Dual Enrollment and Accelerated Coursework

Dual Enrollment

A dual-enrolled student is a student who is enrolled in a community college, junior college, or state institution of higher learning while simultaneously attending high school.

Dual-enrolled students can earn up to a semester’s worth of college credit in high school. A semester’s worth of college credit equals 15 credit hours at Mississippi community/junior colleges or 12 credit hours at Mississippi public universities. One (1) three-hour university or community/junior college course is equal to one (1) high school Carnegie unit.

Getting Ahead with Accelerated Coursework

Accelerated coursework such as Advanced Placement, Cambridge, and IB courses enables students to pursue college-level studies — with the opportunity to earn college credit — while still in high school.

There are many reasons to take accelerated coursework. You’ll have the opportunity to:

Challenge yourself academically
Build college-level academic skills
Set yourself apart in college admissions
Earn college credit and placement with a successful exam score
Skip introductory courses

EXPLORE: Browse around the College Board’s Explore AP site to learn more about the benefits that AP can offer you. Talking to your parents, guardians, or friends about accelerated coursework is also a good way to get another perspective.

DISCUSS: If you think accelerated coursework might be right for you, schedule a meeting to discuss it with your counselor or teacher. You can prepare with this conversation starter — a helpful guide for your discussion together.

ENROLL: Make sure to ask your counselor or teacher about deadlines for signing up for courses at your school. For more information, download and read the Procedures Manual for Dual Enrollment and Accelerated Programs from the page below.