OnRamps

Available Courses: U.S. History | Government | Economics 

Overview:
UT OnRamps provides high school students with the opportunity to earn dual credit by engaging in college-level coursework developed by the University of Texas at Austin. Through these courses, students experience the expectations of a university classroom while still receiving support from their high school teacher. Upon successful completion, students may earn separate grades for high school and college credit. 

Focus:
UT OnRamps courses challenge students to think critically, write effectively, and engage with complex ideas through an academic lens. These courses aim to build a strong foundation in civic understanding, economic literacy, and historical analysis, preparing students for college success and informed citizenship. 

Course Structure:

Each course includes two components:

High School Portion: Taught and facilitated by a high school teacher trained by UT faculty.

College Portion: Managed by a University of Texas professor who provides college-level assignments, grading, and feedback.

Students are dually enrolled in both high school and university courses. Instruction is blended with independent learning, online modules, primary source analysis, research writing, and assessments that reflect university standards.

Workload & Expectations:

Students can expect:

Weekly readings and video lectures

Regular writing assignments and essays

Critical thinking tasks and primary source analysis

Timed quizzes, unit exams, and cumulative assessments

Individual and group projects (varies by course)

Estimated weekly time commitment:

6–10 hours per week, including class time and independent work.

Rigor Level:
UT OnRamps courses are college-level and academically demanding. Students are held to high standards of academic integrity, time management, and intellectual engagement. These courses require:

Strong reading comprehension

Clear, analytical writing skills

Independent motivation and organization

While challenging, these courses provide a valuable opportunity to earn college credit, build a competitive transcript, and develop college-readiness skills in a supportive high school environment.