OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Thanks to a new partnership between the College of Central Florida (CF) and Marion County Public Schools (MCPS), local students can now dual enroll in Associate in Science (A.S.) degree programs at no cost to their families.
Previously, dual enrolled MCPS high schoolers at CF could only work toward an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. These students usually transfer to universities later on.
Now, the program has been expanded to include A.S. educations in accounting, agribusiness, criminal justice, early childhood education, emergency medical services, engineering technology, equine studies, computer information technology, supply chain management and many more. Additionally, students pursuing limited access programs like nursing can now complete all required prerequisite courses before even graduating high school, ensuring a seamless transition into the A.S. program once they get to CF.
Unlike most dual enrolled students pursuing A.A. degrees, students seeking A.S. degrees often go right into the workforce after graduation. Through the new CF and MCPS partnership, those students will now be able to complete their A.S. degrees in the same time it would take to earn a high school diploma. This means they can go right into the local workforce after high school.
The new program is entitled CF Collegiate Academy. Students will apply in eighth grade, but they’ll remain at their base high school until eleventh grade. Then, they will become full-time dual enrollment students at the CF Ocala Campus or online for the last two years of high school, when they will make as much progress toward their intended degree as possible.
Collegiate Academy students may also have opportunities for work-based learning experiences in the area, including internships, shadowing, co-ops and apprenticeships.
Students who want to go on to pursue a Bachelor in Science (B.S.) degree or higher can also benefit from CF’s transfer partnerships with universities across the state, including Florida A&M University (FAMU), the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of Florida Online (UF) and the University of South Florida (USF). Additionally, transfer students in the CF Honors program are guaranteed acceptance into the UCF Burnett Honors College.
More information about the CF Collegiate Academy will be available soon. For instructions on how to enroll, fill out the Collegiate Academy information request form.