One of the most common questions homeschooling parents ask is, “Is XYZ college class the same as ABC high school class?” The answer isn’t always straightforward, but with the right approach, dual enrollment can be a powerful tool in your HS4CC program.
The Difference Between High School and College Courses
If high school and college courses were identical, we wouldn’t need both! A college course is designed for students who already have a high school diploma and the skills that come with it. This means college professors don’t structure their courses to meet high school graduation requirements—they assume students have already met those standards.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use a college course in place of a high school course. Replacing high school classes with college courses is exactly what makes dual enrollment so valuable—your teen earns both high school and college credit in a single class. This is the “dual” part of dual enrollment!
Checking for a Good Fit
Just because a college course has the same title as a high school course doesn’t mean it covers the same material. For example, an Introduction to Chemistry course at a college may assume students have already completed high school chemistry and Algebra II, making it more advanced than expected. On the other hand, a College Literature course will move more quickly and cover fewer topics than a full-year high school literature curriculum.
That’s why it’s important to check the syllabus, course outline, or textbook before deciding how you’ll use the college course in your HS4CC program. Do this using the same strategy that you would use when selecting any homeschool high school curriculum.
Making College Courses Work for Your Homeschool
Because no two homeschool programs are exactly the same, Homeschooling for College Credit means bringing in college credit where it makes sense. Some college courses will fit seamlessly into your plan, while others may need some adjustment.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
✅ Some college courses might be more in-depth than expected. A high school course is often wide, not deep. A college course can be deep and narrow. Much of this depends on the specific course, specific college, and specific professor’s preferences. This means you can’t make assumptions- check every class before you sign up your teen.
✅ Some college courses may be missing key components to check your boxes. Much of this depends on the specific course, specific college, and specific professor’s preferences. (Wait, didn’t we just discuss this?) If you want your teen to learn how to use PowerPoint, give speeches, lead a project, or read more books, add that in. Don’t expect any class (college or otherwise) to check all your boxes. Add extra assignments, use additional resources, or even pair it with another course. Homeschoolers are nothing if not unique. You don’t have to give that up when you use college classes.
✅ You are in charge of your homeschool. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to Homeschooling for College Credit. While some of us choose to replace 12th-grade Language Arts with English 101, others will replace home ec with Culinary Arts or add an entrepreneurship program that requires your teen to start a business. The point is that you should never feel that you are negatively compromising your homeschool by bringing in college credit! If you start to feel that way, dump the dual enrollment and get back to what led you to homeschool in the first place!
