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The future is right in front of you. Why make it wait?
Introducing the William Woods Dual Enrollment Program. Designed for students motivated to get a head start on college.
Benefits of William Woods’ Dual Enrollment Program
Lower Overall Cost
Eligible students can take college courses at a reduced rate to fulfill high school requirements while earning college credit.
Accelerated Graduation
Credits can fulfill general education requirements toward a college degree.
Earn an Associate Degree
Highly motivated students may wish to begin pursuing an associate degree during high school through dual enrollment.
Flexibility
Opportunities include online courses, in-seat courses and summer courses.
We Are Here to Help
Dual offers support for student success, including Library resources, WWU advisor access, tutoring, career services, and more.
Start Your Journey Now
Dual offers students an opportunity to get a feel for college life long before they ever move onto campus.
Opportunities
When students enroll in WWU’s Dual program, they can choose from hundreds of exciting courses. Students meeting course pre-requisite requirements can actually take any of the undergraduate courses we offer. Students can select from either our traditional, on-campus experience (if located within a reasonable drive of WWU’s campus in Fulton, MO), or if preferred, courses may be taken online. For those looking to earn an associate degree while still enrolled in high school (one of the unique benefits of the Dual Enrollment Program), our Associate in Liberal Arts offers a wide variety of concentrations, including: Art, Business, Communications, Education, Leadership, Psychology, and our newest concentration – Pre-Vet Prep.
Requirements
Students must meet the following criteria:-
- Junior or senior standing within your high school
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
- A cumulative attendance of 90% or higher
- Recommendation from your high school administrator
- A completed online admissions application through the online WWU admissions application process
FAQs for Students
Getting Started
How many classes can students take and how long are they?
- Students may enroll in one 5-week online course during each separate 5-week period.
- Students may enroll in one 16-week in-seat course per traditional fall, spring, or summer semester.
- Requests for students who believe they can manage a greater course load will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How does the scheduling work?
- Courses follow the university’s schedule.
- Online: Students will need a study hall or release hour during the school day to work on classes.
- On-site: Students taking in-seat classes must plan for travel time in addition to course attendance requirements.
- Courses follow the university’s schedule.
Course Enrollment & Academics
Will someone help me know what classes I should take?
Students will be assigned a university advisor. High school counselors and your WWU advisor will ensure courses will satisfy high school graduation requirements and align with your degree goals.
What courses are available?
Dual students typically take what are known as general education courses. These courses fulfill the initial requirements of most bachelor’s degree programs, typically transfer and satisfy many first- or second-year degree requirements. By taking general education courses in high school, students may enter college having already satisfied many prerequisites (at a lower cost), allowing students to move into their major courses more quickly. Beyond the general education courses, students may be eligible to take more specialized classes. These courses can count as program-specific electives, allowing students to begin working on the concentration or major requirements needed to complete a full associate’s degree while still in high school.
How do students enroll in courses?
Enrollment process:
- Apply online to WWU (submit transcripts/scores)
- Complete a Dual permission form signed by the student, a parent/guardian and current high school counselor
- Register for approved courses
How do the courses count/transfer?
Credits earned through WWU Dual are official college credits. Most courses will transfer to in-state public colleges/universities for core (general education) subjects. While transfer is not guaranteed, your advisor can help you select classes that are most likely to transfer and/or help you check the transfer equivalency for specific institutions.
How do the grades transfer to high school?
The college grade earned for each class (A, B, C, etc.) is recorded on official college transcripts. High schools will assign a corresponding grade and may apply a weighted GPA factor (e.g., 5.0 scale) to that grade, impacting the student’s high school GPA and class rank.
Can students be a dually enrolled student and maintain MSHSAA eligibility?
MSHSAA permits high school athletes to use dual enrollment courses to meet their academic eligibility. Students will need to consult directly with their high school counselor or athletic director before enrolling in a dual enrollment course to verify that the course, and the way it is recorded, will satisfy the MSHSAA academic eligibility requirements for the upcoming and subsequent semesters.
*Dropping a course mid-semester without this consultation could lead to immediate ineligibility.
Logistics & Course Delivery
Are all the courses online?
WWU courses are offered online and in-seat on the Fulton campus. Many high school students find online courses fit conveniently within their high school schedules and don’t require travel time. Students who live close to the Fulton campus may prefer in-seat courses for a variety of reasons.
Can students take courses both online and in-seat?
Yes, most courses are offered in-seat during the fall and spring semesters and online during the summer.
Are students responsible for transportation for in-seat courses?
Transportation to the college campus is typically the student/family’s responsibility unless the high school has a specific arrangement with its students.
Do Dual students have to buy books?
WWU online general education courses use Open Educational Resources at no cost to the student. Specialized or in-seat courses may require students to acquire books. Based on the student’s high school or district’s policies, they may be personally responsible for those expenses.
How do students get help/support?
Students have access to WWU’s full range of student support services to include a college advisor, tutoring, college library resources, and technology help desks. WWU also provides a special “Survival Kit” resource to assist students with locating services.
Cost and Billing
How much do the classes cost?
Dual enrollment courses are offered at a significantly reduced tuition rate, which can be found on our website.
How are students billed?
- Each term, after course registration is complete, you will be billed at the discounted rate. You will receive your bill via your WWU email account, and you will pay your bill by logging into Owlnet.
Can a high school student earn a degree through Dual?
It is possible for eligible students to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree concurrently with their high school diploma by taking the maximum allowable dual enrollment credits. Your WWU academic advisor can provide the necessary course planning and guidance if a degree is desired.
What if a course is cancelled?
Students will need to work immediately with their WWU advisor and high school counselor to select an approved alternative course that meets their requirements and schedule.
Can students drop a course?
Students must follow the university’s official academic calendar and withdrawal deadlines. Dropping late will result in a permanent “W” (Withdrawal) grade on the student’s college transcript. If students withdraw past the refund date, they will still be charged for the course.
FAQs for School Districts
Academic & Quality Assurance (The “What” and “How”)
How are course prerequisites determined and how is student eligibility for a given course assessed?
The university relies on the high school counselor to verify a student’s readiness and academic preparedness for specific dual enrollment courses, especially those with critical prerequisites like math.
• How do the offered courses align with state graduation requirements and local high school curricula?
The university works with the district to match courses to high school graduation requirements. Our general education courses in subjects such as English, math, and social studies typically satisfy 1.0 or 0.5 high school credit requirements. The district counselor is responsible for officially applying the high school credit.
What support exists to ensure rigor is consistent with a true college-level experience while being developmentally appropriate for high school students?
Rigor is maintained through adherence to the university course’s syllabus (content, learning objectives, assessment methods), which is created for the university student in accordance with our HLC accreditation. Faculty are university-certified instructors, and the content and pace of their courses are geared toward the college student, which often means less scaffolding than a standard high school course. Faculty are expected to be aware of and support the unique needs and challenges of high school students while maintaining the high expectations and rigor of their courses.
Are the courses transferable to other colleges and universities, or only within your institution?
Courses are fully transferable because they are recorded on an official university transcript. They are generally accepted by most colleges and universities as transfer credit, provided the student earns a grade of ‘C’ or higher. It is important that students who expect to transfer credit work with their advisor and, if possible, check course equivalencies with their selected institutions.
Program Logistics & Operations (The “When” and “Who”)
What academic calendar will students follow (university or high school)? 5-week courses can be tricky with school schedules.
Students follow the university’s academic calendar, which means course start/end dates, holidays, and drop/withdrawal deadlines align with the college semester. Five-week online courses are common and require the district to build in scheduling flexibility to accommodate them.
What is the process for registering students?
- The process is a multi-step collaboration:
- The student applies to the university.
- The student meets with the high school counselor each term for academic advising and course selection.
- The student completes an online Registration Form with the university; this form will be checked by the university advisor in conjunction with the student’s high school advisor to ensure selected courses fit the student’s needs before being processed.
How often will we receive grades from WWU?
Official grades are posted at the end of the university term (e.g., December for fall, May for spring).
What personnel will we need to support dually enrolled students?
The high school counselor will serve as the direct liaison between the school and the university and will provide guidance to the student in course selection and completion. The district is responsible for the supervision of students as they complete their university coursework.
Financial & Billing (The “Cost” to the District and Families)
What is the cost to the district?
WWU Dual is offered to school districts at no charge, but schools will need to provide necessary staff supervision as well as resources essential to students’ academic success, including appropriate workspace, designated study hall time, and the technology required to conduct their course of study. Should the high school allow a student to enroll in courses requiring in-person attendance on the university’s campus, the high school will need to provide additional scheduling accommodations to permit students to attend those in-seat classes.
How will students be billed?
The students will be directly billed by the university through their WWU email account for tuition and fees. Any costs incurred to students (such as those noted below) are paid directly by the student/family to the university.
What additional fees might families encounter (books, lab fees, technology)?
The most common family cost is textbooks, although our online general education courses use Open Educational Resources, meaning the materials are available at no cost. If students enroll in specialized courses or in-seat courses, it’s possible that they will need to purchase books or pay fees for those courses. The high school should clarify if they fund books or if families must purchase them. Families may also be responsible for online course fees, lab fees (if applicable), and transcript fees when transferring credits.
Student Support & Policy (Student-Specific Rules)
What accommodations are provided for students with IEPs or 504 plans?
IEP and 504 plans are not legally binding in the college setting. The university is governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students must disclose their disability and provide current documentation to the university’s Office of Student Accessibility Resources (OSAR). The university will then determine and provide reasonable accommodations (e.g., extended time on tests) that do not fundamentally alter the course content or rigor. Initial communication with OSAR can be established by email at [email protected].
How are parents involved or informed about expectations and resources?
Due to federal privacy laws (FERPA), the university cannot discuss student grades or performance with a parent unless the student signs a FERPA release form. Parents should contact the high school counselor directly with any questions regarding coursework or resources.