Columbus and Lowndes County high schools offer students a program that allows them to get a jump on their education by attending a community college or specialize in a rewarding career through learning a skilled trade.
Dual enrollment/Dual Credit is a program at East Mississippi Community College that allows eligible high school students currently attending public and private high schools, or students who are home-schooled, to simultaneously enroll in a college course. Dual-enrolled students can take classes through either the Academic Division or the Career-Technical Division.
EMCC has three academic divisions offering a comprehensive variety of classes. At EMCC, students can get what they need to prepare for transfer to a four-year college or university, satisfy academic requirements of the college’s career-technical programs or take individual classes in areas of interest, according to the school’s website.
First, the Mathematics and Science Division includes mathematics, natural sciences, computer science, nutrition, biology, chemistry and physics.
Next, the Humanities and Fine Arts Division encompasses a number of subject areas: foreign language, English composition and literature, philosophy, speech and fine arts — art, music and theatre.
And lastly, the Social Science and Business Division offers courses in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, economics, education, educational psychology, geography, health/physical education, history, leadership, political science, psychology and sociology.
In addition, students have access to programs at the Communiversity. The lab-based facility provides students with the opportunity to explore and gain foundational skills that are directly related to their career interests, according to the center’s website.
Eight college and career-prep programs are available to qualified students whether they plan to further their education at a community college, four-year university, or enter the market place. Programs include automotive service technician, construction, culinary arts, engineering and robotics, health sciences, industrial maintenance, welding and a teacher academy.
• Complete 14 core high school units or score a minimum composite ACT score of 30 or above or the equivalent SAT score.
• Have a 3.0 or better grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
• Have a recommendation letter from your principal/counselor to participate. (This is a standard form provided by EMCC to the principal/counselor). For homeschool students, parent/guardian must request the form on an individual basis.
• You must attend high school in one of the following counties: Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Noxubee or Oktibbeha.
There are many reasons to pursue dual enrollment such as getting a head start on earning college-level credits. These credits also count toward your high school diploma. A student can even earn an associate’s degree or professional certificate while still in high school. College credits acquired in a dual enrollment program are often transferable to other colleges/universities besides the one where a student earned those credits. Taking college classes while in high school will reduce the amount of credits you need for your degree when you become a full-time college student. That means seniors can graduate, take fewer credits each semester or transfer earlier.
Eighty-eight percent of dual-enrollment students who took community college courses in high school continued in college after high school, and most achieved a degree or transferred within six years.
For more information email [email protected] or call 662.476.5430.
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