OVERVIEW  /  COLLEGE CORE COURSE LIST  /  COD ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE  /  FAQ

     
Who is eligible for Glenbard College Core?

The Glenbard College Core is designed to provide college-level opportunities and there are no school-wide eligibility requirements. However, each dual credit course has specific prerequisites as determined by College of DuPage and many of these courses require a high school unweighted grade point average of 2.6 or higher.

Maintaining a solid high school GPA is not only a key to unlocking these early college opportunities but is also one of the most reliable predictors of success in college. By focusing on grades in high school, students can  build strong academic habits and foundational skills needed to thrive in a more challenging college environment. We encourage all students to prioritize their academic performance as it is the very first step toward a successful college journey.

How does Dual Credit differ from Advanced Placement (AP) Courses?

AP and dual credit are both excellent early college credit options for Glenbard students and they have different advantages. Both dual credit and Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide opportunities for college-level learning, but they award credit in different ways. Dual credit courses award credit based on a student’s ongoing performance, which provides a predictable path to earning college credit. AP courses award credit based on a single AP exam taken in May or a portfolio.  Colleges may award different credit depending on the AP score, with higher AP scores receiving more credit. With dual credit courses, the same amount of credit is awarded for any A, B, or C grade earned in the course.

Dual credit courses award college credit in the same way as any other college class, based on a student’s performance throughout the semester. This includes grades on homework, quizzes, tests, and other assignments. The grades a student earns are recorded on an official college transcript, making the process of receiving credit predictable. Glenbard College Core classes are all part of the IAI General Education Core Curriculum, making them even more transferable.

Another difference is the costs for these early college credit courses. Glenbard covers the cost for a student’s first AP exam each school year, and families are responsible for paying the fee for any additional AP exams their student chooses to take. The College of DuPage (COD) offers dual credit courses at no charge, so Glenbard students have no additional fees for COD dual credit courses.

Glenbard offers a wide range of early college credit courses, including AP courses, Glenbard College Core courses, and dual credit courses that focus on career pathways rather than general education credits. Students should consider their post-secondary goals when selecting courses. All of these early college credit courses provide a valuable chance for students to get a head start on their college education. We encourage students to talk with their school counselor to explore which path aligns best with their academic interests and future career path.

What other early college credit courses does Glenbard offer?

In addition to the Glenbard College Core, Glenbard has an extensive offering of early college credit courses that provide Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit opportunities. All of these courses receive Honors credit at Glenbard. Please note that not all courses are offered at every school or every school year. 

How can students prepare to take Glenbard College Core courses?

A strong high school GPA is the most crucial preparation for the Glenbard College Core. It determines eligibility for many of these dual credit courses and shows that students have developed the essential academic habits needed to thrive in a more challenging early-college credit course. 

Additionally, it is important for students, especially incoming freshmen and rising sophomores, to strategically plan their high school schedules in order to take advantage of dual credit courses that will be available to them their junior and senior years. Students may want to consider waiting to fulfill their Glenbard Speech and Civics requirements and not taking these courses during summer school. By waiting until junior (DC Intro to Speech) or senior year (DC American Politics), students can receive Glenbard credit and COD credit for these graduation requirements. 

What is the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) and GECC?

The Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) is a statewide agreement among more than 100 public and private colleges and universities in Illinois. It was created to help students seamlessly transfer their general education coursework between participating schools. The General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) is the “package” of general education courses that is guaranteed to transfer. By successfully completing 37 hours of IAI GECC courses through the Glenbard College Core,  students will fulfill a significant portion of the general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree at any participating Illinois institution, including both four-year universities and two-year colleges. Students should always check with their college about transferring, as this can vary from major to major within a college and from college to college.  IAI courses are highly transferable to colleges outside of Illinois too.

How does the Glenbard College Core transfer to our Top 4-Year Colleges?

The chart below shows the five most popular 4-year colleges for Glenbard graduates. For each Glenbard College Core course, the corresponding course is listed for each 4-year college. Please contact your college directly for specific course transfer information as each college is different and may have different requirements for different majors. 

(To view full table information, scroll left to right on your browser)

    
How are grades issued for dual credit courses?

The grades a student earns in dual credit courses will be recorded on an official college transcript, provided by the College of DuPage. This is a permanent academic record that begins during high school and continues through college. Students must earn an A, B or C in the dual credit course in order to earn college credit for the course. 

Since the college curriculum is delivered right here in Glenbard, the grades from these classes are calculated into a College of DuPage grade point average (GPA), as well as the Glenbard GPA. These courses may or may not be calculated into a student’s cumulative college GPA if they transfer their credits from the College of DuPage to another college. Each college has its own policy, so it’s essential for families to ask a prospective college if they calculate transfer credits into their GPA.

It’s important to understand the deadlines for dropping or withdrawing from a dual credit course, as these actions can impact a student’s permanent college transcript. If a student is not experiencing success in a dual credit class, midway through the semester, COD will provide a date to teachers and students for the last opportunity to drop the college portion of the course.  If a class is dropped prior to this date, it will not appear on the students official COD college transcript.  Students can still remain in the course and only receive college credit.  During the Drop Period, a student can be removed from the course with no record appearing on their transcript. After this, during the Withdrawal Period, a student who withdraws from the course will receive a “W” on their college transcript. If a student withdraws after this final deadline, they may earn a grade of “F.” A grade lower than a D, F or W on a college transcript can affect a student’s ability to receive financial aid in the future. 

How can financial aid be impacted by dual credit courses?

The grades from Glenbard dual credit courses can affect a student’s eligibility for future financial assistance at the college level. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other financial aid programs, including scholarships, require students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This means keeping a minimum GPA and successfully completing a certain percentage of attempted credits. If a student performs poorly or withdraws from dual credit courses, it could negatively impact their SAP status before they even start college, potentially putting their future financial aid at risk. Earning a D, F or W in one dual credit course would result in financial warning. Therefore, success in a dual credit course is not just about earning high school credit; it’s about establishing a strong foundation for their permanent college academic record.

How do students enroll at the College of DuPage?

All students taking Glenbard College Core courses are official students at both Glenbard and the College of DuPage. Students use DualEnroll to register for their dual credit courses.  If students have never enrolled in a class with COD, they will need to create a new account.  If students have previously taken dual credit classes with COD, they should log in to their existing DualEnroll account. 

Here are some student resources for registration:

• Video for DualEnroll Student Registration
• Guide for DualEnroll Student Registration 

What other benefits are available to dual credit students at the College of DuPage? 

Any Glenbard student who is taking dual credit courses is eligible for many student benefits at the College of DuPage, including tutoring, advising, career services, student clubs and organizations. Dual credit students have access to the College of DuPage library, including library database and librarian research support. Students also have discounted access to the College of DuPage fitness center, McAninch Arts Center events and receive discounts at other businesses and organizations throughout the community. Click here for a full list of resources for College of DuPage dual credit students.

How do students transfer credit to other colleges?

The website www.transferology.com is a great resource for learning more about how credit for specific courses transfers to colleges across the country.  If students enroll in a college other than the College of DuPage, they can have their College of DuPage transcripts sent directly to their college for a small fee. Students just need their College of DuPage ID number in order to use this transcript order form.  Glenbard transcripts do not award college transfer credit, students must request the College of DuPage transcript and submit it to their college.