Round Rock ISD/ACC

Associates Degree in Comprehensive High Schools

It is possible to work towards and even earn your Associate’s Degree from Austin Community College (ACC) while still in high school! It takes careful planning and attention to detail as you map out your four year plan. Your counselor has a planning checklist that is meant to help you think through your course decisions carefully and deliberately when you meet together to discuss this pathway. You will also need to meet with an ACC advisor frequently during your high school years to be sure you are on track.

An associate’s degree is comprised of 60 hours of college credit across multiple areas. For ACC to issue an associate degree, at least 25%, or 15 college credit hours, must be successfully completed through ACC. The rest can be a combination of a variety of college credit opportunities including College Board Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, University of Texas OnRamps, Dual Credit, and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. Think of it as a “choose your own adventure” with a checklist of required types of destinations!

“Core 42”

All students pursuing an associate degree must complete the “Core 42”, a set of course types that are required and often also satisfy high school graduation requirements (requires a grade of C or higher). This 42 semester credit hours core curriculum has been adopted to provide a solid foundation of a college education and to facilitate transfer of credit hours between colleges and universities. By successfully completing 42 credit hours of core curriculum courses, you achieve college-level competence in general education skills that are fundamental to all disciplines of learning.

The Core 42 is not divided in the same subject areas as high school courses typically are placed as you can see below. To make it easier to understand, we have created a Core Curriculum Course Crosswalk for specific Round Rock ISD courses in each subject area.

 

Core Curriculum Requirements
Subject Area Required Credits
Communication (010) 6
Mathematics (020) 3
Life and Physical Sciences (030) 6
Language, Philosophy, and Culture (040) 3
Creative Arts (050) 3
American History (060) 6
Government/Political Science (070) 6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (080) 3
Component Area Option (090) 6
Total 42

 

Students will then need 18 additional hours to fully complete the 60 hour degree requirement with a focus on a specific area, most likely one of the General Studies plans (Arts, Science). Your counselor and ACC advisor will work through planning the additional 18 hours with you.

Round Rock ISD Resources

Austin Community College (ACC) Resources

Glossary:

  • ACC = Austin Community College – Round Rock ISD’s dual credit partner who will be issuing the associates degree
  • AP = College Board Advanced Placement – high school courses through which college credit can be awarded based on the associated exam
  • CLEP = College Level Examination Program – college level placement exams to earn credit for a course without taking the course
  • IB = International Baccalaureate – high school program through which college credit can be awarded based on the associated exams and requirements
  • OR = University of Texas OnRamps – dual enrollment model where a student takes a high school course with college exams/work embedded with the potential to earn college credit
  • SCH = Semester Credit Hours – the number of college credit hours a course will count for if successfully completed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Associate's Degree Pathway? What is the purpose of having it in high school?
This is not a program or a cohort model, like ECHS, but is a strategic collection of coursework that meets both high school and college requirements. Students are already taking a variety of college-credit-bearing courses, but not necessarily in a pattern that aligns with higher education requirements. While some students and their families have figured out how to navigate the requirements of the associate’s degree opportunity on their own, the intricacies and nuances are sometimes difficult to understand. The district has created documents and resources to support students and their families in navigating the higher education requirements in a more streamlined and efficient manner. Even if a student does not meet all the requirements to earn the full associate’s degree, they will have been able to be more strategic in their course selections and be closer to earning a degree as a result.
Who should/could take advantage of this pathway?
Any student who is interested in a rigorous learning experience and willing to take a significant amount of college-credit-bearing course work should consider taking advantage of the pathway. By strategically planning the four-year course schedule, they will be able to maximize their efforts.
What is involved in meeting the requirements for an associates degree? What courses do I need to take?
The associate’s degree is 60 semester credit hours of college level coursework. The requirements for an associate’s degree involve meeting nine specific area components that add up to 42 semester credit hours and then taking an additional 18 semester credit hours of courses that lead to a specialized area of focus.
What will it do for me? Why might I consider this option?
For some students, the associate’s degree will be their goal. For others, it will lead to a four year degree at a college or university. Either way, earning the credit while in high school will save both time and money.

Four-year colleges look at the level of rigor of a student’s high school coursework as part of their admissions process. Even if a student does not complete the full associate’s degree, they will have demonstrated the ability to manage college level work.

What are the advantages?
  • College credit earned while in high school often satisfies both high school graduation requirements and college requirements.
  • Students pursuing this pathway will have the advantage of taking a rigorous set of courses, preparing them for additional advanced coursework in both high school and college.
  • College coursework completed and college credit earned in high school is less expensive than the same courses completed in college.
  • Completing college coursework in high school shortens the time spent in college, and/or can provide students with the opportunity to add a minor or another major to their degree plan.
What are the cautions?
  • Students interested in pursuing a four-year degree or beyond need to be mindful of the degree requirements of those institutions to be sure that what is taken as part of their associate’s degree pathway will also satisfy those requirements.
  • Students should be mindful of taking additional courses beyond the 60 hours required for the associate’s degree. It may cause a student issues with transferring to a four year institution. It may also cause issues with course registration at college.
  • Dual credit and dual enrollment (OnRamps) course grades may impact the college GPA and dual credit courses not completed successfully may impact financial aid opportunities. Successful completion means earning a C or higher for the college course.
  • Always talk with the admissions office at the colleges you are considering to be clear on the implications.
How does this impact future readiness and graduation?
Students who successfully complete college-level coursework meet college readiness criteria for college, career, and military readiness. The college-credit-bearing courses offered in the district are all designed to meet high school graduation requirements.

Students have until August 31st of their graduating year to complete the Associates degree and it still count for high school accountability. Senior year AP and IB exam scores will be available in July after graduation and will need to be sent to ACC to be included in the ACC degree transcript.