques. Students taking this course should already have the ability to learn independently.

Prerequisite: DVST 0341 or DVST Assessment

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0450 Introduction to Research Papers and Academic Assignments (3 credits)

This course prepares students for successfully handling documented research papers and other types of academic writing assignments. It is designed for students who lack previous experience with the demands of academic writing and who wish to improve their ability to succeed in university transfer courses. Students learn to compose essays, analyze assignments, gather and organize material, document sources, avoid plagiarism, handle essay exams, use feedback to improve the expression of their ideas and use computers to assist with editing.

Prerequisite: DVST 0350 or DVST 0355 or DVST Assessment

Not offered: 2012/2013

DVST 0455 Reading/Writing Advanced Level (6 credits)

This is an intensive reading and writing course. It is designed for students who are preparing to do university transfer courses or who need support for the university transfer courses they are currently taking. Students will read academic material such as college-level textbook chapters and scholarly journal articles as well as journalistic sources. Emphasis will be on reading critically, developing a vocabulary to articulate ideas and handling a college-level volume of reading. Skills covered will include summarizing lengthy academic text, researching databases on academic topics and diverse points of view and participating in and leading academic discussion. Students will learn how to gather and organize information, avoid plagiarism and follow conventions of documentation styles. They will produce several research papers and practice writing essay exams under time constraints. As well, their written expression and editing skills will be an important focus.

Prerequisite: DVST 0355 or DVST 0356 or DVST 0350 and DVST 0360 or DVST Assessment

Offered: Fall, Winter and Summer

DVST 0460 Academic Reading II (3 credits)

The purpose of this course is to develop comprehension of college-level reading material. The course is appropriate for students who are preparing for the reading demands of college-level academic coursework. Emphasis will be on understanding ideas and themes from academic text, producing critical responses to information and ideas and evaluating information from varied sources. Skills covered will include producing written and oral summaries of lengthy academic text, researching academic topics, synthesizing and evaluating information from diverse sources and participating in and leading academic discussion. Readings will be typical of first-year academic material, textbook chapters, journal articles and other supplementary reading.

Prerequisites: DVST 0360 or DVST 0355 or DVST Assessment

Not offered: 2012/2013