The short answer is generally no, but the longer answer is much more nuanced. Let’s take a deep dive into the pros and cons of high school students taking courses in their future college major.
The most obvious reason our teens might want to take courses in their future major is that’s where their interests lie. If that’s your motivation too, then that’s a solid and legitimate reason to do it, and you should encourage your student.
If, on the other hand, you’re going to twist college credit into the discussion, then we have to start talking about the other aspects that come into play, and as we start to pile these on, you may have to reframe how you think of these courses.
What is a College Major?
Having a “college major” means selecting a specific area of academic focus or specialization that shapes the majority of the coursework and learning experiences during a degree program. Some colleges use the phrase “major” while others may use different terms (area of focus, concentration, specialization,etc.) but when we speak of a “major”, we are talking about the set of classes a college requires to earn your degree in a specific area. A student who majors in accounting will take courses in accounting. Be mindful that a major is not always limited to special courses in the subject. For example, if a student is a nursing major, their degree may include a host of non-nursing courses including anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, and even statistics. This “bundle” of courses is always determined by the specific college you choose to attend.
FUN FACT: Most colleges require 30–60 credits in a major. (The typical bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours.)
The Other Classes
If only 25-50% of the college degree is in a student’s major, what are the other classes? The other classes consist of a college’s general education requirements, and some electives. The general education courses are determined by the college, and apply to all students, regardless of their major. For instance, a college may require every student to complete ENGLISH 101. That’s true whether they are pre-med or auto body. In addition to a named course like English 101, colleges may dictate credits in a field, but still allow some flexibility. For instance, a college may dictate that all students complete “7 credits of science” while allow the student to choose among many course options to meet that requirement. Like a college major, the “bundle” of general education courses is always determined by the specific college (or college system) that you choose to attend.
College Credit vs a Degree
A lot of attention at Homeschooling for College Credit is given to using college credit after high school in a degree, and with good reason! You want to be resourceful! My job is to help you learn to make the most of your teen’s high school career, and part of that is helping you understand what to expect. Earning college credit is not the same as planning a degree, and you can’t plan a degree until you’ve picked a college.
PRO TIP: If your teen has earned fewer than 30 college credits, remain open minded to the possibility of changing their mind. Even among adult college students, changing majors is very, very common. After 30 college credits, while still in high school, you should be very precise and intentional.
3 Good Reasons Your High School Student Should Take College Courses in their POTENTIAL Major
- Confirm the interest : Taking a variety of courses in a variety of subjects will help your student find subjects they find interesting.
- Behind the curtain: Occasionally a subject is not exactly what the student imagined, so at least 1 course taken for high school or college credit can help develop an understanding of the field.
- Explore the field “like an academic”: Many students can become frustrated when forced to study something they love through an academic lens. If your homeschooled student has enjoyed total freedom and autonomy for a subject, be sure they adjust to this shift in focus. If they are serious about a career in their field, they will have to learn to study it like an academic and an expert.
- A good way to understand this principle is when a student makes a “volcano” in science class. Building and decorating the volcano (art) combined with the enthusiasm /fun of the project, followed by the big “wow” factor of mixing baking soda and vinegar! Awesome! That’s why we do experiments like this with students, we want them to love learning and become inspired. It feels like bait-and-switch when a student discovers that real volcanic eruptions and chemical reactions are exceptionally rigorous and require a lot of math.
Resourceful High School Planning
There are some smart ways your student can take classes that work in your favor, all while being resourceful and creative.
Using Major-Related Courses to Fulfill General Education Requirements
A resourceful parent can strategically use major-related courses to fulfill general education requirements (if known). This way, if they later decide to change their major, the credits will still count toward their degree, providing flexibility and minimizing wasted effort.
Exploring the Major Before Fully Committing
Taking a dual enrollment course in the intended field allows students to explore the subject in depth and confirm their interest. This can help them decide whether it’s the right major for them before they invest more time and resources.
Cost Savings for Prerequisites
Dual enrollment courses are often much cheaper than their college equivalents. Completing foundational courses in the major during high school can significantly reduce overall college costs, especially for expensive programs.
Demonstrating Academic Rigor for College Admissions
Taking dual enrollment courses in a chosen field demonstrates a strong commitment to that area of study and a willingness to tackle challenging material **EVEN IF** the college won’t accept the credit towards a degree. This can be a valuable, particularly for competitive programs.
Sidenote: I taught culinary arts for 20 years, and the hardest part of my job was teaching the “non-cooking” classes. My students wanted to cook and create, but the degree required safety, sanitation, purchasing math, nutrition, and many other courses that are part of being a professional chef. As a result, we scheduled the “non-cooking” requirements first, making sure students could do those before giving them access to the cooking labs. As you can imagine, 20-30% of the students didn’t get into the labs.
Sounds Great, What’s the Problem?
The rub comes when the parent ignores the natural order of filling credit requirements and jumps ahead into a major course. Then, they are confused and upset that they invested time or money into a course that won’t count. If your teen is still in high school, here is the hierarchy you should be following as you select courses for them (adapt according to your state’s laws):
- Homeschool requirements as determined by the parent. (What I want them to learn)
- Homeschool requirements as determined by the state. (What my state says they have to learn)
- Homeschool graduation requirements as determined by the parent. (What all my teens must learn in our home)
- Homeschool graduation requirements as determined by the state. (What all the teens in our state are expected to learn)
- Freshman college admissions requirements determined by the college(s) on the student’s target college list. (What ABC College and XYZ University require from all new students prior to starting.)
- General education requirements determined by the selected college. (The list of requirements every student from that college needs no matter what their major)
- Major requirements determined by the selected college. (The bundle of specific courses in your major that the college requires)
As you can see, there are a lot of boxes to check before you should start thinking about credit in one’s major. If, however, you are at that point, here are a few things to consider:
Restricted Acceptance of Outside Credit Toward the Major
Some colleges and universities allow outside credit (including dual enrollment) to count toward general education requirements but not toward major-specific requirements. Taking a dual enrollment course intended for the major might not reduce the overall course load in the degree program and could result in wasted effort.
Proprietary Courses May Not Transfer or Apply
Colleges often have proprietary courses that are integral to their specific college or major programs. These courses are designed to align with the institution’s unique curriculum and are typically non-transferable – in or our. Taking these courses in high school is only useful if you intend to finish a degree with that institution.
Lack of GPA Quality Points for Major-Specific Courses
Dual enrollment courses are often (not always) transferred in as “credit only” or “pass/fail,” which excludes them from GPA calculations at the college level. For competitive majors, having major-specific courses calculated into the GPA is critical. This is accomplished by taking those specific courses directly with the institution. Note that some students will take dual enrollment courses at the university they intend to attend. In that case, this is not an issue.
Missing the Chance to Complete General Education Requirements
Dual enrollment provides a valuable opportunity to complete general education courses, which are widely applicable across majors and programs. Taking general education classes instead of major-specific ones gives students a flexible credit base that can be transferred to almost any degree and reduces time to graduation.
Risk of Missed Opportunities for Honors or Cohort Experiences
Many colleges provide honors tracks, cohort-based learning, internship, or research opportunities tied to the major. Taking these courses elsewhere may bypass these unique experiences, which often provide mentorship, networking, and career advantages.
Best Practices
As you homeschool, especially if you’re Homeschooling for College Credit, remembering to follow the principles we teach will always help you be successful. While it is true that some situations call for specific and contrary advice, our principles are tried and true. These principles are designed to help 99% of you get you to the best possible place with your HS4CC program.
