What is dual credit?

The Dual Credit program consists of awarding college credit to secondary students pursuing a certificate or associate of applied science degree at Cleveland State Community College. High school students in certain career and technical education programs that complete specific secondary courses with an 85 percent or better grade may receive credit for the comparable Cleveland State course upon successful completion of an assessment evaluation. Faculty from Cleveland State and the eleven high schools in our service area have reviewed the list of competencies for these courses and have stablished a Dual Credit accessment process. There will be no charge to the student for the Dual Credit, if granted. This process is subject to all current requirements at Cleveland State. Transfer of this Dual Credit to other institutions is at the discretion of the receiving institution.
For information about Dual Credit, please contact your high school career and technical education director or instructor, your high school guidance counselor or the Cleveland State Dual Credit office in the Career Education Building; telephone number (423) 473-2314.

The Dual Credit program was developed to:

• Guide students into courses that will provide a firm academic and technical foundation.
• Meet the need of more students to enter the workplace with a certificate or associate in applied science degree.
• Prepare students for the future workforce and to be able to compete in the global market.
• Integrate secondary education with postsecondary education through Dual Credit.

The Dual Credit program is a cooperative effort between Cleveland State Community College and each of the eleven high schools in our service area allowing students enrolled at Cleveland State to receive credit for skills and competencies mastered in high school.

The program objectives are to:

• Encourage secondary career and technical education students to pursue a postsecondary education.
• Reduce repetition of mastered competencies between secondary career and technical education and Cleveland State.
• Provide a smooth transition from secondary career and technical education to community college education.
• Provide students with more advanced occupational skills.
• Reduce student time needed to prepare for entry into an occupational career.
• Build mutual respect and trust between faculty/ instructors at both educational levels.
• Align programs to compliment each other.
• Reduce student and state costs.
• Use performance-based competencies and an assessment given by Cleveland State faculty to measure the student’s skill levels. Major areas at Cleveland State Community College where Dual Credit may be applied are:
  • Business and Management
  • Early Childhood Education
  • General Technology
  • Industrial Technology
  • Office Administration

There will be no charge to the student for the Dual
Credit, if granted. This process is subject to all current
requirements at Cleveland State. Transfer of this Dual
Credit to other institutions is at the discretion of the
receiving institution.