High
School Counselors - Be sure to visit the
Dual Credit Counselor's Corner
High School Students Can Earn Dual
Credit with Distance Learning Courses
Dual credit courses enable students
who meet the requirements to earn college credits while completing
their high school requirements. Completing a dual credit course earns
the student college credit which may be applied toward an associate
degree and/or may transfer to other colleges and universities. Be
sure to check out the Dual
Credit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, or download A
Beginner's Guide to Distance Education and Dual Credit in PDF.
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Why
take dual credit courses?
- enjoy a wider range of course
options
- participate in rigorous educational
pursuits that encourage life-long learning
- earn credits toward a college
degree
- take college classes during the
day, while attending high school
- do not have to drive long distances
at night to take classes
- earn college credit and still
have time for events, practices and games
- taking college level curriculum
better prepares students for
scoring high on the ACT and SAT entrance exams
- students and their families save
a significant amount of money in student fees, housing, and transportation
costs normally incurred while attending college away from home
- learn how to study for college
- demonstrate the ability to do
college-level work
- gain the confidence needed to
succeed in college
- explore possible majors
Find
more information on the various delivery
methods available to you (Internet, videoconferencing (ITV) , telecourses,
etc.)
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Dual Credit, Concurrent Enrollment, Articulated
Credit… Is there a difference?
All three are alike in that they
give motivated, college-bound high school students the opportunity
to get a “jump start” on college by earning college credit
before attending on a full-time basis. These classes are advanced
and maintain a college-level standard. Students taking these courses
must meet all eligibility requirements set by their high school and
by the college. The distinctions between them have to do with what
type of credit is received, and when
that credit is awarded:
- Dual Credit:
allows a student to enroll in a college or university course to
earn college credit, while at the same time fulfilling
high school academic requirements. Credit is immediately
awarded upon course completion.
- Concurrent Enrollment:
allows high school students to earn college credit only
while still in high school. Credit is immediately awarded upon course
completion.
- Articulated Credit:
allows high school students to take courses that lead to college
credit in technical courses. Course credit is awarded by the college
after the student has enrolled at a participating
college.
NOTE: Be sure to
ask each NETnet Member Institution for their definition
of Dual Credit, Concurrent Enrollment, and Articulated Credit. For
additional information, please contact the appropriate college or
university representative.
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Which
colleges can students attend?
Students are encouraged to contact
one of the 15 NETnet Consortium members listed below to meet their
educational needs.
- To receive dual credit, students
must go to a college that has a contract with their ISD, since offering
dual credit for a course is based on an agreement with a school/school
district. The college has first option on offering dual credit to
ISD’s within their service delivery area (SDA).
- However, if a desired course is
only offered by an out-of-district college, students can register
at their in-district college and take the class through the Virtual
College of Texas (VCT), or register at the out-of-district college
and pay the out-of-district fees. Community colleges may offer VCT
at their own discretion, but it is not obligatory.
- If students want college credit
only, then they may go where they like.
- A high school student may take
a university class from any university after s/he meets the criteria
for admission, enrolls, and pays tuition.
- Students should verify, with the
college they plan to attend after high school graduation, that the
college credits earned through the dual credit course will transfer
and apply toward a college degree.
Check this Service
District Area list to find your local junior college, or place
your mouse over each college's hometown on the map to see which college
serves your ISD.
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What is
VCT?
The Virtual
College of Texas is a collaborative of Texas' 50 community college
districts and the Texas State Technical College System. Through VCT,
students may register at their local college to take a wide variety
of credit and non-credit distance learning courses from other colleges
throughout Texas. The VCT coordinator or NETnet representative at
each school will provide specific details regarding necessary hardware,
as well as testing and textbook procedures.
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Things
to consider before enrolling in Dual Credit courses
If a student decides s/he is emotionally
and intellectually prepared to take a college-level course, s/he must
speak to the high school counselors to find answers to the following
questions:
- Does the course fit in with the
graduation requirements at my high school?
- Will the course help me meet my
college or career goals?
- Will dual credit courses transfer
from one college or university to another?
Many courses offered by NETnet member
colleges and universities meet general education requirements in most
degree plans at Texas colleges and universities. Because there are
differences between colleges (and even between departments within
colleges), high school students who later enter college may find that
some courses may transfer as electives, but do not fulfill specific
degree requirements.
Students may be responsible for paying
all or part of the tuition, testing or placement fees, and/or other
costs associated with taking college-level courses. Since each college
operates a little differently, early contact between you, your counselor,
and the college is strongly advised.
See
the section on Cost of Dual Credit Courses
below.
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Are
there any drawbacks to consider?
- Dual credit distance education
courses are not for everyone. Students interested in enrolling
should first take a few of the interactive
self-assessments and learning style quizzes to determine their
readiness for college courses delivered at a distance.
Do these characteristics
of successful distance education students apply to you?
- Enrolling in a dual credit course
takes a great deal of EARLY planning and coordination
between the high school and college. If students wait until the
beginning of the semester to investigate their options, the likelihood
is high that they will not be able enroll for that semester.
- If a graduating senior takes a
dual credit class that is required to graduate from high school,
s/he is in danger of not graduating if s/he does not pass the class
or fails to complete the assignments and pass the final before the
date of high school graduation.
- College courses are inherently
more difficult than the high school courses most students are accustomed
to taking. Therefore, students must be self-directed, motivated,
disciplined, with good time management skills, and able to exercise
self-discipline when attempting the more challenging curriculum.
- Once enrolled in the course, a
student will not be refunded tuition or fees, even if s/he fails
to complete the curriculum.
- If a student enrolls in a course
via VCT, the instructing college may opt to send the course to sites
within their college’s Service district area (SDA), instead
of to remote colleges through VCT. This might occur if the instructing
college places a limit on the number of remote sites to which it
will send the course.
- Students must ensure the course
will be required for the major they intend to pursue at the college
they plan to attend. If not, they may be spending money to take
an unnecessary class.
GET ANY AND
ALL TRANSFER AGREEMENTS IN WRITING AND BEFORE ENROLLING
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I
want to take a dual credit course - how does it work?
According to the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), to receive dual credit
for a course, the student must go to/register at the college with
which the high school has an agreement. However, the student is not
limited to the course offerings of that particular college. There
are several ways to get the courses a particular student desires:
- The high school can contact the
local college and request a particular course. If enough critical
mass (i.e., potential students) exists, the college may decide to
offer the desired class even if it's not listed in their class schedule.*
- If the local college does not/cannot/will
not offer the desired class, the student may opt to use the VCT
model; that is, register for the class at the local college, even
though the course will be taught by another college's instructor.
The student will be able to use the local college for testing, library,
and other support services, and the grade will be on the local college
transcript.
- If the local college does not/cannot/will
not offer the desired class, the high school can contact another
college to discuss the possibility of forging a dual credit agreement
between them.
- If college credit only (not DUAL
credit) is desired, a student may register for courses at any college
or university to which s/he is accepted; no agreement is necessary.
- The high school's first step should
be to contact the local college to discuss possibilities and options.
Ultimately, the students may go wherever an agreement exists. Students/parents/counselors
should get ANY AND ALL AGREEMENTS concerning what will transfer/count
toward a degree or college credit IN WRITING before enrolling.
*"Desired class" encompasses
the entirety of the offering - course content, delivery method (online,
telecourse, videoconferencing), time of day, etc.
GET AGREEMENTS
IN WRITING AND BEFORE ENROLLING
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Cost of
Dual Credit Courses
One of the most frequently asked
questions about dual credit courses is “Who pays for the course?”
The short answer is: “That depends.” Several options exist:
Students may pay all associated costs; Texas community colleges may
waive tuition and fees; the high school may pay all costs; or the
college and high school may devise a creative way to share the cost.
For example, a college may offer reduced tuition and waive or reduce
certain fees (like parking, student center, or lab fees), while the
high school purchases the student’s textbooks and pays admission
and testing fees.
Keep in mind that the high school
is not obligated to pay the college's tuition or fees for DUAL CREDIT
courses; high schools only assume cost responsibilities when they
must call on a college to provide a course that the high schools must
provide anyway; which does not include dual credit courses.
By making the arrangements with local colleges to provide their students
with dual credit courses, the high schools are providing a service
to students by allowing them the opportunity to get college credit
while still in high school.
* NOTE: Federal regulations specify
that no federal financial aid can be awarded for students currently
in high school, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
(THECB) indicates that to receive financial aid the student must be
enrolled at least ½ time as a regular student at the college
or university.
BUT....
Students who finish high school early may be eligible for the Early
High School Graduation Scholarship – up to $1000 may be awarded
to provide tuition assistance to students completing grades 9 - 12
in three rather than four years. For more information, visit the College
for Texans website.
And getting a few college courses
under their belts before heading off to school can save students a
substantial amount in student fees, housing, and transportation costs
normally incurred while attending college away from home.
For additional information about
dual credit, concurrent enrollment, or articulated credit programs,
please contact the appropriate college
or university representative.
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