Dual Enrollment

What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual enrollment refers to students taking credit-bearing courses at an institution of higher education, usually but not always at a community college, prior to earning their high school diploma. Many students who pursue dual enrollment opportunities take one or two courses, while others may earn an associate’s degree concurrently with their high school diploma.

Once a student earns their high school diploma (after the initial summer), if they attend another institution instead of UMBC and earn credit, they will be considered a transfer student when they start at UMBC.

Dual-enrolled high school students who earn college credit or an associate’s degree are still considered first-year/freshmen at UMBC.

Once students start at UMBC the rules for taking/ transferring courses differ.

This information only applies to students who are taking college level courses at an accredited institution of higher education prior to earning their high school diploma or the summer between graduating and starting at UMBC.

Each Maryland county has different requirements for participating in dual enrollment programs and how those credits count towards high school graduation requirements. This information only addresses how transfer credits apply to degree programs at the University of Maryland Baltimore County College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), and provides some suggestions for families considering dual enrollment options.

Considerations

Dual enrollment to meet high school graduation requirements vs taking “Extra” Classes

If using for high school graduation requirements the student MUST work with their school. Advisors are unable to tell you how any courses will apply to high school graduation requirements.

Dual Enrollment vs AP

  • Can only get credit for a class once (AP ENGL and taking ENGL at community college)
  • Grades/ attempts will be considered for dual credit but not for AP
  • Dual enrolled credits will be visible on UMBC transcript
  • Neither counts in UMBC GPA
  • You can find how AP and other test credit transfers by consulting the test credit information in the UMBC catalog.

 

“Early College” vs Dual Enrollment

  • Some counties have specific programs for students working towards earning an AA degree concurrently with a high school diploma. Those students should start by working with their early college advisors

AA/AS vs AAS

  • AA is an Associate of Arts degree & AS is an Associate of Science degree, either are preferred programs for students who plan to transfer
  • AAS is an Associate of Applied Science degree and tends to focus on job or career skills
  • Though courses taken as part of an AA, AS, or AAS are generally transferable, courses taken as part of an AA/AS degree are more likely to count as specific major and general education requirements towards a Bachelor’s Degree at UMBC. We highly recommend students who are interested in earning an Associates concurrently with their high school diploma pursue an AA or AS degree.

 

UMBC Course Types

  • Major courses (those required to complete a major at UMBC)
  • General Education courses* (All UMBC must complete a list of specific types of courses to graduate):
    • ENGL 100
    • 3 Social Science
    • 3 Arts and Humanities
    • 1 Culture for BS/ 2 Culture for BA
    • Math
    • 2 Sciences
    • 1 Lab (some science courses include both science and lab)
    • Foreign Language to the intermediate level
  • Free Elective courses (those that do not meet either of the above criteria but count as credits)

*Some General Education requirements (such as math) will be met by major requirements, which are different for each of our majors.

All students interested in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Systems must meet the following gateway and course repeat requirements*.

 

Computer Science and Engineering majors do not allow more than two attempts in ANY course required in the major or required to progress in the major.

Attempts prior to enrollment at UMBC are factored into eligibility considerations.

*More information about gateways can be found here.

Tip!

Don’t register for major courses unless you are ready to take them. Don’t jump into a second attempt at a course! We do not track AP grades or scores, so when in doubt AP is a good choice.

 

Selecting Dual Enrollment Courses

Use one of the following databases:

ARTSYS

Maryland has a database of equivalent courses between Community Colleges & State Institutions. You can type in the course you are planning to take at the Community College and it will let you know the equivalent at UMBC:

Old Version – You can use “Key Word” search to search for the UMBC course

New Version – May have more up to date reviews

 

UMBC’s Course Articulation Database:

TES lists equivalencies primarily for four year and out of state schools. Some community college courses have been added.

 

Course suggestions based on your goals

  • Consider General Education courses
  • ENGL 100 equivalent
  • You can get started on Math course

This will probably not result in a faster graduation, but will allow you

    • More flexibility
    • Less intensive semesters
    • Room for other opportunities such as a minor, double major, study abroad
    • Good preparation for transitioning to higher education

Follow the Academic Pathway for your intended major

You may need to take a math placement test and start off in a Math below what is listed on the pathway. You should focus on courses in the Calculus series to get you ready for your Calculus Course for the Major.

When in doubt, particularly if you are just taking a few courses in preparation for UMBC, we advise that you stick to traditional courses:

  • Math in the Calculus Series
  • ENGL Composition (though at some community colleges you need to take ENGL 102 to be equivalent to UMBC’s ENGL 100)
  • “Introduction to” Courses such as… Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, Economics

 

Tips for Dual Enrollment

  • Community Colleges often offer a variety of Programming courses, but most may not be equivalent. Please double check ARTSYS for any of these courses.
  • Community Colleges offer many types of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics courses. For Computer Science and Engineering majors you will need to take the courses that a STEM major would take. Please double check ARTSYS for any of these courses. If you are pursuing Information Systems or BTA any science course will probably be fine.
  • Almost all academic, credit bearing courses will transfer to UMBC
  • If they do not meet Major or General Education requirements then they will count as free electives.
  • Computer Science, IS, and BTA majors all include free electives towards graduation requirements (120 total credits)
  • The more credits you have the earlier you can register for the next semester’s courses!
  • Good preparation for UMBC
  • In order to transfer your credits to UMBC, you will need to ask the college you attended to send an official copy of your transcript (including your final semester grades) to the Undergraduate Admissions office.
  • Once your UMBC student account has been activated and UMBC has received and processed  your transcript the appropriate transfer credit will be posted to your academic record.

 

UMBC-Shady Grove Campus

Students interested in the Mechanical Engineering or Computer Science programs at UMBC-Shady Grove (Rockville, MD) MUST meet the lower-level program prerequisites. For more information, please visit our websites. Questions about UMBC-Shady Grove’s COEIT programs? Contact sgcoeitadvising@umbc.edu.