Advanced Placement/Dual
Enrollment/Dual Credit
AP/Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit

There are many pros & cons to taking AP
classes and dual enrollment classes. Taking
courses such as these can mean different
things to different groups. First, everyone
must understand the difference between these
three types of classes.
Differences

AP = The Advanced Placement Program, commonly known
as Advanced Placement, or AP, is a United States and
Canada-based program that offers high school students the
opportunity to receive university credit for their work during
high school, as well as a standard measure of achievement in
a particular course. Achievement is measured by the number
of students that enroll in an AP course and take the AP exam.
A student must pass the exam to earn the college credit. AP
classes are taught by Geneseo HS teachers at GHS.
Differences

Dual Enrollment = Dual enrollment is a program that
allows high school students to enroll in college
courses and earn college credit prior to high school
graduation. College credits earned through dual
enrollment can be applied toward a BHC Degree and
many can be transferred to other colleges or
universities. The dual enrollment courses are
developed taught by BHC (Black Hawk College)
teachers. Students must pay full tuition and textbook
costs.
Differences

Dual Credit = Dual Credit program is a program
where high school students have the opportunity to
earn "dual credit" (high school and college credit for
the same course) for their advanced level courses.
These college level courses are taught at the high
school by high school teachers (adjunct professors)
and are considered to be part of a Black Hawk
College degree or certificate program. There is
currently no tuition, but a there is a textbook fee.
Why take AP/Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit?

Parents like dual enrollment and AP classes
because they can save time and money. Many
parents also like the prestige of having their
children taking college classes. But parents
are not the ones who have to do all the work,
it is the students. Why do students like
accelerated learning or more rigorous classes?
Benefits

The Next Logical Step – Many have been tracked into
advanced courses in earlier grades, so this is the next logical step.

More Challenging (less boring) – Accelerated classes are
not just a repeat of things that they have already learned. They are
much more exciting and challenging. It is an escape of the regular
high school classroom.

Conducive Learning Environment – The students who
choose to be in these rigorous classes want to be there and want to
learn. There are virtually no discipline issues, no unmotivated
fellow classmates, and these classes are a much more stimulating
and creative learning environment. Often times the classes are
much smaller with a lower student to teacher ratio.
Benefits
Pride and Camaraderie – Many students
are proud that they are doing college work in
high school. From day one in class, students
are like a small family.
 Your “Major” – Students could potentially
earn enough credits to enter college as a
sophomore and begin to work on their major
that much sooner.
 Statistics prove that taking rigorous
classes leads to future college success!

What are the negatives?

AP is often more difficult than dual
enrollment/dual credit classes; and the student does not
get the college credit automatically with an AP class. In
an AP class, the student must pass the exam.

Not all colleges accept AP scores. Or there is a
minimum score (usually 3)

There is a heavier workload. High schoolers live
busy lives and this is a big commitment.
What are the negatives?
The Perceived Fear of “Lower Grades.” But AP grade is weighted.
 Added Cost – Textbooks and some
additional fees are not cheap.
 Schedule changes – This is a commitment
that is expected to be lived up to. Once you
have started an AP class, you are expected to
finish the class and not drop.

What are the negatives?

If the student was not academically ready
for the accelerated learning class and the
student were to receive a poor grade, it will
stay on that student’s college transcript.
 Even if a BHC course has an IAI number,
it may not transfer as expected to another
college or university unless a student completes
an A.A. degree at Black Hawk.
AP, Dual Credit, and Dual Enrollment opportunities for GHS students
AP Courses
Dual Credit Offerings
Dual Enrollment offerings
AP Biology
Ag 131 Soils & Fertility
NA 100
AP Chemistry
BE 145 Word Processing
Psychology 101
AP Physics
BE 180 Business
Communications
Sociology 101
AP Calculus
BA 170/171 Fundamentals of
Accounting
AP English Language
BA Fundamentals of
Accounting II
AP English Literature
CS 100 Introduction to
Computers
AP US History
English 101/102
AP Music Theory
English Composition I & II
AP Spanish