Dual Credit

SAVE MONEY ON COLLEGE TUITION
Participating students and their parents benefit by significant savings on both immediate and long term costs of a college education. The Houston Community College Board of Trustees has, with the exception of out-of-district fees, waived tuition and fees for dual credit students.

ACCELERATE TIME TO DEGREE COMPLETION
Dual credit students can earn up to two years of college credit related to the HCC Academic Core that can transfer to a Texas public higher educational institution. Students also can obtain college credit toward a Career & Technical Education (CTE)/Workforce degree or certificate that can position them for unique employment opportunities upon graduating from high school.

BUILD CONFIDENCE
Students find that dual credit programs help establish skills to be successful in college such as following a syllabus, meeting classroom and course requirements, conducting themselves appropriately, using self-discipline, and improving and applying higher-level thinking skills.

ACCESS TO POSTSECONDARY RESOURCES
Exposing dual credit students to the college environment – including HCC student support services such as the library, computer labs, financial aid, career services, and tutoring – helps to ease the transition to college after high school.

EARN TRANSFERRABLE COLLEGE CREDITS
Many dual credit courses are transferrable to Texas public colleges and universities, private institutions, and some out-of-state colleges and universities. For more Information

 

In order to participate in a HCC dual credit program, high school students must meet the following requirements:

• Meet school district or high school requirements for taking a dual credit class and be recommended for dual credit by his/her high school authority.
• Currently enrolled in 9th grade or higher.
• Demonstrate college readiness standards by achieving passing scores under the provision of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), OR demonstrate exemption from testing under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) (See “College Readiness Requirements” section below for details)
•  Meet the dual credit course prerequisite requirements.

 

High school students seeking interested in dual credit must be assessed in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics prior to enrollment. Students must have a qualifying score(s) on one of the following state-approved Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment to be deemed college-ready.

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT	Minimum scores for Reading & Writing based classes e.g., English/History/Government	Minimum scores for Reading, Writing and Math based classes e.g., Economics	Minimum scores for Math based classes e.g., College Algebra
ACT (TSI exemption)	English 19  Composite 23	English 19,  Math 19 Composite 23	Math 19  Composite 23
PLAN  (TSI waiver)	English 19  Composite 23	English 19, Math 19  Composite 23	Math 19  Composite 23
SAT  (TSI exemption)	Critical Reading 500 Total (Critical Reading + Math) 1070	Critical Reading 50 Math 50 Total (Critical Reading + Math) 107	Math 500 Total (Critical Reading + Math) 1070
PSAT (TSI waiver)	Critical Reading 50 Total (Critical Reading + Math) 107	Critical Reading 50 Math 50 Total (Critical Reading + Math) 107	Math 50 Total (Critical Reading + Math) 107
STAAR EOC (TSI waiver)	PRIOR TO SPRING 2014 English II reading 2000 English II writing 2000 SPRING 2014 : English II 4000	PRIOR TO SPRING 2014 English II reading 2000 English II writing 2000 SPRING 2014 : English II 4000 Algebra I 4000	Algebra I 4000
TSI Assessment	WS: 5-8 & Read 351-390 (need BOTH)  OR  WRITE 363-390 & WS 4 & Read 351-390 (need ALL THREE)	WS: 5-8 & Read 351-390 & Math 336 and Elem. Algebra 5 and Int. Algebra 7 (need ALL FIVE) OR WRITE 363-390, WS 4, Read 351-390  & Math 336 and Elem. Algebra 5 and Int. Algebra 7 (need ALL SIX	Math 350-390

 

Level I Certificate classes related to workforce (i.e., Career & Technical Education) are the only programs that require no minimum Reading, Writing, or Mathematics score requirement. These programs range from 15-to-42 semester credit hours (SCH) and are designed for entry-level employment or upgrading skills and knowledge within an occupation. These workforce certificates serve as building blocks toward a Level II Certificate and eventually an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program. The following chart details the requirements for Level I and Level II Certificates.

Workforce (CTE) Program	Type of Assessment	Component	TSI Score	TSI Status
Level I Certificate	NONE Required	NA	NA	Waived in High School only
Level II Certificate	STAAR EOC	Level 2 Algebra I  Level 2 English II	3872 4000	Waived in High School only

 

Courses are offered in the Texas Common Core Curriculum, foreign languages, and Career and Technical Education (CTE). These courses are divided into two groups- Academic and Workforce.

Academic
Courses are designed primarily to apply to a transferable degree such as the Associate of Arts (AA), or Associate of Science (AS).  Core curriculum and foreign language classes are academic. These courses are all part of the Texas Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) and articulated by the State as a dual credit course. For more information

Workforce/Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Courses are designed to apply to Workforce Certificates and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. These courses are all part of the Texas Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM) and articulated by the State as a dual credit course.

 

Houston ISD deadlines are earlier than those posted below

02/01- 03/31	Fall Semester orientations
04/16	Fall semester applications due
6/15	Fall semester paperwork due
6/15	Fall semester last day for schedule changes
7/01 - 7/15	Fall semester rosters distributed for review (accuracy)
1/25	Fall semester meeting patterns due (course request)
9/01 - 09/15	Spring semester orientations
10/01	Spring semester applications due
10/01	Spring meeting patterns due (course request)
11/05	Spring registration begins
11/15	Spring Semester paperwork due
12/01 - 12/15	Spring semester rosters distributed for review (accuracy)
1/25	Summer semester meeting patterns due (course request)
03/10	Summer semester paperwork due