Next year, Silverado will expand the dual credit courses offered through UNLV for 11th and 12th grades. Next year, courses that will be offered are English 101 and 102, Math 120 and 124, History 101 and 102, Sociology 101 and Women’s Studies 101, and Music 125.

While students will receive both college and high school credit, these courses will be taught by teachers here on campus. This year, Silverado only offered English 101/102, taught by Regina Roybal, and Sociology/Women’s Studies, taught by Stephanie Oldfield.

Although dual credit courses get less of a higher GPA boost than AP classes, they do count as honors classes for high school, plus they have other advantages. Students have an opportunity to earn college credit at a substantially reduced rate from what they would pay for the same class if they waited until their freshman year of college to take it.

Instead of paying $50 for English 101, for example, that course would cost about $750 at UNLV. And unlike AP courses, students only have to pass the class, not one exam, to earn the college credit.

There are a few other costs. Students do pay a fee of $50 per semester, per course. Books, however, will be provided by Silverado. Normally college students have to buy their own books.

Students often worry about how classes will help them graduate and prepare them for college, but dual credit courses may ease that worry.

“I took dual credit because I wanted to get as many college credits as I could before I got to college,” said senior Derrick Lyons, who is currently in English 102. “I hadn’t taken any AP English classes before, so this would be the fastest way for me to get six credits. That being said, I really enjoy the class. It’s a writing class, with very little reading.”

Credits will transfer to colleges other than UNLV if students go elsewhere to receive their degree since UNLV is a Tier 1 school.  You may have to earn a certain score on the ACT or pass an entrance exam, but students should see their counselor if they are interested in dual credit.