Dual credit
Dual credit refers to an educational arrangement that allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses that count for both high school and college credits simultaneously. This program is designed to enhance students' academic profiles and provide them with the opportunity to earn credits early, potentially enabling them to graduate from college sooner and save on tuition costs. Courses can be taught by various instructors, including college faculty and high school teachers, in diverse settings such as high schools, colleges, or online platforms.
The dual credit system is particularly appealing to students who wish to fulfill specific graduation requirements or core courses needed for their college education. By successfully completing these courses, students may be able to opt out of similar requirements in college, allowing them to explore more subjects of interest. This pathway is often compared to Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which also aim to prepare students for college but focus on passing standardized exams for credit. However, acceptance of dual credits and AP scores by colleges can vary, with some institutions recognizing them fully while others may not. Overall, dual credit programs offer significant advantages for high school students aiming to accelerate their educational journey.
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Dual credit
Many high schools have agreements with colleges and universities in which their students can take college-level courses. When credits from these courses count toward both high school and college graduation requirements, a student has earned dual credit. Depending on the agreement made between institutions, dual credit courses may be taught by college faculty, adjunct faculty, or high school faculty at state or private college campuses, high schools, or on the Internet. Students need to ensure they have access to the technology needed to complete the course. For example, they may need special software to complete a science or math lab virtually. Along with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual credit courses are a popular option for high school students who want to pass out of core course requirements set by their future college or university of choice and graduate from college early.
Overview
Dual credit courses are beneficial at the high school level because the number of credits earned will count toward a student’s high school graduation. These credits are especially helpful if they count toward a specific subject area required for graduation, such as the completion of four mathematics courses. Dual credit is primarily beneficial at the college level, however. Depending on the type of course, an incoming college freshman may be able to opt out of a core college requirement because they have already taken an equivalent course.
For example, if a high school senior takes an introductory philosophy course at the local university during the time they might have otherwise had a free period, the student will receive dual credit that may be transferred to whichever college or university they attend after graduation. If the college requires students to take at least one social science course and accepts that student’s philosophy credits as equivalent, the student then has the freedom to choose a different course in their preferred area of interest. Alternatively, the student may simply let dual credits count toward graduation. If enough college credits are earned before entering college, the student is then in a position to graduate early and save money on college tuition.
A number of students take Advanced Placement (AP) courses for the same reasons they might want to earn dual credit. In contrast to dual credit courses, AP courses prepare students to pass exams that prove their mastery of college-level curricula. If high enough scores are achieved, students are able to opt out of similar courses that their future college or university may require. AP and dual credit may both be taken during a student’s junior and senior years of high school, and if completed successfully, students could earn enough credits to graduate from college a full year or more early. By shortening the typical two- or four-year length of undergraduate degree programs, students will save both time and money.
However, AP exam scores and dual credits are not always accepted by higher education institutions. One university might accept a number of dual and AP credits toward graduation, for example, but not the courses themselves as replacements for core requirements. Another university may not consider these extra credits equivalent to what that institution teaches and may refuse to transfer them entirely. This varies depending on the type of courses taken and the institution’s particular requirements.
Bibliography
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