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BPS Dual Credit Program
Earn credit at Villa Maria College while still attending high school!
Program Overview
Villa Maria College’s Dual Credit Program provides Buffalo Public School students enrolled in specific art and music courses, the opportunity to earn Villa Maria College credits while still attending high school.
Eligibility:
- Must be a current high school junior or senior
- Must have an 85% course average at the time of course registration
This is intended to be a benchmark to motivate students for the rigors of college level course work. BPS students are not responsible for tuition and or fees.
Benefits:
- Opportunity to earn concurrent college and high school credit
- Experience college level coursework
- Get a head start on college while still completing high school requirements.
- Students who take either of the two advanced placement (AP) courses offered through the program have the opportunity to on their course grades and not a qualified score on an AP examination
Course Offering
Refer to the chart below for detailed information about the courses currently available as dual credit courses in the Villa Maria College Dual Credit Program to BPS Students for the 2023-2024 school year. Note that some available courses are for PS 192 Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts Students only.
| Course Name | High School Credit | College Credit Hours | College Course |
| AP Studio Art – Draw Portfolio | 1.0 | 3 | ART 104 – Drawing |
| AP Studio Art in 2D | 1.0 | 3 | ART 101 – Two-Dimensional Design |
| Introduction to Music Industry | 1.0 | 3 | MUI 107 – Music Industry |
| Music Technology OR Intro to Music Technology | 1.0 | 3 | MUI 150 – Introduction to Music Technology |
BAVPA Only
| Course Name | High School Credit | College Credit Hours | College Course |
| Studio in Drawing and Painting | 1.0 | 3 | ART 104 – Drawing |
| Studio in Graphic Design and Advertising | 1.0 | 3 | GRA 224 – Illustration |
| Studio in Computer Arts | 1.0 | 3 | PHO 201 – Photo Imaging and Design |
| AP Music Theory | 1.0 | 4 | MUS 101 – Music Theory I |
| Vocal Jazz Theory | 1.0 | 3 | MUJ 201 – Jazz Theory I |
Dual credit courses available in BPS High Schools are at the discretion of the Department of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction. Content area directors work closely with the Office of Curriculum Initiatives in collaboration with Villa Maria College to ensure curriculum alignment for each Villa Maria College Dual Credit Program course.
Program Details
Teacher of Record information
Teachers of record for Villa Maria College’s Dual Credit Program are vetted by high school building administrators and BPS content area directors. Once vetted, the teacher will be approved as a Villa Maria’s Dual Credit Program course instructor.
Student Registration
Students enrolled in a full-year high school course during the 2023-2024 school year, that is also a course in Villa Maria College’s Dual Credit Program will have the opportunity to register for college credit in the spring 2024 semester.
Students enrolled in the Dual Credit Program must have an 85% class average at the time of registration to be eligible. The registration window is February 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024.
Detailed instructions for student registration will be shared with school administrators and teachers prior to the registration period. Students must provide their social security number to enroll in the program.
Student Rosters
Course rosters will be available to BPS course instructors following student registration.
Grading Process
Student grades are to be reported to Villa Maria College at the conclusion of the grade reporting time frame in accordance with the BPS time frame. Teachers will use their section rosters to record each students final course grade. Teachers will record alpha grades determined by the alpha grade conversion chart provided by Villa Maria College. Details regarding submission of final grades will be shared with school administrators and teachers prior to the grade reporting time frame.
Withdrawal Process
Once a student is registered for a Villa Maria course they are not able to drop the course. The only available option is to withdraw. The withdrawal date for Spring Semester 2024 is April 12, 2024.
- Prior to withdrawing the teacher and student should discuss their options.
- If it is decided that the student will withdraw, the student or their legal guardian must contact Villa Maria College via email with a written withdraw statement.
Once a course grade has been officially entered into the system a student cannot withdraw from the college credit course.
Course Credit Hours
Earned dual credit course credits can be applied towards a Villa Maria degree or another accredited college a student may attend. It is the decision of any college to accept transfer credits and to do so based on a grade requirement. It is the students responsibility to check with the college or university they plan to attend regarding their transfer credit policy and degree requirements to determine if their Villa Maria course credits can be applied to their chosen degree program. The same applies to students who plan to attend a college or university out of state.
In order to receive college credits for a Villa Maria College Dual Credit Program course, the student must be registered in the program and have earned a final grade of C or better.
Transcripts
Upon completion of a course, a transcript will be issued from Villa Maria College.
The National Student Clearinghouse is Villa Maria Collages authorized partner for providing official transcripts to students. Students can request a transcript from Villa Maria College by using the transcript request form on the Villa Maria College website.
