AS/AP/Dual Credit&Enrollment
There are many pros & cons to taking
Advanced Studies (AS), Advanced
Placement (AP), dual credit, and dual
enrollment classes.
 Skip to the last slide for a listing of AS,
AP, & dual credit courses offered at GHS.

Advanced Placement

The Advanced Placement Program, or AP, is a
program that offers high school students the
opportunity to receive university credit for their
work during high school. A student must pass the
exam to earn college credit. The score achieved on
the AP exam does not affect the grade earned in the
class. AP classes are taught by GHS teachers. The
student pays the fee to take the required AP exam in
May. College credit is dependent on the college.
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 may be
applied toward a BHC Degree and many may
transfer to other colleges or universities. The dual
enrollment courses are developed and taught by
Black Hawk College teachers. Students pay tuition,
fees and textbook costs. Students do not earn HS
credit.
Dual Credit

Students enrolled in dual credit classes have the
opportunity to earn "dual credit" (high school and
college credits) for the advanced level courses.
These college level courses are taught at the high
school and are considered to be part of a Black
Hawk College degree or certificate program. The
BHC credit earned may or may not transfer to other
colleges. See your guidance counselor regarding the
cost of dual credit courses.
Advanced Studies Biology,
Chemistry, and Pre-calculus
•Course descriptions are available in the GHS course planning
guide. (CPG)
•AS pre-calculus covers more material with a faster pace than
the math analysis trigonometry course. The concepts are
covered in more depth and with more challenging applications.
•AS biology follows the same plan and pace as regular biology
throughout the year but the concepts are covered in more detail.
The course is application based in both class discussion and on
quizzes and tests.
•Like AS biology, AS chemistry is application based, not simply
memorization and regurgitation. AS chemistry moves at a faster
pace than regular chemistry.
Why take AS/AP/Dual Enrollment/Credit?

Parents like dual enrollment/credit, AS and
AP classes because they can save time and
money. Many parents also like the prestige of
having their children taking challenging
honors & 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
ｷ
The Next Logical Step – Students have been tracked into
advanced courses in earlier grades, so this is the next logical step.
ｷ
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.
ｷ
Conducive Learning Environment – The students who
choose to be in these rigorous classes want to be there and want to
learn and be challenged to think critically. Most fellow classmates
are motivated, and the classes provide a much more stimulating
and creative learning environment.
Benefits Continued
Pride and Camaraderie – Many students
are proud that they are doing college level
work in high school. From day one in class,
students are like a small family.
ｷ Your “Major” – AP and dual credit
students could potentially earn enough credits
to enter college as a sophomore and begin to
work on their major that much sooner.
ｷ Statistics prove that taking rigorous
classes leads to future college success!
ｷ
What are the negatives?
ｷ
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 in May.
ｷ
Not all colleges accept AP scores. Or there is a
minimum score (3, 4, or 5) requirement
ｷ
There is a heavier workload. High school
students live busy lives and this is a big commitment.
What are the negatives? #2
The Perceived Fear of “Lower Grades.” But AP and AS grades are weighted.
ｷ Added costs vary. – AP test, BHC tuition,
textbooks (no added cost for AS)
ｷ Schedule changes – This is a commitment
that is expected to be lived up to. Once you
have started an AP/AS or Dual Credit class,
you are expected to finish the class and not
drop.
ｷ
Other considerations…
ｷ
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 transcript.
• The grade earned is not weighted if the course
is dropped.
Student responsibilities

Students must contact prospective
colleges or universities for their policies
about accepting &/or transferring AP and
BHC dual credits earned while in high
school.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Studies
Dual Credit:
AP Biology
Biology
Comp 101/102
AP, AS, Dual Credit,
@ GHS & DualEnglish
Enrollment
@ BHC
AP Chemistry
Chemistry
NA100-CNA certificate, non degree
AP US History
Pre-calculus
Psychology 101
AP French / AP Spanish
Speech 101
AP Government
Welding & Construction non-degree
AP Calculus A/B and B/C
Dual Enrollment:
AP English Language
See www.BHC.edu web site
AP English Literature
Suggestions:
AP Music Theory
Art Appreciation – fine arts credit
AP Macroeconomics and
AP Microeconomics (semester
courses)
CS100 Intro to Computers
AP World History