DE at BHS - How do DE courses transfer?

Transfer Virginia is an initiative between the four year schools in Virginia (both public and private) and the VCCS (Virginia Community College System) that offers students the opportunity to take a selected bundle of courses, guaranteed to be accepted toward lower-level general education requirements at partnering four year institutions.

While taking individual dual enrollment courses provides students with an opportunity to earn credits that may meet general education and/or degree requirements at a college or university, students may choose to complete a Passport, Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) program, or Associate Degree . Students interested in pursuing any of the three programs listed below are strongly advised to seek guidance from their school counselor and/or school-based NRCC Career Coach.

The goal with both the Passport and UCGS is to maximize credit acceptance and application toward general education requirements for students transferring prior to earning an associate degree. The Passport and UCGS are designed to improve transparency and simplify the transfer process for students. Ideally, both the Passport and UCGS offer a variety of courses to maximize the student’s educational experience and increase the opportunity for students to earn the Passport or UCGS while also preparing for their program of study.

Passport

Successful completion of the Passport gives students confidence that 15 credits of coursework will transfer to Virginia’s public and participating private institutions and satisfy lower-division general education requirements. The course bundle must be completed by selecting one course from the Passport roster in the following areas: written communications, humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral science, natural science, mathematics, and history. The key to the Passport is a balanced portfolio demonstrating your educational experience. All grades must be "C" or higher to transfer.

- DE courses offered at BHS that satisfy the Passport roster (see tabs at bottom of sheet)
- See the DE Courses at BHS page for prerequisite and placement requirements

UCGS - Uniform Certificate of General Studies

The Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) program expands on the Passport to satisfy 30 credits of college-level general education requirements. Like the Passport, students can complete this 10-course bundle by selecting courses from the UCGS roster in written communications (2 courses), humanities/fine arts/literature (2 courses), history (1 course), social/behavioral science (1 course), natural science (1 course), and mathematics (1 course). Two additional courses are completed from the specialized general education block. All grades must be "C" or higher to transfer.

- DE courses offered at BHS that satisfy the UCGS (see tabs at bottom of sheet)
- See the DE Courses at BHS page for prerequisite and placement requirements
- Students should notify their school counselor of their intent to complete the UCGS by having a parent sign and return the Intent to Complete UCGS form

Associate Degree

Associate Degree – Earning an associate degree while in high school may allow students to complete a baccalaureate degree in less time than the traditional four-year degree can take. It may also offer opportunities for students to select a double major or it can free up time for students to explore study abroad or similar academic experiences. With a solid plan in place, students can save time and money. Completion of an Associate Degree in high school typically does not allow for students to take additional elective courses beyond Associate degree and high school graduation requirements.

The key is to complete a transfer associate degree that aligns with future academic plans so that coursework will apply to requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Consultation with both the two-year college and the receiving four-year colleges will support your creation of a successful plan by mapping out courses needed to complete a degree.

- Students are advised to complete the transfer associate degree that best aligns with the intended major at the four year institution.
- Students completing an Associate degree as a high school graduate are not guaranteed the same benefits as a transfer student.
- The accumulation of too many dual enrollment credits outside of a student's program/intended major may impact future financial aid packages if those credits do not apply directly to the student's academic plan. For more information, be sure to read the Transfer Virginia Dual Enrollment Student Guide.
- BHS offers DE and AP courses that fulfill some (not all) of the General Studies AS degree and the General Studies Science AS degree.
- Students that intend to pursue this option will be required to take external courses/independent dual enrollment courses either on NRCC's campus or online at NRCC. Prior to enrolling a student in an external course, parents should review MCPS Policy 7-2.4 and discuss the requirements and expectations with the principal and/or school counselor.
- The student is responsible for payment of tuition and books for any external course taken at NRCC.
- While a DE course may be advertised in the MCPS Program of Studies, there is no guarantee that the class will be offered each year - all course offerings are based on sufficient student interest/demand and the availability of qualified staff. DE course offerings are also conditional upon adequate student registration by the established deadlines and adequate enrollment as determined by NRCC and/or MCPS.
- Students and families can find more information about independent dual enrollment at https://www.nr.edu/dualenrollment/pdf/faq.pdf.

Additional Resources

The Transfer Virginia Comparison Chart can help you decide which option is best for you!

Please reference the Transfer Virginia Dual Enrollment Student Guide for more information about the differences between dual enrollment and AP, student practices that promote success, terminology in exploring college options, and additional resources.

Create an account in the Transfer Virginia Portal to save your DE course information.

ACCE Scholarship Program

MCPS students also have the opportunity to participate in the ACCE Scholarship program, in which students can attend NRCC tuition-free for up to two years after high school graduation. Many of our dual-enrolled students choose to start a transfer associate degree through earning dual enrollment credit in high school, and finish a transfer degree specific to their college major by utilizing the ACCE Scholarship. Please visit the ACCE website for more information.