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Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment is an arrangement that allows high school students to take college classes at their high schools before, during, or after the school day. Students get credit for both a high school course and the college course - that’s why it’s called dual enrollment.

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MiraCosta offers dual enrollment at the following districts

Dual enrollment is for everyone, not just AP-track students!

As a high school student, you can take college courses with your classmates, explore new subjects, and start building your college transcript—all while saving money, since tuition is FREE for dual enrollment! Unlike AP courses, there are no extra exams—just earn a passing grade, and you’ll receive college credit

Resources for

Dual Enrollment Course Highlights

Check out the videos below to learn more about some of our courses.

CSIT 180 Video

MATH 102 Videos

Student Services

As a student in dual enrollment courses, you can take advantage of all of our campus resources, including free tutoring, academic and career counseling, free food at Farmer’s Markets, clubs, and more.

Online Learning Resources

MiraCosta instructors use Canvas to post materials and facilitate course discussions. If you need help with Canvas, see the Canvas resource page for tutorials and assistance.

For assistance with other issues, you can visit our Student Help Desk.

Career and College Major Exploration

If you are unsure which college classes and how to decide on a career and major, we have many career and major exploration resources.

Deadlines to Keep in Mind

Please talk to your high school counselor and check your course syllabus to be aware of the important course deadlines, such as application, registration, add/drop, and withdrawal.

Requesting Official Transcripts

Submit your transcript request online. The first two transcripts ever requested are free; thereafter, $5.00 per copy. A $2.00 handling fee will be added to the transcript requests submitted through our online method.

You can also view your unofficial transcript at any time.

High School Contacts

If you have questions regarding dual enrollment, you can talk to your counselor or the lead contact at your high school.

Carlsbad Unified School District Contacts

Carlsbad High School
Kate Dendy, Counselor
kdendy@carlsbadusd.net
760.331.5165

Sage Creek High School
Freddy Delgado, Counselor
freddy.delgado@carlsbadusd.net
760.331.6654

Oceanside Unified School District

El Camino High School
Sada Felix, Counselor
sada.felix@oside.us
760.901.8042

Oceanside High School
Juan Simental, Counselor
juan.simental@oside.us
760.901.8235

Surfside Academy
Ashley Sczupak, College and Career Guidance Technician
ashley.sczupak@oside.us
760.901.8629

San Dieguito Union High School District

Canyon Crest Academy, La Costa Canyon, San Dieguito Academy, & Torrey Pines
Jayme Cambra, Counselor on Special Assignment
jayme.cambra@sduhsd.net
760.753.6491 x5536

Initiating Dual Enrollment

Submit a Dual Enrollment Interest Form for each course you are interested in offering at your high school. Make sure to get the consent from your Principal before filling out the form.

You can start by exploring our various Academic and Career Pathways (ACP’s), and their related course, certificate, and degree programs. Course details can be found in our course catalog.

MiraCosta works with each district and school to ensure there is a balanced offering of courses within a pathway that allows students to complete their general education requirements and/or college certificate. Once courses are confirmed, we will schedule them and provide the school lead contacts with the course numbers, so students can complete their required steps. 

Classes may be cancelled due to low enrollment. If this occurs, high school counselors are responsible for informing students and helping them find an alternative dual or concurrent enrollment class.

Student Registration and Enrollment

  • The school district collects information about students interested in dual enrollment.
    • Some districts ask students/parents to submit Intent to Enroll form, while others just ask students to notify their counselor.
  • Counselors provide a list of interested students to MiraCosta College (using a shared spreadsheet - for link, contact zlindstrom@miracosta.edu).
  • Counselors ensure students complete all steps of the Dual Enrollment registration process.
  • MCC Application Walk-through
  • MCC Admissions & Records enrolls students into courses.

Please visit the following resources for introductory material on the program and details about the enrollment process:

Resources for Your Students

Your students can take advantage of the student services offered to MiraCosta students, including tutoring, counseling, library services, and much more. Refer to our Student Service Guide for more information.

If this is your first semester teaching dual enrollment courses, please visit the following resources:  

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of students should take dual enrollment courses?
You don’t have to be an AP track student to participate in dual enrollment courses. If you are interested in exploring careers and college majors with your high school peers, then dual enrollment is right for you.
What’s the difference between dual and concurrent enrollment?
Dual enrollment is a program that MCC has with certain high schools that allows their high school students to take college classes at their high school campuses during the day. Concurrent Enrollment allows any high school student to take college classes at the MCC campus or online after school or during the summer.
Do I have to pay for dual enrollment college courses?
No, college courses through the dual enrollment program are free to students. Books and materials should also be paid by your high school, saving you money on college.
Who teaches the dual enrollment courses?
Dual enrollment classes are taught by MiraCosta College faculty, who meet the qualifications to teach at a California Community College, which means they have a Master’s degree in the area of the subject matter being taught (or equivalent qualifications). In some cases, you might have high school teachers teaching your classes because they have met the qualifications to teach college courses.
How do I get started with dual enrollment?
Talk to your high school counselor about the steps you need to take, and you can find more information on our application process.
If I don’t attend MiraCosta after high school, will these credits be accepted at a university or another college?
Some dual enrollment classes are transferable to other community colleges, CSU’s, UC’s and private or out-of-state schools. If you want to know which class is transferable to a particular university, look at our MCC college catalog or meet with one of our counselors. Classes may also be part of a Career Pathway and fulfill a requirement for a certification in a career field.
How do I list dual enrollment courses on my college applications?
See the guidance listed for each application below. For colleges that don’t use these applications, contact their Admissions office for instructions. California State University Dual Enrollment Courses on Application,  University of California Dual Enrollment Courses on Application, Common Application Dual Enrollment Courses on Application
How do I request an official transcript?
Submit your transcript request online. The first two transcripts ever requested are free; thereafter, $5.00 per copy. A $2.00 handling fee will be added to the transcript requests submitted through our online method. You can also view your unofficial transcript at any time.
Can dual enrollment limit my access to Financial Aid?
Dual Enrollment courses count as college courses. They are included in your college GPA and factor into your total units attempted and completed. To be eligible for financial aid in college, you must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and complete 66.7% of courses attempted with an “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “P.” Failing grades, drops, withdrawals, and incompletes will lower your completion percentage and may have future financial aid implications.
 
The important thing to keep in mind is that successful completion of college courses in high school can help you to graduate from college more quickly. If you have specific concerns about financial aid, please contact a MiraCosta counselor.
If I have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 plan, can I take dual enrollment courses?
Yes, and we have support services available to you. Please review the Academic Accommodations Guide for Dual Enrollment for more information. To talk to a staff member in our Student Accessibility Services (SAS) , please submit a request form, and a staff member will contact you. 
As a parent/guardian of a dual enrolled student, can I have access to my student's enrollment information, grades and other student information?
MiraCosta College enrollment, grades and student information must be accessed by the student. FERPA does not allow us to release information to anyone but the student.
Will I have to pay for textbooks or other course materials?
No, all textbooks and course materials are provided by your high school.

Supported Districts / Schools