Off Campus Offerings

FOX VALLEY CAREER CENTER

Fox Valley Career Center (FVCC) serves as an extension of St. Charles High Schools for vocational training programs. The classes at FVCC provide skills for those directly entering a variety of occupations, as well as for students wishing to continue their education at community colleges, technical schools and four-year colleges/universities to further their professional and technical training. Junior and Senior students may enroll in career classes earning 2.5 credits per year toward their high school diploma. 

• Classes meet two periods daily, except for the Cosmetology program which meets longer and students earn 3 credits. 

• Several FVCC programs offer internship and apprenticeship opportunities for advanced level students. 

• If you need additional information, please ask your counselor or contact the FVCC office at 630-365-5113. 

• For more detailed descriptions of courses please visit www.foxvalleycc.org.

Dual Credit - ECC

Dual credit programs provide students an opportunity to earn both high school and college credit upon successful completion of a college course. All dual credit courses are college-level and will be listed on an official college transcript. The college courses are transferable to higher education institutions. Elgin Community College has their own requirements for attendance that D303 students must follow in order to earn college credit.  Details regarding these requirements will be provided by course instructors at the beginning of the year.

Dual Credit - Full-time Pathway

The full time dual credit program provides several full-time program options. Qualified high school juniors and seniors enroll in a minimum of 12 college credits each semester. These courses meet the post-secondary requirements of the general education  core curriculum as well as high school graduation requirements. 

• Families are responsible for paying $200 in ten equal payments per year. See specific district course agreement for cost details. 

• Students work in partnership with the ECC Academic Advising Office and their high school counselor to choose the appropriate transferable courses. 

Senior Pathway includes a prescribed list of college courses allowing students to complete up to 32 college credits. The courses included are aligned with the general education requirements of a transfer degree.

Junior Pathway provides students with a more personalized academic plan to earn both their high school diploma and an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree ( at least 60 credit hours) by the end of their senior year.

Programs Qualification:

• Current sophomore or junior at the time of application

• Minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted). 

• Demonstrate college-readiness based upon SAT/ACT/PSAT and/or ECC placement tests in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.

• Good attendance record.

• Successful completion of entrance interview conducted at home high school.

Is  full-time credit a good option for you?

• Students are beginning the start of their college education. This will result in an official college transcript.

• Students need maturity and strong time management skills to complete assignments and plan ahead for exams, projects and papers.

For information on how to enroll, see www.elgin.edu/highschool.

Dual Credit - Part-time Pathway

Qualified juniors and seniors enroll in 2-3 college courses each semester. Courses are selected from a variety of academic disciplines, including general education and career and technical education (CTE) programs (i.e. fire science, certified nursing assistant, paralegal, etc.) Students attend all courses on ECC’s campus and must provide their own transportation.

Students choose courses with the help of a high school counselor to ensure courses selected meet high school requirements. The school district and high school approve enrollment of their students. Enrollment is limited. 

Options & Qualifications:

General Education Courses

• See class options below

• High school juniors and seniors who have at least a 3.0 out of 4.0 unweighted GPA. 

• Demonstrates college-readiness based upon SAT/ACT/PSAT and/or ECC placement tests. Readiness requirements depend on ECC courses prerequisites.

Career-Technical Education Courses 

• See program options below

• High school juniors and seniors who have at least a 2.00 unweighted GPA. 

• Complete the ECC reading placement exam. Some programs and courses require students to demonstrate college-readiness skills. For program specific requirements, see: https://elgin.edu/about-ecc/college-administration/college-procedures/minimum-competeencies-policy/minimum-competency-requirements/ .

Is  part-time credit a good option for you?

• Students complete the majority of coursework at Elgin Community College's main campus.

• Participation in high school activities might be limited because of commitment to college-level courses.

• Students are beginning the start of their college education. This will result in an official college transcript.

• Students need maturity and strong time management skills to complete assignments and plan ahead for exams, projects and papers.

• Students enrolled in part-time dual credit courses should recognize that class meeting times and locations may vary depending on the course/program. Review the class schedule carefully when making registration decisions. 

For information on how to enroll, review the steps at www.elgin.edu/highschool.

How to Enroll:

1. Talk to your school counselor. Application and enrollment is completed through the CCR Office.

2. The high school approves enrollment of students. Enrollment is limited by seats available to each school.

3. The high school pays 50% tuition and may pay for textbooks. Families are responsible for paying the other 50%. Students pay for required supplies and fees.

4. Review the steps at www.elgin.edu/highschool. 

PART-TIME CAREER-TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

• Business & Financial Services

• Automotive Service Technology

• Basic Nursing Assistant Training

Program and Clinical Lab Technology

• Communication Design

• Computer Aided Design

• Criminal Justice and Digital Forensics

• Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Restaurant Management

• Early Childhood Education

• Fire Science & Safety - Fire Protection

• Information Technology

• Welding

The course options available to part-time dual credit students are listed below. These options include courses that fulfill most requirements in the first two years of a college degree. Course descriptions are available at www.elgin.edu/catalog. 

General Education Requirement:These courses fulfill a general education core requirement. As part of students’ baccalaureate education, a series of courses in varying disciplines are required prior/during the completion of specified (i.e. Major/Minor) courses that are selected for the program of study that is being completed. These courses have a high transferability rate and are typically completed within the first couple of years in college. NOTE: All General Education courses can also count as elective courses.

Elective: These courses help a student towards the successful completion of their required elective hours. Each program/institution sets a minimum of courses that students must complete separate from general education and major/minor specific courses. Often, these courses serve to fulfill a prerequisite in a math or science sequence.

 Prerequisite:– These courses are required in order to continue in the specified sequence (i.e. Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and/or Physics).  Students must earn at least a “C”. The courses will also satisfy either a general education core requirement or be credited as electives.

In-High School Dual Credit Offerings

MB0343     ACC 100: INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNTING                                           

Grade(s): 10, 11, 12

Length/Credit: 1 Year / 1.0

Course Fee: $50 for dual credit through Elgin Community College

The first semester of fundamental financial accounting. Emphasis is on procedural aspects of financial accounting for the sole proprietorship. Accrual basis is utilized. The entire accounting cycle is covered for both service and merchandising businesses, including adjustments, preparation of financial statements and closing procedures. Also included are the reconciliation of bank statements and petty cash.  This course is offered in both the traditional and blended format. 

HE3033        CMS 101: FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH

Length/Credit: 1 Semester, .5 Credit

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of placement criteria: ECC Placement Tests (Writing=55 and Reading=95); OR PSAT/SAT Test (Reading & Writing=480); OR ACT Test (English=19 and Reading=19)

College Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours

Higher Education Institution: Elgin Community College

HS graduation requirement: No

Course Fee: $50

HE6101     ENG 101: ENGLISH COMPOSITION I                                                                                                                     

Grade: 12 

Length/Credit: 1 Semester / 0.5

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of placement criteria: ECC Placement Tests (Writing=55 and Reading=95); OR PSAT/SAT Test (Reading & Writing=480); OR ACT Test (English=19 and Reading=19)

HS Graduation requirement: Yes. The course provides students with 1.0 units of HS English. 

Other Info: Dual Credit with Elgin Community College $50

Offered in the fall semester,  Honors grade weight 

The goal of ENG 101 is for students to become better readers, writers and thinkers.  Students will read a variety of essays that will serve as models for the expressive, expository, and persuasive essays of their own.  Students will not only improve their grammar skills, but will also learn how to read closely, write clearly, and think critically.

HE6102      ENG 102: ENGLISH COMPOSITION II 

Grade: 12
Length/Credit: 1 Semester / 0.5
Prerequisite: Grade C or better in ENG 101 or placement through AP or CLEP exam.  Must be completed prior to taking this course.
HS graduation requirement: Yes. The course provides students with 1.0 units of HS English.
Other Info: Dual Credit with Elgin Community College $50
Offered in the spring semester, Honors grade weight

Second semester of a one-year course normally required by all universities and colleges.  Emphasis on achieving logic and precision in handling such extensive compositions as the research paper and persuasive and critical themes based on literature or other academic disciplines.  

WF2433            FASH1210: Fashion Studies

Length/Credit: 1 Semester/0.5 credit

Prerequisite: Fashion Marketing & Merchandising I, ACT score of 20+ or a total SAT score of 950+ or passing of COD Reading Placement Test

Fee: $50 for dual credit through College of Dupage

Other Info: College Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours Higher Education Institution: College of DuPage. Honors grade weight.

This course is an introduction to exploring the inner workings of the fashion industry.  Study of the structure, key roles within it, and the cycle and process of fashion product development provides the foundation for further studies in more specialized areas of the fashion industry.

WF1933      HOS 101: INTRO TO HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY                                                                                         

Grade(s): 10, 11, 12

Length/Credit: 1 semester / 0.5

Prerequisite:Satisfaction of placement criteria: ECC Placement Tests (Reading=79); OR PSAT/SAT Test (Reading & Writing=480); OR ACT Test (English=19 and Reading=19)

High school graduation requirement: No

Fee:  $50 for dual credit through Elgin Community College. Honors grade weight

This course will introduce students to the broad world of Hospitality and Tourism and to the topics which will begin to prepare them for managerial careers in these fields.  This course will introduce the following seven primary areas: Introduction/Overview, Historical Foundations, Food and Beverage, Lodging, Hospitality Management, Travel and Tourism, and Future Perspectives.  

MM6043      MATH 102: GENERAL STATISTICS                                                      

Grade(s): 12

Length/Credit: 1 semester /0.5

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Transition to College Algebra or Precalculus

Fee: $50 for dual credit through Elgin Community College

An introductory course in descriptive and inferential statistics for students in liberal arts and health-related fields. Applications and concepts are emphasized rather than theoretical formulations. Calculators and computers will be used to help make statistical ideas more accessible to students.

PROJECT SYNERGY

Project Synergy is designed for highly motivated students who are interested in solving real-world problems through hands-on and project-based methods, and passionate about exploring various fields of engineering. Students accepted into the program will attend summer experiences, complete an internship opportunity, and take rigorous cohorted or clustered classes in mathematics, science, and engineering. Project Synergy will provide a four-year pathway that will assist students in establishing knowledge, skills, and experiences that will support them in future career goals. Students will become familiar with and explore multiple fields of engineering, such as aerospace, mechanical, civil, and electrical. Through the program, students will apply their knowledge of research and explore the design process to solve problems through innovation. Students gain experience with industry standard technology, including 3D modeling software, to help them design solutions to solve proposed problems, document their work, and communicate their solutions to peers and members of the professional community.

Project Synergy is a four-year program for students with a high interest in pursuing a career in engineering. Students will be expected to commit to all four years of programming, including summer experiences. Some summer experiences include graduation requirements to accelerate the student’s four-year plan. An accelerated pathway helps accommodate additional internship and collegiate opportunities during the junior and senior year. Due to the rigorous nature of the program, there will be limited opportunities for students interested in pursuing elective pathways outside mathematics, science, and engineering.

Students interested in the program must be currently enrolled in or completed Algebra I at the time of applying.  Information about the application process, along with course sign-up information, will be received in the  fall of the eighth-grade year.

COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PLTW CLASSES

Various colleges and universities across the U.S. recognize and reward PLTW students for their great work.  These postsecondary institutions recognize PLTW students with scholarships, admissions preference, course credit, and more.

For more information, please see your PLTW teacher, school counselor, or visit the following website:

https://www.pltw.org/experience-pltw/student-opportunities.