Dual Credit
Benefits of Dual Credit
- Easing transition from high school to college.
- Getting a head start with educational or career goals.
- Enabling students and parents to save on both immediate and long term costs of a college education. (The HCC Board of Trustees has waived tuition and fees, except for the out-of-district fee, for public school Dual Credit students).
- Allowing students to satisfy part of the requirement of the Distinguished Achievement Program by completing two Dual Credit classes with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
- Using HCC libraries, open labs, and counseling services.
- Fostering of skills needed to be successful in college: following a syllabus, meeting classroom and course requirements, organizing and managing time effectively, using self-discipline, improving and applying high-level thinking skills and following college policies and procedures.
Dual Credit Student Qualifications
To qualify for a Dual Credit class, a high school student must:
- Be classified as a high school junior or senior. (Exemptions exist for demonstrated outstanding academic performance.)
- Meet school district or high school requirements for taking a Dual Credit class.
- Be recommended for Dual Credit by their high school principal or designee.
- Meet both the State of Texas THEA requirements and HCC requirements. (For Certificate Programs, see an HCC-Northwest counselor.)
- Meet course prerequisite requirements.
Dual Credit Registration
Students who wish to take a Dual Credit class should consult with their high school counselor. HCC-Northwest will provide detailed Dual Credit Guidelines to prospective Dual Credit students through their high schools prior to each semester. The guidelines will contain information about applying for admission to the college, establishing eligibility for college-level classes, enrolling in classes, and paying for the classes.
Dual Credit Classes
Dual Credit classes are taught on the college level just as they would be on any college campus. The enrollment is usually thirty or less allowing for individual attention. Classes are conveniently held on either the high school campus or on a nearby college campus. Qualified HCC faculty teach the classes and grade all student work.
Transferability of College Credit
Dual Credit students enrolled in college-level courses earn HCC course credit. Public institutions of higher education in the State of Texas are required, by law, to accept HCC credit for college-level classes in transfer as either core or elective credit. While many private and out of state colleges and universities do so as well, students are advised to confirm that their institution accepts HCC college-level credit in transfer. Some workforce and certificate courses do not transfer to other institutions.
Faculty
HCC-Northwest faculty members, who are highly qualified and very competent, teach Dual Credit classes. They meet or exceed the credential requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All faculty members are supervised, observed, and evaluated by HCC Department or Program Chairs.
Dual Credit Partnerships
Houston Community College-Northwest partners with school districts, charter schools and private schools to offer Academic and Career/Technology students the opportunity to take Dual Credit classes earning credit toward an Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or workforce Program Certificate. Qualified high school students, beginning in their junior year, may take up to two Dual Credit courses per semester prior to high school graduation. Students who enroll in college-level Dual Credit classes and include a summer semester may be able to earn collegiate sophomore status along with high school graduation.
