Public schools may not provide religious instruction, but they may teach about religion and promote religious liberty and respect for the religious views (or lack thereof) of all. For example, philosophical questions concerning religion, the history of religion, comparative religion, religious texts as literature, and the role of religion in the history of the United States and other countries are all permissible public school subjects. Similarly, it is permissible to study religious influences on philosophy, art, music, literature, and social studies. For example, public schools generally may allow student choirs to perform music inspired by or based on religious themes or texts as part of school-sponsored activities and events, provided that the music is not performed as a religious exercise and is not used to promote or favor religion generally, a particular religion, or a religious belief.

(U.S. Dep’t of Educ., Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools III. B. (May. 15, 2023)

Courses may be delivered using a variety of methods as listed below: 

 HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS—A high school student can earn both high school and college credit for a course taught in the high school facility by a dual credit high school instructor. The high school instructor will be Jacksonville College adjunct faculty, and therefore, must meet the same qualifications as faculty teaching each respective course on the college campus.

COLLEGE CAMPUS—A high school student can earn both high school and college credit or college credit only for a course taught on the college campus. The high school student will attend with college students on the college campus. High school counselors work with JC to enroll students in course times that fit within the school day, or JC provides college courses at night. 

ONLINE COURSE—A high school student can earn both high school and college credit or college credit only for a course taught online. An online course is completed entirely over the internet. JC’s utilizes internet or web-based courses that are accessed through Moodle, which is Jacksonville College’s learning management system. Specific login instructions for Moodle may be obtained from the Information Technology Department. Students should note that some JC online courses may require major examinations to be taken in a proctored environment either at designated testing centers or through approved proctors. This may result in students having to travel for exams. Typical scenarios for high school students taking online courses are as follows:

• A high school student may enroll in an online course integrated with college students and participate independently from home. 
• The high school may arrange for a group of students to meet in a computer lab to participate in an online course with a high school liaison present. 
• Students may be required to participate in an online orientation to assess their compatibility with online college courses before they enroll. A report is provided at the conclusion of the assessment.

Jacksonville College offers a wide selection of courses to dual credit students at many locations and in a number of formats. Students must consult with the high school counselor about which subjects are available and most appropriate, but the most common subjects have been English, government, and history. Other selections may include courses in fine arts, speech, economics, math, and sciences. Area superintendents and counselors work with the Administrative Vice President, Academic Dean, and Registrar of Jacksonville College to develop all dual credit offerings on high school campuses. However, dual credit students may choose to take any number of college courses while in high school, even up to completing a full associate degree. You may view more about how degree requirements work with our dual credit program here. 

Financial aid is not available to students who have not graduated from high school or received a GED; however, we offer a discounted rate of tuition for dual credit students.

Both courses are taught at the college level, but by participating in a dual credit course, the student receives college credit immediately upon successful completion of the course. In an AP course, the student must pass the end-of-course exam to be eligible to apply for college credit upon graduation from high school. Usually, a student who took an AP course while in high school and passed the end-of-course exam must “petition” the college to accept the AP course for college credit. In most cases, the college will accept it for college credit. Another difference is that dual credit courses are taught by college faculty who hold at least a master’s degree with a minimum of 18 graduate-level hours in the subject he or she teaches. High school AP courses do not have to meet this requirement. 

Our student services are available to all Jacksonville College students, regardless of enrollment type. This includes library and online databasse access, tutoring and writing assistance, the IT helpdesk, Google drive, student events, and more. More information about student services can be found in the Student Handbook. 

Students begin by visiting with their high school counselor to determine if dual credit courses are possible and to determine if they are eligible. Students must show college readiness through standardized test results. High school counselors are familiar with eligibility requirements and appropriate scores for dual credit admission. 

 Students must meet all admission requirements and the prerequisites for each course that is taken. High school counselors help students with testing, admission applications, submission of high school transcripts, and registration for dual credit.

Homeschool students must provide a high school transcript, verifying completion of high school credits and, if beginning dual credit courses prior to their junior year, a letter of permission from the homeschool instructor in addition to the application credentials of all high school students. Homeschool high schools must sign a dual credit partnership agreement annually with Jacksonville College before any homeschool students will be able to register for courses. The partnership agreement may be obtained from the Admissions Office.

1. Apply for admission using the dual credit application form. All information must be provided including the social security number. Students who are not US citizens and do not have a US social security number may use their high school “S” number or hashtag [####].
2. Participating schools must complete a Dual Credit Agreement for the current academic year.
3. A concurrent enrollment form signed by a high school official is required for each course taken off high school campus. 
4. If the student will be taking courses on the Jacksonville College campus must provide evidence of meningitis vaccination within the last 5 years for students 21 and younger. JC does accept the Texas Department of State Health Services exemption; it must be obtained from the DSHS website. 
5. Students expecting to begin their dual credit courses prior to their junior year must have a letter of recommendation from the high school counselor stating their academic record indicates ability to successfully engage in college-level learning.

Homeschool high schools must sign a dual credit partnership agreement annually with Jacksonville College before any homeschool students will be able to register for courses. The partnership agreement may be obtained from the Admissions Office.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. 1. An ACT composite score of at least 12,
   2. A SAT composite score of 680 on the new SAT3,
   3. Evidence of having passed Texas exit requirements (not modified or ARD exempt),
   4. Accuplacer (in-house testing) score of Math 260+, Reading 276+, Writing 276+,
   5. After 2015 PSAT/NMSQT2 Math 510, English 460,
   6. TSI Assessment Math 350 +, English 351 + ,
   7. TSIA2 ELAR Standard Score of 945 + and Essay Score of 5 – 8, OR
   8. TSA2 Math Standard Score of 950+ or Math Score under 950 and Math Diagnostic Level 6

We offer in house and online Accuplacer testing. Please contact the Admissions Office at 903.586.2518 for more information.

Please see our Tuition and Fees page or Course Catalog for more information on tuition rates.

Our academic policies and procedures for all students can be found in the Course Catalog and on our Academics page.

Jacksonville College is an accredited institution by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared practices and quality among diverse institutions. Jacksonville College also subscribes to the Texas Common Course Numbering System, whose purpose is to assist students who are transferring between institutions. Jacksonville College credits can readily transfer to any accredited college in Texas. Most also transfer to Texas private colleges and universities, as well as schools out of state. The Texas Common Core Numbering System details the transferability between JC courses and other Texas public colleges and universities. Depending on the student’s major when he or she attends college, those courses may count toward his or her degree, or as electives for his or her degree. It is always best to contact, in advance, the college or university he or she is planning to attend to see how dual credit courses factor into the required degree plan.

When deciding if dual credit is right for your student, keep these things in mind…

• A dual credit course is a college course. Students will be expected to conduct themselves as college students, and regular academic policies applicable to courses taught at the college’s main campus also apply to High School Campus dual credit courses. While taking courses through Jacksonville College, the student must adhere to all college policies contained in the Jacksonville College Catalog, Jacksonville College Student Handbook, and course syllabus. 
• To prepare for college courses, a student should expect to invest at least three hours a week for each credit hour taken, so a typical three credit hour course will require approximately nine hours worth of work per week. Time management is a crucial element to success in college courses. A student should log in to Moodle to access courses several times each week and should not wait until the last day to work on or submit assignments. Self-discipline and motivation are evident in a student’s ability to stay up to date with course work and adhere to due dates for assignments and assessments. Scheduling time each week to study, work on assignments, and complete tasks increases a student’s success in the course. A student should schedule additional study time when they have an exam or when projects are due. 
• Communication is a key element to collegiate success. A student should check his or her JagMail at least once each day. He or she should communicate with instructors and peers in the course for clarification and assistance. Most courses have one or more discussion forums in which a student can participate, either in person or virtually. The forums may cover a specific topic or be an open discussion area and are an effective means of communication between students and instructor. High school courses may not address the same controversial issues or subject matter as a college course. However, dual credit students should be prepared to participate in college level course discussions. 
•  The instructor is available to answer any questions a student may have. If students have any concerns about their performance in the course or are not sure of an assignment, the student should email the instructor to schedule a meeting and/or discuss their concerns either in person, electronically or virtually.
•  The student should pay careful attention to the instructor’s system for assigning grades. The instructor’s grading system is covered in the course syllabus, which is distributed at the beginning of each course. The student should also examine any criteria or rubrics for grading assignments and due dates. Unlike high school, college students are usually not permitted to redo any assigned work and are usually not allowed any extra credit to help bring up low grades. 
•  High school extra-curricular activities may conflict with a dual credit course. Students are responsible for all materials related to the course whether or not they are present the day the information is given or the assignment is made. Students will need to talk to their instructor to make arrangements for receiving handouts, course information, obtaining lecture notes, or turning in work. Parents and students should seriously discuss priorities before and during enrollment in a dual credit course.

We offer support and services to help facilitate success for all students, including an assigned advisor, tutoring and writing assistance, and at-risk student identification. Our 14:1 faculty-to-student ratio also provides a personal touch that helps ensure your student does not get lost in the crowd.