Early
College
Experience
Save time. Save money.
Get a head start.
Western Connecticut State University’s Early College Experience Program gives you, as a high school student, a chance to discover and explore your academic interests and passions while experiencing college-level work.
Early College classes taken through WCSU will be included on your high school transcript. You will receive credit towards university courses — and get a great start on your higher education.
The Early College Experience at WCSU can help you:
- Save time by completing courses before enrolling into college — meaning more time for extracurriculars and internships
- Save money by completing part of your college degree with reduced pricing
Participating Schools & Districts
WCSU’s Early College Experience program enables eligible high school students to enroll in and earn credit in college courses. At only $65 per course, students and families get a great head start and save money on your university education.
Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, and Ridgefield high school students may enroll in college courses while completing their high school curriculum.
The Early College Experience
Speak To Your Teacher
Your high school teacher will provide a link to our online application and provide a password so you can take this course at your high school.
For Students
Early College Experience allows students, at our participating schools, to earn WCSU credits while taking courses in high school. Explore our courses in biology, chemistry, math and calculus, statistics, literature, composition and Spanish offered at your high school and earn 12 or more college credits toward your degree — potentially saving a semester’s worth of your college expenses.
Available Courses
Students can earn college credit by completing and passing Early College Experience courses at their high school
To learn if your school offers the course, see school district under the dropdown.
BIO 103 General Biology I
School District: Danbury High School
Course Description: This is the first half of a two-semester introductory course in which the major principles of biology are studied. Topics investigated are the chemical and physical foundations of life, cell structure and function, metabolism, and genetics.
BIO 104 General Biology II
School District: Danbury High School
Course Description: This is the second half of a two-semester introductory Biology course, and this half focuses on the diversity of life. The course examines principles and theories that drive biodiversity and emphasize process and pattern of unique biological traits across organismal groups.
BIO 156 Biology of the Environment
School District: Danbury High School
Course Description: An ecosystem approach to the study of the environment which looks at biological components and their interactions, including human impacts on the environment. Natural resources and conservation management of such resources are examined.
CHE 110 General Chemistry I
School District: Danbury High School
Course Description: This full-year course comprises a thorough survey of the modern principles of chemistry. Emphasis during the first semester is on atomic and molecular structure, quantitative relationships, thermodynamics and electrochemistry. In the second semester the emphasis is on physical and chemical equilibria, kinetics and descriptive chemistry.
CHE 111 General Chemistry II
School District: Danbury High School
Course Description: This full-year course comprises a thorough survey of the modern principles of chemistry. Emphasis during the first semester is on atomic and molecular structure, quantitative relationships, thermodynamics and electrochemistry. In the second semester the emphasis is on physical and chemical equilibria, kinetics and descriptive chemistry.
MAT 120 Elementary Statistics
School Districts: Danbury High School, Newtown, Bethel, Brookfield, Immaculate, New Fairfield
Course Description: An introduction to the practices of statistics, for non-science or math majors, which emphasizes elementary data analysis and inference. Topics include correlation, regression, probability models, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Examples will be selected from many fields, such as anthropology, business, medicine, psychology, sociology, and education. Students will be expected to use appropriate computer software.
MAT 181 Calculus I
School Districts: Danbury High School, Newtown, Bethel, Brookfield, Immaculate, New Fairfield
Course Description: Calculus I will introduce students to the ideas and applications of single variable differential calculus and to the foundations of single variable integral calculus. This will include, but not be limited to, the definitions and applications of limits, continuity, the derivative, and the definite and indefinite integral. Students will be expected both to become proficient with basic skills and to demonstrate an understanding of the underlying principles of the subject. Students should expect to make appropriate use of technology in this course. Knowledge of Precalculus will be assumed, in particular knowledge of lines, polynomials, rational functions, trigonometric functions, and exponential and logarithmic functions. Students are also expected to be proficient with algebra.
MAT 182 Calculus II
School Districts: Danbury High School, Bethel, New Fairfield
Course Description: Calculus II will introduce students to a variety of new techniques of integration, to some applications of integration, and to sequences and series. Students will be expected both to become proficient with basic skills and to demonstrate an understanding of the underlying principles of the subject. Students should expect to make appropriate use of technology in this course. Knowledge of Calculus I will be assumed, in particular knowledge of the rules and concepts behind differentiation and basic integration.
MUS 192 Orchestra
School District: Ridgefield High School
An ensemble of string, wind, and percussion players that performs traditional and contemporary orchestral literature. Open to all students of the university with an audition. Offered every semester.
WRT 101 Composition I
School District: Danbury High School
Course Description: The goal for WRT 101: Composition 1 Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric is for students to gain confidence and fluency with writing and reading at the college level. The course teaches students how to write for various rhetorical situations in academic and non-academic genres. Through complex readings, students gain rhetorical knowledge as they critically analyze the audience, purpose, genre, and context of various forms; this knowledge is applied to their own writing. Students gain an introduction to finding, evaluating, and incorporating sources to support their own ideas. In addition, students learn to reflect critically on their writing and themselves as writers to encourage independent writing and revision in the future.
SPA 196 Continuing Spanish I
School Districts: Danbury High School, New Fairfield
Course Description: The first semester course in the continuing Spanish sequence. Focuses on reading, writing, oral comprehension and speaking through a study of Hispanic cultures.
SPA 197 Continuing Spanish II
School District: New Fairfield High School
Course Description: The second semester course in the continuing Spanish sequence. Focuses on reading, writing, oral comprehension and speaking through a study of Hispanic cultures.
ENG 108 Introduction to Literature
School District: Danbury High School
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to literature and its major genres: fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction. By examining the nature, structure, and key elements of literature and reading and analyzing a wide selection of literary texts from major literary genres, this course will enhance students’ abilities to appreciate, understand, and critique literature as embodied in its major modes of expression of the human condition. Not for major credit. Every semester.
Any student in an approved Early College Experience course (usually Juniors and Seniors, but potentially Sophomores) may take these classes.
Your high school teachers will provide a link to our online application and provide a password. Parents complete the form by the deadline (the Friday before the third week of a semester).
Get a head start on college courses with a discounted tuition rate!
Cost per Course
$65
Course Fee apply’s to both 3 or 4 credit course
