Options for earning college credit as a PUSD high school student

You may have heard that PUSD students have the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. Research shows that students earning college credits while in high school not only graduate high school, but are much more likely to complete a college degree. Pasadena Unified School District partners with Pasadena City College to give students this opportunity, but the options vary by school, and students need to check in with their counselor to discuss what courses are available, what kind of credit they can earn, and how this will work with their schedule and academic goals.  

Concurrent vs. Dual Enrollment

There are two different ways to earn college credit while in high school, called “concurrent” and “dual” enrollment.

Concurrent Enrollment - Students can enroll in Pasadena City College courses offered after school hours (or during the summer) to receive transferable college credits while still in high school. These courses do not count toward the 220-credit requirement for PUSD graduation, but may be used to fulfill specific high school course requirements.

Dual Enrollment allows eligible students to enroll in college courses that earn them credit both toward their high school diploma and transferable college credit. Courses are offered on the high school campus and are considered part of the student’s instructional day. NEW: learn about dual enrollment courses available to current high school students and to rising 9th graders this summer at PCC’s Muir Satellite Campus.

How does the Concurrent Enrollment Program work?

  • Some college courses may be taken concurrently for the purpose of meeting specific course requirements for high school graduation. The course does not count toward the 220 units of course credit required to graduate, but may fulfill a specific course requirement, such as English 1, American Government, or a world language. A team of PUSD counselors meets regularly to determine which courses can be used to fulfill specific requirements.

  • The student’s high school counselor must sign a recommendation form before PCC (or another community college) will allow the student to enroll in a college course during the school year. Counselors will discuss with the student his or her objectives and confirm whether a course can be taken to fulfill a specific PUSD graduation course requirement.

  • Courses can also be taken concurrently during the summer. College courses taken concurrently at a community college appear on the student’s college transcript but do not appear on their PUSD transcript UNLESS the student submits his or her college transcript to his or her high school counselor. (This is true whether or not the course will be used to satisfy a high school requirement.)

  • Concurrent Enrollment steps are outlined here: https://www.pusd.us/Page/5396


How does the Dual Enrollment Program work?

  • Academic courses are aligned to PCC’s posted curriculum. They are four-year transferable UC/CSU-approved courses and will transfer to public colleges and universities in and out of state.

  • Courses that are part of college and career pathways are offered as an elective option but may not be UC/CSU transferable if they serve as introductory or precursor course for PCC pathways and certification. Students will earn PUSD graduation elective credits for these courses.

  • Courses offered in the high school shall be of the same quality and rigor as those offered on the PCC campus; (CA Code of Regulations 55002(a), 55232 and CA Ed Code 48801

  • Dual courses appear on both the student’s college and high school transcript.

Which high schools offer Dual Enrollment?

Dual enrollment is embedded in the design of John Muir Early College Magnet, which hosts a satellite of PCC on its high school campus. All Muir freshmen take the College Counseling course, for which they receive both high school and college credit. Muir students have access to the full range of PCC courses offered at PCC’s satellite campus, are able to take college courses during the school day as part of Muir’s block schedule, and are supported by designated “early college” counselors.

Other PUSD high schools have limited dual enrollment offerings, including courses offered online or on campus but after the regular high school instructional day. (See list below to get an idea.) Offerings are subject to change from one term to the next. Students should check with their counselor to find out what dual enrollment courses are available to them, and how to enroll. Students at other high school campuses who wish to concurrently enroll in a PCC class can register for classes offered on PCC’s main campus or on the Muir Satellite campus. Muir students have priority for courses offered during the school day at the Muir Satellite campus.

PCC Dual Enrollment Courses offered this year
(Offerings may change from year to year)

School: John Muir Early College Magnet (Fall 2023 course list)

  • Anthropology 001: Biological Anthropology

  • ASL 001: Elementary American Sign Language

  • Counseling011: Learning Strategies and College Skills

  • Counseling 012: Personal Growth and Development

  • Counseling 017: Career Planning

  • English 001A: Reading and Composition

  • History 061B: African American History from 1865

  • Geography 004: Weather and Climate

  • Humanities 001: Intro to Humanities

  • Math 003: College Algebra for STEM

  • Music 024: History of Rock Music

  • Psychology 001: Intro to Psychology

  • Sociology 001: Intro to Sociology

  • Speech 001: Fundamentals of Speech

  • Speech 010: Interpersonal Communication

Muir students have priority for concurrent enrollment courses offered during the school day at the Muir Satellite campus. More Muir Early College Magnet info here: https://www.pusd.us/Page/8651


School: Blair IB Magnet (Spring 2023 course list)

  • Introduction to Sociology

  • Introduction to Business

More information for Blair students at https://bit.ly/3XQ5xLN


School: Marshall Fundamental

  • Personal Finance

  • Theatre Make Up

  • Mandarin

  • College Counseling 

Dual enrollment classes are offered 6th period to students in 9th-12th grade.

School : Pasadena High School (Spring 2023)

  • Information and Technology Essentials

  • Digital Art: Painting & Drawing

  • History of Asian Art

  • Introduction to Fire Technology

  • History of California

  • First Aid: Responding to Emergencies

  • Chicano Sociology

*Courses are two days/week 3:50-5:20 pm at PHS. Students must fill out interest form

The PCC Northwest Summer 2023 Dual Enrollment Interest Form is now available.

nancy dufforddual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, high school, early college, college credit, PCC