Dual Credit Programs
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enriching the student
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Earn both college and high school credit
Dual credit classes enable eligible high school students to enroll in college classes and earn credit for both college and high school simultaneously. The course credits become a permanent part of the student’s high school and college transcripts.
Benefits of dual credit classes are numerous:
- Cost Savings. As dual credit classes are arranged with local community colleges, students are able to take classes at reduced rates in comparison to that charged by four-year universities.
- Time Well Spent. By earning college credit while still enrolled in high school, dual credit students get a head start on their degree.
- A Smooth Transition. College can be difficult to navigate, and dual credit courses enable students to develop a plan of attack and seek guidance on their future before high school graduation.
- Testing the Waters. College-level coursework can be an entirely new world for high school graduates, and dual credit courses help students gain first-hand experience with advanced learning in a more comfortable, easier-to-manage format.
- Sends the Right Message. Students taking dual credit classes present a picture of dedication and focus to the university they eventually plan to attend.
Who qualifies for dual credit?
Public, private or home-schooled students in the 9th through 12th grades may qualify. Some colleges require students to meet TSI (Texas Success Initiative) requirements, though many others offer college-level courses that do not require the testing.
Courses offered for dual credit must be included in the institution’s core curriculum. This includes general education courses required for any student who plans to pursue a traditional associate or baccalaureate degree in Texas. Courses required for a technical program as well as foreign language classes may also be included. Remedial or developmental courses are not offered for dual credit. There are no limitations on how many credit hours a qualified student may take for dual credit, though the high school may have certain restrictions regarding how many credits may be applied to the student’s high school graduation plan.
Dual credit Courses
Dual credit courses may be offered at the participating college campus or at the high school campus provided an approved instructor is available.
To learn more about the dual credit offerings at one of the nine colleges in the Gulf Coast Consortium of Community Colleges, please click on the following links:
Hear What Our Students Have to Say!
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It was important for me to come back to COM after 25 years for a few different reasons. One, I wanted to continue to learn new aspects of the trade. After so long, the industry has grown exponentially. Two, I wanted to have that piece of paper that make me legitimate. And lastly, I went back to school to set an example to my 15 and 13-year-old. I want them to know that you’re never too old to learn.
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The experience that I gained at HCC led to my first job in the TV News world because I was able to put on my resume that I ran a camera, I knew how to do teleprompter, I could write and produce, and that's how I ended up getting a position at KHOU as a production assistant. Another great opportunity at HCC was receiving a scholarship because I paid for my books, my classes were taken care of, all of my supplies, and that meant that I could truly focus on what I wanted out of my career and spending more time at HCC TV.