Dual Enrollment Admissions Criteria

To be eligible for Dual Enrollment Courses, students must demonstrate college readiness. Learn more about the NOVA Admission Criteria for Dual Enrollment Courses.

Students participating in a dual enrollment course with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) must be an 11th or 12th grade student. There are some exceptions for 9th and 10th graders. Students must apply to NOVA and meet admissions criteria. Admissions criteria for NOVA does not guarantee that a student has met the prerequisites to enroll in the course.

There are two ways students can meet the admissions criteria for a dual enrollment class.

Option 1: Grade Point Average (GPA)

One way students can demonstrate college readiness is by using their Grade Point Average (GPA). The minimum GPA varies by course.

Dual Enrollment Transfer Course

All of the students in a Transfer Course are dual enrolled with NOVA. To qualify for a Dual Enrollment Transfer Course, students need

  • a 3.0 GPA (or higher; 3.25 for 9th and 10th graders) OR
  • qualifying test scores (see option 2 below)

Transfer Courses

  • African American History DE
  • Biology DE
  • Calculus DE
  • Chemistry 2 DE
  • Cyber: Oracle 1 DE
  • Discrete Structures Data Structures and Algorithms
  • English 11 DE
  • English 12 DE
  • Environmental Science DE
  • French 4 DE
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology DE
  • Latin 4 DE
  • Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy 1 DE
  • Spanish 4 DE
  • Teachers for Tomorrow 1 DE
  • Teachers for Tomorrow 2 DE
  • Theatre 3 DE
  • US VA Government DE
  • US VA History DE
  • World History 1 DE
  • World History 2 DE

Dual Enrollment Non-Transfer Course

In a Non-Transfer Course, students choose whether they want to dual enroll or not. Non-transfer courses can be mixed with students who choose to Dual Enroll and students who decide not to Dual Enroll. To qualify for a Dual Enrollment Non-Transfer Course, students need

  • a 2.0 GPA (or higher; 2.25 or higher for 9th and 10th graders) OR
  • qualifying test scores (see option 2 below)

Non-transfer Courses

  • Advanced Programming 
  • Automotive Technology 1 
  • Automotive Technology 2
  • Automotive Technology 3
  • Cyber:  Computer Systems Technology 2, A+ 
  • Cyber: CISCO 1 
  • Cyber: CISCO 2 
  • Cyber: Cloud Computing 
  • Cyber: Network Administration 1 
  • Early Childhood Careers 1
  • Early Childhood Careers 2
  • Entrepreneurship 1
  • Entrepreneurship 2
  • Exploring the Language of Medicine
  • Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning 1
  • Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning 2
  • Oracle 2

Option 2: Placement Scores

Another way students can demonstrate college readiness is by using placement scores.

NOTE:
  • Scores vary by course.
  • PSAT 8 and 9 test scores are not accepted.
  • Some courses have a prerequisite

Biology 2 DE

Prerequisite

C or higher in any High School Mathematics class.

Qualification Options

  • 3.0 or higher cumulative high school GPA
  • PSAT
    • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 390 or higher AND
    • Math score of 500 or higher
  • SAT
    • ERW score of 480 or higher AND
    • Math score of 530 or higher
  • ACT
    • English & Reading: 18 or higher on both AND
    • Math subject area test: 22 or higher

Calculus DE

Prerequisite

Precalculus with Trigonometry DE (3160DE) passed with C or higher at NOVA or NOVA Calculus placement exam.

Qualification Options

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • SAT
    • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 480 or higher AND
    • math score of 530 or higher
  • ACT
    • English & Reading: 18 or higher on both AND
    • Math subject area test: 22 or higher

Chemistry 2 DE

Prerequisite

C or higher in Algebra 2

Qualification Options

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • PSAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 390 or higher
  • SAT: ERW score of 480 or higher
  • ACT: 18 or higher on both English and Reading

Discrete Structures Data Structures and Algorithms

Prerequisite

AP Computer Science A (3 or higher on AP exam)

Qualification Options

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • SAT
    • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 480 or higher AND
    • Math score of 530 or higher
  • 3. ACT
    • English & Reading: 18 or higher on both AND
    • Math subject area test: 22 or higher

Precalculus with Trigonometry DE

Prerequisite

C or higher in Algebra 2

Qualification Options

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • SAT
    • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 480 or higher AND
    • Math score of 530 or higher
  • ACT
    • English & Reading: 18 or higher on both AND
    • Mmath subject area test: 22 or higher

Other Courses

Qualification Options

  • PSAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 390 or higher
  • SAT: ERW score of 480 or higher
  • ACT: 18 or higher on both English and Reading

Courses

  • African American History DE
  • Cyber: Oracle 1
  • English 11 DE
  • English 12 DE
  • Environmental Science DE
  • French 4 DE
  • Human Anatomy DE
  • Latin 4 DE
  • PT/OT 1
  • Spanish 4 DE
  • Teachers for Tomorrow 1 DE
  • Teachers for Tomorrow 2 DE
  • Theatre Arts 3 DE
  • Virginia and United States Government DE
  • Virginia and United States History DE
  • World History and Geography 1 DE
  • World History and Geography 2 DE