Abstract
Remedial education, also referred to as developmental education, in higher education began in the United States (U.S.) in the 17th century and, until recently, continued to be a major component of the curricula for most community colleges, also known as junior colleges. The initial purpose for the creation of these institutions was to provide remedial education and occupational skills for its entrants. Students, who were underprepared for college-level courses or senior colleges, could enroll in a community college and register for remedial or developmental courses that were designed to prepare them to transition successfully into college-level courses or into the labor force. This paper provides a historic analysis of the need for and the policies that governed remediation in the United States of America from the 17th to the 20th century.