What is Dual Credit?

Overview

Dual Credit courses are courses offered for dual credit from agreements between high schools, universities, and community colleges whereby a high school student enrolls in a college course and simultaneously earns college credit and high school credit for the course.

Tracking

To ensure that students are taking meaningful dual credit courses, they need to be aware of the requirements and degree/certification requirements in their field of interest as well as their two-year college and their future four-year college. By tracking students’ college coursework along with their high school graduation plans, students should be aware of their progress toward their college goals.

How it works

Partnerships between Texas secondary schools and Texas colleges and universities have enabled high school students to earn college credits before graduating from high school, making their transition to the collegiate campus smoother and their likelihood of graduating from college greater.

Courses

Courses are offered by accredited colleges and include both academic and career/technical courses. HPS Dual Credit Program is designed to help students complete 42 hours of Texas State College Core Curriculum (refer to core curriculum chart). Courses taken as dual credit will transfer to Texas public institutions according to their transfer policies; however, if the student completes the core curriculum, the entire core will transfer toward a Bachelor's Degree in Texas public institutions. Private and out-of-state institutions choose which courses to accept and whether credit for Dual Credit coursework will be honored.

Modes of Learning

College courses offered for dual credit may be offered online, and taught at the college campus or the high school campus by credentialed instructors. Courses offered for dual credit include the same content and rigor as courses taught to other college students, utilizing the same instructors, curriculum, and policies.

Quantity

The number of Dual Credit courses students can take will depend on course load and schedule availability of each student. A student taking 15 college credit hours per semester, including AP and Dual Credit courses, has the course load of a full-time college student. Considering the workload and the importance of academic success, students cannot be enrolled in more than 15 college credit hours per school semester.

Why Dual Credit?

The benefits to high school students who participate in dual credit courses are numerous. At many colleges, students are able to earn 12 or more hours of college credit prior to graduating from high school. Additionally, a college course offered for dual credit has a guarantee of being included on the transcript for college credit at Texas public institutions.

Advantages for dual credit students include the following:

    • Receive high school and college credit for courses in which they earn a “C” or better

    • Fast-track their undergraduate or vocational degrees

    • Save on tuition and fees by accelerating the time to complete a degree

    • Reduced cost of enrolling in higher education courses

    • Opportunity to access college facilities and resources such as tutoring services, computer labs, and counseling services

    • Enhances skills required to be successful at the collegiate level such as time management skills, critical thinking skills, study skills, and following directions and procedures