Opp High School students will soon have another avenue of expanding the educational opportunities available to them.

OHS Guidance Counselor Missy Mims said this week that high school sophomores, juniors and seniors can earn dual credit, thanks to a new partnership with The University of Alabama.

Dual credit means students can earn high school plus college credit.

The program is called UA Early College.

“They have to do an application, send their transcript and write an essay,” Mims said. “They also have to take the Gateway course. It shows that they are capable of college work and understanding online courses.”

The course is four weeks and also introduces students to study and time-management skills needed to succeed.

Mims said through the program, students can take up to 30 hours and still be considered a college freshman.

They can also be admitted to college without an ACT score if they take 17 hours or more and earn a 2.5 GPA by the summer following graduation. Earning 17 or more hours and maintaining the 2.5 GPA also earns them priority housing for their freshman year at UA.

Mims said that even those who don’t wish to attend UA after high school may benefit because UA credits transfer broadly to colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Students will have the opportunity to enroll in spring courses.

“This year, they will do this on their own time,” she said. “We are going to probably be able to build that into their schedules next year.”

Director of UA Early College Dr. Victoria Whitfield said, “UA Early College gives students the opportunity to explore their interests while earning credit from a top university. Not only are they earning credits that will transfer to almost anywhere in the nation, but they are building their educational foundation with the support of advisers, student-center faculty, learning community coordinator and per coaches who care about their success. Our students graduate high school knowing that they can succeed at any university or college they attend.”

UA Early College is offered at an affordable rate and students may be eligible for partial tuition scholarships. There are many classes from which to choose including African American studies, anthropology, Arabic, cellular and human biology, Chinese, criminal justice courses, microcomputer applications, website design, microeconomic application, English compositions, American literature, life span development, western civilization, American civilization, Japanese, journalism, finite math, pre-calculus algebra, business calculus, mass communications, philosophy, medical ethics, political science, psychology, religion, Spanish, theater and women’s studies.

There will be a forum Nov. 3, at 5 p.m., for parents.