Degree Acceleration Programs

Edison State College encourages students to accelerate their education by providing the following acceleration programs. These programs allow students to shorten the time required to complete a degree or certificate by earning college credit based on the student’s acquisition of knowledge prior to or during their attendance at Edison State.

1. Accelerated Programs for High School Students:
   
   
   1. Dual Enrollment (also known as Early College)
      
      Dual Enrollment provides an opportunity for qualified high school students to enroll in Edison State courses while still enrolled in high school. Dual enrolled students receive both high school and college credit. College preparatory and health and wellness courses are not included in the dual enrollment program.
      
      To qualify for dual enrollment, all seniors must have a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; juniors must have a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.5. Sophomores in Charlotte, Glades, Hendry or Lee Counties must have an unweighted GPA of 3.5. All candidates must demonstrate readiness for college-level work. Readiness for college-level work is determined through achievement of the State minimum cutoff scores on the appropriate sections of the FCELPT, or appropriate ACT-E or SAT-R scores. (Please see Assessment Services in the Student Services  section for more information.)
      
      Dual enrolled students must complete an Edison application and must have a parent or guardian sign. In addition, the dual enrolled student will submit a completed Accelerated Programs form listing the courses that they are approved to register for each term. Accelerated Programs forms must be signed by the high school principal or designee and the applicant. Dual enrolled courses are taught on the high school campus or on the college campus.
      
      Dual Enrolled students are exempt from application, matriculation and special fees. Textbooks and instructional materials for public school students are provided by the school district through the high school. Students enrolled in non-public secondary schools or in home school programs must pay for their textbooks and instructional materials.
       
   2. Early Admissions:
      
      Early admissions provides an opportunity for qualified high school seniors to enroll full- time in Edison State courses on the College campus while still enrolled in high school. Early admissions students receive both high school and college credit. College preparatory courses are not included in the early admissions program.
      
      To qualify for early admissions, seniors must have a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and must demonstrate readiness for college-level work. Readiness for college-level work is determined through achievement of the State minimum cutoff scores on the appropriate sections of the PERT, or appropriate ACT-E or SAT-R scores. (Please see Assessment Services in the Student Services  section for more information.)
      
      Early admissions students must self-identify with the Registar’s Office requesting to become an early admit student and the parent or guardian must acknowledge approval via signature. Early admit students submit a completed Accelerated Programs form listing the courses that they are approved to register for each term. Accelerated Programs forms must be signed by the high school principal or designee and the applicant.
      
      Early admissions courses are taught on the Edison State campus. Early admissions students are exempt from application, matriculation and special fees. Textbooks and instructional materials for public school students are provided by the school district through the high school. Students enrolled in non-public secondary schools or in home school programs must pay for their textbooks and instructional materials.

Advanced Placement

Edison State College participates in the Advanced Placement Program (AP) offered by the College Board to provide greater flexibility and opportunity for high school students to proceed with their education. Students must submit to the Office of the Registrar an official transcript from the College Board for scores to be considered. Edison State College awards college credit for qualifying AP examination scores based on standards recommended by the Florida Department of Education and the Articulation Coordinating Committee. Acceptance of AP tests and scores is subject to change without notice. AP credit is not granted if the student has already earned credit for the course.

 Advanced Placement (AP) ESC Course/Subject Equivalents 

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Edison State College participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to provide greater flexibility and opportunity for students to proceed with their education. Students must submit to the Office of the Registrar an official transcript from the Educational Testing Service for scores to be considered. Edison State College awards college credit for qualifying CLEP examination scores based on standards recommended by the Florida Department of Education and the Articulation Coordinating Committee. Acceptance of CLEP tests and scores is subject to change without notice. CLEP credit is not granted if the student has already earned credit for the course. The Nursing Program at Edison State College does not accept CLEP credit for DEP 2004 Human Growth and Development. For additional information, contact the Assessment Services area on your local campus.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

Edison State College accepts the International Baccalaureate (IB) offered by the International Baccalaureate Organization to provide greater flexibility and opportunity for high school students to proceed with their education. Students must submit to the Office of the Registrar an official transcript from the International Baccalaureate Organization for scores to be considered. Edison State College awards college credit for IB examination scores based on standards recommended by the Florida Department of Education and the Articulation Coordinating Committee. Acceptance of IB tests and scores is subject to change without notice. IB credit is not granted if the student has already earned credit for the course.

Students who receive the IB Diploma are granted college credit for scores of four (4) or higher on both higher level and standard level examinations as listed below. Students who do not receive the IB diploma are granted college credits for scores of five (5) or above on IB higher level examinations only.

Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE)

The AICE program is an international, advanced secondary curriculum and assessment program equivalent to the British system of “A-Levels.”  Edison State College follows the recommendations of the Articulation Coordinating Committee.

Career Pathways and Articulation

Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades District Schools and Edison State College are partners in the Career Pathways philosophy which offers students the opportunity to focus on technical high school electives that will help train them for high-skill, high-wage occupations. While in high school preparing for careers and post secondary education, students can begin to earn Edison State College credits.

Edison State provides the opportunity for technical program students to earn college credit that may be applied towards an Associate degree.

High school Articulation

Edison State provides the opportunity for high school graduates to earn college credit that may be applied towards an Associate degree.

High school students who have graduated from any public school in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry or Glades counties would be eligible for college credit at Edison State College.

Articulated credit may be awarded to the eligible post secondary graduate who meets the following criteria:

• The student must be currently enrolled and seeking as Associate Degree in correlating programs at Edison State College. Thus, the student will successfully meet all requirements that apply to Associate Degree seeking students as stated in the Edison State College Catalog.
• Students will be awarded articulated Associate credit upon successful completion of 12 college credit hours towards the Associate Degree.
• Students who complete one of the approved technical programs of study (with at least 3 high school courses in the program).

Excelsior College (EC)

Edison State College follows the guidelines in Florida State Board Rule 6A-10.024 for awarding EC credits. More detailed information about Excelsior College Examinations, including detailed test descriptions, can be found on-line at http://www.excelsior.edu. EC credit granted by Edison may be transferable to participating Florida institutions of higher education. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the institution to which he/she expects to transfer to determine the acceptability of this credit.

Credit by Assessment of Prior Learning Experience (PLE)

Students may seek credit for courses required within their degree program, based on prior learning, where an accelerated mechanism is not defined through statewide articulations, testing or transfer of credit. The assessment of learning shall take place through means consistent with best practices of measuring college-level learning.  Assessment methods may include, but are not limited to, written and oral examinations, portfolio evaluations, interview assessments, and project or product evaluations.  Students will be required to submit relevant documentation for review by a faculty member in the discipline.

The PLE program is designed to assess prior experiences, translate them into college classroom learning outcomes and consequently college credits.  Learning may result from work experience, employment-related training programs and seminars, volunteer work, travel, military service, non-accredited college courses, or intensive self-directed study.

Assessment of prior learning will ensure student competency in course and program outcomes.  If a student can demonstrate prior learning from experience, the College will award credit for achievement rather than have the student repeat the learning sequence.  Information concerning such assessments may be secured from the associate dean in the discipline area.