The JJC English and World Languages Department is a diverse academic department offering transfer coursework in literature, philosophy, journalism, writing (both expository and creative), and world languages.
The department has a strong commitment to the teaching of composition, especially exposition and argumentation. In addition, developmental coursework serves those students who need additional preparation in reading and writing before they take transfer offerings. A range of general education courses in literature, film, and philosophy provide transfer credit for the humanities.
Writing Center
LEAP Center (Learning English for Academic Purposes)
Located in B-2003, LEAP provides tutoring in speaking and listening, reading, and vocabulary development.
Blazer and Wordeater
Communications
Communications courses offered at JJC consist of courses in creative writing, technical writing, and film study. Students will learn to improve their writing skills, from both an expressive and a professional writing standpoint.
Composition
Composition courses introduce students to college level critical thinking and writing. Emphasis is placed on rhetorical and mechanical proficiency.
Developmental Reading and Writing
These courses, or appropriate placement scores, are prerequisites for English 101 and 130 and all world language and philosophy courses. Mandatory developmental prerequisites are also in place for a number of other courses college-wide.
Journalism
JJC offers four courses designed to introduce students to the world of mass media, journalism, and public relations. These courses also prepare students who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree and career in journalism.
Literature
A number of literature courses are offered at JJC, ranging from surveys of American and English Literature, Western and Non-Western Literature, Shakespeare, Children’s Literature, as well as Minority American Literature, Women and Literature, and genre courses for poetry, drama, and fiction.
Philosophy
Philosophy courses provide students an introduction to basic philosophical issues, history, ethics, and reasoning.
World Languages
Visit our blog as a group of our faculty visit China as part of an international activity sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education via a Title VIA Grant.
Joliet Junior College offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses for credit in French and Spanish. Students can also study Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, and Russian for credit in the Self-Instructional Language Program (SILP). In addition, some specialized courses, such as Spanish for Spanish Speakers, Spanish for Hospitality Personnel, and Spanish for Horticulture Personnel, are offered.