Understanding Dual Enrollment vs. AP Courses
We get a lot of questions about the difference between Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement courses,
this section is designed to help answer those questions for you.
In short:
- AP Courses follow a national program developed by the collegeboard; the curriculum in these courses is
rigorous and the content taught is consistent across the country. You receive high school credit for AP courses. At
the end of the school year you will take the AP exam in the course you took. Once you are accepted into college,
you can submit your AP test scores and the college will decide if they will award you college credit for your exam
score.
- Dual Enrollment Courses: This is curriculum developed by our high school teachers that area colleges (Saint
Francis, Mount Aloysius, and Penn Highlands) have approved to meet the standards they teach in the specific
content area. Taking a course as dual enrollment is optional; if students opt to take the course as dual enrollment
then they will earn both high school and college credit. Students must apply/pay the college for the credits and
maintain a "C" or higher average in the class in order to earn the college credits. These credits typically are
transferrable to other colleges and universities.
Advanced Placement Courses*
Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide college-level curriculum developed by College Board, makers of the
SAT, to high school students. Students are taught the course by Bishop Guilfoyle teachers during the regular school
day; however, a greater workload is required in these courses compared to a non-AP course. Prior to the start of the
school year, students are required to purchase their text book /materials and to have summer reading or projects
completed. (The cost of the text book/ materials is approximately ~$100-$200, per class)
AP students take their AP Exam in May. The cost of the AP test each year is approximately $92.00 per test. Test
payment is not due until the spring of 2016. The test is scored from 1 to 5, with five being the highest achievable
score. This score can then translate to college credit. Most four-year colleges give students college credit for scores
of a 4 or higher on their AP exam. Typically a score of a 4 or 5 will yield 3-8 college credits; although rare, we have
seen up to 15 college credits awarded for a single AP test score. You are encouraged to contact your potential
college choice(s) to find out if they award AP college credit.
AP courses offered at Bishop Guilfoyle:
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AP Art History
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science A
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Environmental Science
AP European History
AP US History
AP Psychology
AP Spanish Language
AP Spanish Literature (pending approval by collegeboard)
AP Student Art: Drawing
AP World History
AP Music Theory
Dual Enrollment*
Dual Enrollment means that the Bishop Guilfoyle curriculum and instruction for these courses have been approved
by a post-secondary institution as qualifying for college credit. Students are taught the course by Bishop Guilfoyle
teachers during the regular school day. Students choose whether or not to apply for dual enrollment in a course; this
decision is made in September when they submit an application and fee to the college. Students who wish to take
the course as dual enrollment are not held to a higher standard by the teacher or be expected to do additional
work than students who do not take the course as dual enrollment; the only differences by taking the course for dual
enrollment college credit are that a student must complete an application, pay the credit fee, and obtain a "C" or
higher grade in the course (to receive college credit). Our Dual Enrollment Program is currently in place with
Mount Aloysius College, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, and Saint Francis University. At the end
of the school year, students who enrolled in September through the college will receive instructions on how to obtain
a transcript from the college. These credits are typically transferable to other colleges/universities (see item 2
below).
Two recommendations are made by higher education institutions:
1.
2.
Do not apply for dual enrollment status for courses in the major you wish to pursue in college. For example,
do not dual enroll in math courses if you intend to major in math. Take the course, but do not register for
dual enrollment. Colleges typically want you take major courses at their institution.
Most colleges will transfer dual enrollment courses into their general education requirements. However, to be
certain regarding transfer of credits you should check in advance with the college you plan to attend for their
pre-approval. Students should take the best courses available at Bishop Guilfoyle; however, students should
apply for dual enrollment only when applicable.
Bishop Guilfoyle Dual Enrollment courses are offered through the following:
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Saint Francis University
Accounting I - 3 credits
Accounting II - 3 credits
AP Biology - 4 credits*
Anatomy and Physiology – 3 credits
AP Biology - 3 credits*
Pre-Calculus - 3 credits
AP Calculus AB - 3 credits*
Environmental Sustainability – 3 credits
Physics - 4 credits
Spanish III - 3 credits
AP Spanish Language - 3 credits*
Wall Street 101 – 3 credits (mandatory DE)
High School in France- 3 credits (mandatory DE)
College Statistics- 3 credits (mandatory DE)
Intro to Exceptionalities- 3 credits (mandatory DE)
AP Environmental- 3 credits*
AP Music Theory- 3 credits*
Mount Aloysius College
Anatomy/Physiology - 4 credits
AP Biology - 4 credits*
AP Chemistry - 4 credits*
AP European History - 3 credits*
Advanced Microcomputers I - 3 credits
Visual Basic- 3 credits
AP Literature/Composition- 3 credits*
*Please note that many of courses are have both an AP and Dual Enrollment status. The curriculum for these classes has
been approved by both the college board and by the dual enrollment college. Below are the student choices for these courses:
1. Students can opt to take the course for dual enrollment, to get guaranteed college credits (as long as they get a C or higher
final grade)
2. Students must take the AP Exam at the end of the year. Depending on the score a student could earn college credit
(Typically a score of a 4 or 5 will earn credit)
3. Students can dual enroll in the course and also take the AP Exam at the end of the year. Many students choose this option
because of the security of earning college credits through dual enrollment but also the chance to earn a greater number of
credits through the AP exam.
Overall, the cost of taking both Dual Enrollment Credits and the AP test is
much cheaper than taking the course in college.