Dual Credit

TSC offers qualified high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school through five different, but related, programs: Dual Credit, Dual Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment, Early College High School (ECHS), and Pathways in Technology Early College High School. These programs allow high school students to enroll in college-level courses at no cost to the student. College credit earned upon successful completion of dual credit courses may be applied toward a certificate or an associate degree at TSC or may be transferable to other colleges and universities.

Dual Credit

Allows eligible high school students to enroll in a college course that is paired to a high school course required for high school graduation, so that upon successful completion, the student receives credit for the course on both the college and the high school transcripts.

Dual Enrollment

Allows high school students to take a high school course and a college course of a similar subject to earn both high school credit and college credit for the course. High school credit is awarded for the successful completion of the high school portion, demonstrating mastery of the TEKS. College credit is awarded if student passes the college portion of the course.

Concurrent Enrollment

Allows students to be enrolled in two schools at the same time (a high school and a college). While a high school student earns credits for high school graduation, the student is simultaneously enrolled in courses at a college to complete a degree or certificate.

Students in dual credit, dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment can only take core curriculum courses, Career and Technical Education courses, and foreign languages. There are a handful of ACGM courses deemed technical in nature that these students can also take.

Early College High School

The Early College High School (ECHS) program is designed to provide students at risk of not otherwise attending college the opportunity to earn up to sixty (60) semester credit hours leading to an associate degree or bachelor’s degree while attending high school. Unlike the Dual Enrollment program, the Early College High School program is only available to students attending a high school which has been designated an Early College High School by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Students apply for admission to the Early College High School program at their respective Early College High Schools. Those selected are expected to follow a prescribed program of study leading to a 60-SCH associate degree. Early College High Schools provide robust academic support services to assist students in successfully completing the program of study in five years.

Pathways in Technology Early College High School

The P-TECH program allows student least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma and a credential and/or associate degree. The hallmark of the P-TECH is its career focus and the provision of work-based education. Students in the P-TECH program have up to six years in high school to complete a credential or degree.