Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit for High School Students

The Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit program allows high school students the opportunity to receive both high school and college credit. The program is restricted to qualified students in Alabama high schools and home schools which have signed a working agreement with Calhoun Community College.

Student Eligibility:

Criteria for student eligibility are developed by each individual school system and may be more restrictive than the minimum criteria that follows:

1. The student must have a 2.5 GPA or higher in completed high school courses with the exception of Automotive and Technologies programs. The GPA for those programs is 2.0.
2. The student must have written approval (application and approval form available online at www.calhoun.edu) of his/her counselor and principal. In addition to the approval form the student must provide a high school transcript - official or unofficial.
3. The student must be in grade 10, 11, or 12.
4. All students in academic dual enrollment math and English courses must provide appropriate ACT, SAT or placement test scores and students must meet course prerequisites for all classes.

ACCS Continuous Eligibility for Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit

Students who meet the criteria for initial admission to a Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit Program, as specified in in Section 2, will maintain continuous eligibility so long as they earn a grade of C or better in all attempted college courses.  

Each college shall develop their own continuous eligibility appeal process. Colleges are advised to document justification for individual eligibility decisions. 

Calhoun Dual Enrollment Appeals Policy 

A Dual Enrollment student who withdraws from an academic class, or career technical class, that is wholly or partially funded by a Dual Enrollment scholarship, or who fails to earn a grade of C or better in any scholarship funded class, will be suspended from the Dual Enrollment program for one semester.   

A student may reapply for Dual Enrollment following the one-semester suspension, with the approval of their high school or home school counselor or administrator.

A student who failed to earn a C or who withdrew from one scholarship funded class will be eligible for scholarship funding upon returning to the program. 

A Dual Enrollment student who withdrew or who earned a grade of D or F in more than one class, technical or academic, will not be eligible for any future Dual Enrollment scholarship funding. 

All decisions regarding Continuous Eligibility for Dual Enrollment and scholarship funding, including student appeals, will be at the discretion of the college and in compliance with ACCS Dual Enrollment policy. 

Available Courses

Determination of the equivalencies of Calhoun Community College coursework is at the discretion of the high school system. In some cases, one 3-semester hour course equates to a full unit at the high school. However, a cross-walk of eligible courses has been developed to ensure that courses taken at the College warrant the awarding of secondary credit for post-secondary/ college coursework. Students should contact their high school counselor for information about specific course equivalencies.

Eligible courses include any college-level courses in English, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science; any career/technical courses; or any other courses agreed upon by the school system and the college. Students must meet the course prerequisites prior to enrollment. This program does not include any courses taken on an audit basis.

Students in the Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit program may take their coursework at any Calhoun campus or through Distance Learning. Students should consult the College's current course schedule or contact the Calhoun Dual Enrollment office for information on the dates, times and locations of courses. Email gwendlyn.baker@calhoun.edu or heath.daws@calhoun.edu for more information. Calhoun also offers courses at selected high school campuses. Information is available through local high school counselors or from the Dual Enrollment office: 256-306-2665 or 256-306-2671.

Traditional financial aid is not available for students enrolled under the Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit program. Federal government regulations require students to have a high school diploma or GED to qualify for any form of financial aid. However, Alabama families who are recipients of the fully funded PACT Program may apply these funds towards Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit courses.

Dual Enrollment Scholarships

Funds are available through a grant from the Alabama Community College System to provide scholarships to Dual Enrollment students in technical programs and academic programs. Technical Dual Enrollment scholarship funds are available to eligible high school students participating in approved programs offered by Calhoun Community College.

Programs designated as eligible for scholarship funding at Calhoun Community College include Advanced Manufacturing (Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Design Drafting, Electrical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Machine Tool Technology, Process Technology, and Welding); Computer Information Systems; Emergency Medical Services, Nursing Assistant, Criminal Justice, Visual Communications, and Music Technology.

Student Eligibility for Dual Enrollment Scholarships

The student must be in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade, have a 2.5 GPA or higher, and have approval from the high school principal and counselor or the home school director. All students receiving scholarships must meet established placement criteria each semester as determined by appropriate ACT, SAT or placement test scores. Approval from secondary school officials indicates that the student has demonstrated both academic readiness and social maturity.

The scholarship funds are contingent upon allocations by the Alabama Legislature. Calhoun has received scholarship grants since the program was initiated by the state in 2008; however, future grant awards are not guaranteed and will depend on availability of funding through the Alabama Community College System.

Each student who receives a Dual Enrollment Technology Scholarship must have declared a technical program of study and only those courses required for that program of study will be eligible for scholarship funds.

Dual Enrollment technology scholarship funds may be used to cover not only the required technical courses but required other academic courses as well. 

Most of Calhoun's manufacturing technology programs are taught on the Decatur campus. In addition, several high schools offer on-site Dual Enrollment classes in Drafting, Machine Tool Technology, Automotive Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and Welding. Computer Information Systems is taught on both the Huntsville and Decatur locations and through distance learning. Dual Enrollment Emergency Medical Services (EMS) year-long regional programs are available at Calhoun and qualify for Dual Enrollment scholarship funding. High school students pursuing this EMS certification are encouraged to participate in these regional dual enrollment programs. High school students may be registered for Calhoun's traditional EMS programs only with the approval of the EMS Program Director.

The scope of each scholarship is determined by available funding and the scholarship grant guidelines. Costs covered will be determined on an individual basis.

Scholarship Application

In order to apply for a scholarship, the student must be accepted by Calhoun Community College. The Dual Enrollment Scholarship Application  is incorporated in the Comprehensive Dual Enrollment Approval Form, and Signature Page. The link to this document can be found at: http://www.calhoun.edu/dualenrollment

Academic Support Scholarships

Calhoun Community College now offers an Academic Support Dual Enrollment Scholarship program for Dual Enrollment students in Academic classes only.  This opportunity is only available to eligible, currently registered Dual Enrollment students.  

Funding is limited.  Scholarships will only be available until all funds are expended.  Students receiving Workforce Funding or other financial/tuition assistance are not eligible for this scholarship.  

Students who failed to earn a grade of "C" or better in a previous semester, or who have withdrawn from a Calhoun Community College Dual Enrollment class are subject to the Dual Enrollment Continuous Eligibility policy.

A separate scholarship application is not needed.  The scholarship information is incorporated on the Course Approval form.  A parental signature is required to activate the scholarship application. 

In order to qualify for Dual Enrollment and for the scholarship, a student must be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, must be approved by the high school, must be in compliance with the Dual Enrollment Continuous Eligibility requirements, and must meet the prerequisites for any class in which they are seeking to register.  The scholarship will be applied by the college to eligible student accounts following registration.

It is the student's responsibility to be aware for the college's withdrawal and refund policy regarding any payments made by the student.  Acceptance of an Academic or Technical Dual Enrollment scholarship indicates a commitment to fulfill all student responsibilities once the aware had been applied to the student's account.  

Dual Enrollment EMS

EMS (Emergency Medical Services) are a critical part of your community’s healthcare system. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) provide medical assistance in everyday emergencies, large-scale incidents and natural disasters, alike. EMT’s have the knowledge and skills to provide basic life support to all patients whether the problem is trauma, cardiac, or medical.

Dual Enrollment EMT locations

Calhoun offers Dual Enrollment EMT programs at the Limestone County Career Technical Center, Calhoun’s Huntsville campus, James Clemens High School, and at the Rural Development Park. Sufficient student registrations are required in order for the program to be offered at each of these locations.

Meeting days and times are announced each semester. All programs involve an online learning component.

Program Costs

The Calhoun Dual Enrollment EMT program is eligible for scholarship funding through the Calhoun Community College Workforce Development grant. The grant currently covers tuition, fees, and cost of the textbook and some required supplies. The level of funding for each year’s program is determined by the availability and the scope of the Workforce Development grant.

Student Eligibility

Dual Enrollment EMT is open to high school seniors who have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, who are or will be 18 before the end of the program, and have prior approval by their high school counselor or home school director. 

Courses included in the Dual Enrollment EMT program

EMS 100, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation I

EMS 118, Emergency Medical Technician

EMS 119, Emergency Medical Technician Clinical

The Dual Enrollment EMT program is year-long; students begin the program at the start of the fall semester in August and finish in May of the following spring semester.

Dual Enrollment Dental Assisting

Dental assistants serve as 'generalists' in dental practices. They assist the dentist during procedures such as fillings, root canals, and tooth extractions, take x-rays, sterilize instruments, mix dental materials, teach patients about oral health, and perform office managerial duties. DAs need to be adaptable, organized, detail-oriented, and possess good interpersonal skills. DAs may be exposed to infectious disease and are required to wear protective gear.

Students who successfully complete the consecutive 3-semester program earn 45 hours of college credit, are awarded a certificate of completion from a CODA accredited dental educational program and are eligible to earn the Certified Dental Assistant credential. Program graduates are prepared for employment in general dental offices or specialty practices such as orthodontics, pediatrics, periodontics, or oral surgery.

Application and Enrollment Requirements

Students must be a rising HS senior with a minimum ACT Reading Score of 18, a current minimum GPA of 3.0, and have completed ENG 101 English Composition I and MTH 100 Intermediate College Algebra with a grade of C or higher. Students must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to drive to campus and clinical sites. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Students who are accepted into the DA are making a commitment to a full year / three-semester program of study beginning the summer following their junior year in high school. During the summer term, students must be able to meet for classes Monday – Thursday on the Decatur campus from 8:00 a.m. until as late at 4:30 p.m. During the fall semester, students must be able to attend on-campus DA classes on Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays students must be able to participate in clinical learning experiences at assigned local dental offices from approx. 8:00 - 5:00 p.m. During the spring semester, students must be able to attend assigned clinical learning rotations at local dental offices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and attend an on-campus class on Wednesday from 8:00 until 11:00 a.m. In addition, students are responsible for varying hours of weekly online lecture each semester.

Students enrolled in dental assisting are required to successfully complete both academic and clinical requirements. The DA Eligibility Criteria https://calhoun.edu/health-sciences/dental-assisting/

delineate the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills deemed minimally necessary for admission, progression, graduation, and for the provision of safe and effective client care as a dental assistant.

The Alabama Community College System endorses the Americans’ with Disabilities Act. If a student cannot demonstrate the Eligibility Criteria, it is the responsibility of the student to request appropriate reasonable accommodations through the Student Disability Services Office.

Program Costs

Funding is provided through the Calhoun Community College Workforce Scholarship grant and currently covers tuition, fees, textbooks and uniforms. The amount of funds each year is determined by the availability and scope of state distributions. The cost of a required health exam, TB testing, background check and drug screening are the responsibility of the student.

Accelerated High School Program

Calhoun Community College offers qualified high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. This program differs from Dual Enrollment in that participating students receive college credit only; no high school credit is awarded for courses taken under the Accelerated High School program.  Accelerated High School students are not eligible for Dual Enrollment Scholarship funding. 

1. The student must have successfully completed the 10th grade;
2. The student must provide certification each semester from the local principal and/or his/her designee that the student has a minimum cumulative 3.0 average and is recommended to continue the program (the Accelerated High School approval form can be found on the Dual Enrollment page at the Admissions link on our website: https://calhoun.edu/dual-enrollment/accelerated-high-school-program)
3. In addition to the approval form, the student must provide an official high school transcript;
4. The student must provide qualifying ACT, SAT or placement scores;
5. The student may enroll only in postsecondary courses for which the high school prerequisites have been completed