Dual Enrollment and Early College
Dual Enrollment 2025-2026
There are two local colleges that are offering opportunities to take part in Dual Enrollment for this school year - Mass Bay Community College & Framingham State University. If you are interested in taking a free college course, please read about the individual programs and application processes below, as they differ from school to school. The deadline is of utmost importance - DECEMBER 24, 2025.
Dual Enrollment gives a junior or senior the ability to take one free elective through a local community college or university, earn college credit, as well as complete credits toward their high school diploma. Students are only able to take 7 courses per semester, so the CDEP Dual Course would replace one half-year elective that is taught at NHS; regardless of the format or timing of when the CDEP course is offered. Not every student will be able to fit a Dual Course into their schedule. If you have questions about whether it would work with your schedule, please consult with your individual guidance counselor.
General Notes About Dual Enrollment:
Free Dual Enrollment CDEP Courses taken during the spring semester will automatically go on a student's NHS transcript and will count for elective credit toward graduation. This is because the course counts as one of the student's seven classes for the semester at NHS. Students may not take a CDEP class as an 8th class in a semester. The course does not factor into the student's GPA.
Dual Enrollment Classes that are taken outside of the CDEP-specific offerings OR over the summer - in general - may be added to a student's NHS transcript (by student request and by bringing in an official transcript from MBCC). The course will simply be listed on the transcript, but will not count toward graduation requirements or a student's GPA.
Please keep in mind that you cannot take more than one CDEP class in the Spring 2026 Semester. You SHOULD NOT apply to take a class at both Mass Bay Community College and Framingham State University because taking both will not be allowed.
------------------------------------------------------
DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM #1: MASS BAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Massachusetts Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership (CDEP) provides opportunities for Massachusetts high school students to take college-level courses for free and earn credit toward high school completion and their future college degrees.
MassBay Community College is offering FREE college-level courses this spring for juniors and seniors only at our identified partner high schools – Bellingham, Framingham, Hopkinton, Keefe, and Natick. Classes will be held on campus after school hours or fully Online from January 20, 2026 - May 17, 2026.
CDEP helps qualified students to get a head start on their college careers. The ultimate goal of CDEP is to increase the number of high school graduates who are college-ready. Students will have the following costs covered by the grant: tuition, fees, and textbooks.
Below are the descriptions of the courses being offered at MBCC, a link to the optional information sessions, as well as a link to apply to take a class. Students can apply to take a course before attending an information session or wait until after they’ve had their questions answered at a session. Again, they do not have to attend an information session to apply. The information sessions are open to students, parents, and any school staff who’d like to attend.
For the 2025-2026 school year, the courses being offered are:
1. Contemporary Nutrition (NS 101) - Class offered Online
Contemporary Nutrition examines nutritional principles. A study of the main nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals is made. Dietary recommendations for optimal health for different age groups are covered and used to design diet plans. Modern society’s afflictions due to nutritional excesses or deficiencies are covered, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia. Emphasis is given to the use of sound dietary practices as the means for preventing disease.
2. Drugs and Society (SO 221) - Class offered Online
Examines drug use, abuse, and regulation from a social and public health perspective. Emphasizes the social, economic, political, and legal issues concerning drug use and abuse, drug policy, drug enforcement, and the impact of drugs on individuals, communities, and society.
3. Health Careers Exploration (HL 109) - MassBay Framingham Campus - This course will meet in person on select Thursdays: 1/22, 2/5, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26, 4/9, and 5/7. - 6:00-9:00 PM. The rest of the class is Online.
This course will give learners a broad basis of understanding of diverse healthcare occupations to make a well-informed decision in pursuit of a self-actualizing career. This course introduces medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, career pathway exploration and critical soft skills, global healthcare, cultural diversity in patient care, an introduction to medical administration, and introductory skills of health occupations such as taking and recording vital signs, effective communication, and infection control techniques.
4. Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJ 101) MassBay Framingham Campus - Tuesdays 6:00-8:45 PM
An introduction to the history, development, and philosophy of criminal justice. Topics covered include constitutional limitations, agencies of criminal justice, and the process of criminal justice.
PLEASE NOTE: Only two courses - "Contemporary Nutrition" and "Drugs and Society" are being offered fully online through MBCC (and cannot be taken again, if they were taken last school year as a junior). If a student registers for any of the other courses, it is the student's responsibility to organize transportation, as NHS and MBCC will not provide transportation to or from the college.
Representatives of MBCC will be offering three information sessions in the upcoming weeks in order for you to learn more about the dual enrollment program and the classes MBCC is offering. The meeting is not mandatory; however, their representatives can answer any of your individual questions about CDEP. The dates for those meetings are:
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | 4:00 PM
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 4:00 PM
Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 6:30 PM
Register for information sessions at: https://forms.gle/q62TCgUefhQcF5ZFA
Please plan to attend one of those meetings if you are interested in taking a course through MBCC during Semester 2. Once you sign up for the information session, a link for the virtual meeting will be emailed to you.
The deadline to register for one of these dual enrollment courses is DECEMBER 24, 2025.
To directly apply to take part in a CDEP Dual Course, the application for the MBCC dual enrollment classes can be found here: Dual Enrollment Application***
***Completing an enrollment form does not guarantee acceptance into the program; however, it is the first step in identifying your interest in participating.
If you have specific questions regarding the Mass Bay Community College Program, please contact:
Elaine Rosenburg
MassBay Community College
erosenburg@massbay.edu
------------------------------------------------------
DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM #2: FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY
We are hopeful to offer this second dual enrollment program in Spring 2026. We are still in the process of finalizing details and arrangements with Framingham State; so running this program is still tentative.
Art from Around the World
This course runs online (synchronously - meaning you log into a virtual platform, but at a specific time)
Professor Yumi Park
Monday evening, 5:30-8:30pm, and 1 hour of online assignments
An introductory course designed for students with little or no background in art. The course uses a variety of teaching methods to introduce the principles of visual arts and the role that the arts play in human culture around the world.
The Role of Women in Literature
This course runs online (synchronously - meaning you log into a virtual platform, but at a specific time)
Professor Colleen Shaughnessy
Tuesday evening, 5:30-8:30pm, and 1 hour of online assignments
Study of literature by and about women including diverse images and roles of women as they are recorded by representative writers throughout America and the world from the past to present. Reading selections reflect the diversity of ethnic and racial traditions in the United States and the variety of social, political, and economic backgrounds of women's experience.
Introduction to Archaeology
This course runs online (synchronously - meaning you log into a virtual platform, but at a specific time)
Professor Demetrios Brella
Wednesday evening, 5:30-8:30, plus one hour of online assignments
An introduction to the field of Archaeology. The course investigates beliefs and practices of past Western and non-Western cultures, including those involving treatment of the dead, religion & ritual, power and prestige, economy, art, architecture, and gender. Students learn how archaeologists use techniques such as excavation, surveying, and interpretation to study past behavior. Students will also explore how archaeology has helped write the story of human evolution and the development of human civilization across the world.
In order to express interest in taking a CDEP Dual Enrollment Course with Framingham State, please follow the instructions below to create an FSU Account.
The deadline to register for one of these dual enrollment courses is DECEMBER 24, 2025. The explanation of how to do so is provided below.
How to Register & Create an FSU Account
To register, you must first create an FSU Account by following the steps below:
1. Access the Registration Form
Click the link below to open the form. If the link doesn’t work, copy and paste it into your browser:
https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Submit/Start/aab9dbef-43a4-4b41-92fc-fd178c64143c?SSO=N
2. Create a New Account
At the bottom left of the page, click “Create New Account” (below the login section).
3. Set Up Your Login Information
• Create a unique username and password.
• Enter your first name and last name.
• Provide a valid email address.
• Choose a security question and enter your answer.
4. Complete Account Creation
Click “Create Account.”
You’ll receive a verification email, open it and click the verification link to confirm your email.
5. Log In to Dynamic Forms
After verification, you’ll be redirected back to Dynamic Forms. Click, “Login to Dynamic Form” and sign in.
6. Add Additional Verification (Recommended)
After logging in, you’ll be prompted to add a cell phone number for extra security
• Option 1 (Recommended): Enter your phone number and confirm the code sent to you.
• Option 2: Skip this step (not recommended).
7. Complete the Enrollment Form***
Once logged in, you’ll be directed to the Enrollment Form, which you can fill out, sign, and submit.
• If you are directed to your Dynamic Forms user portal instead of the registration form, simply return to the link in Step 1 and paste it into your browser to access the form directly.
• Please note: The form must be signed by a parent or guardian.
8. Next Steps
After submitting your form, you’ll be redirected to your Dynamic Forms Portal and should see the confirmation message: “Thank you for submitting your Early College Application Form.” To verify your submission anytime, select “My Forms History”, and your application will be listed if it was successfully completed.
***Completing an enrollment form does not guarantee acceptance into the program; however, it is the first step in identifying your interest in participating.
Tips for Troubleshooting
1. Check the Link
Make sure your FSU account has been created before trying to open the form. Once your account is active, access the form using this link:
https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Submit/Start/aab9dbef-43a4-4b41-92fc-fd178c64143c?SSO=N
• If the link doesn’t open, copy and paste it into a new browser window. Chrome or Microsoft Edge usually work best.
2. Account Verification
After creating your account, confirm that you’ve clicked the verification link sent to your email. If you didn’t receive it, check your Spam or Junk folder. You’ll need to complete this step before you can log in.
3. Use the Correct Login
Be sure to sign in with the same email address you used when creating your Dynamic Forms account. Using a different email will prevent the system from recognizing your account.
4. If You’re Redirected to the Portal Instead of the Form
After creating your account, you may be sent to your Dynamic Forms user portal rather than the application form. Since the application isn’t assigned through the portal, no forms will appear there. To access the correct form, simply return to the link above and paste it into your browser, it will open the application directly.
If you have specific questions regarding the Framingham State University Program, please contact:
Dr. Dana Fusco
Executive Director
MetroWest College Planning Collaborative
dfusco1@framingham.edu
------------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions or need help filling out either registration form, please see Mr. Nardi in the guidance department.
------------------------------------------------------
Early College Programs
Early College is a way for a student to start the foundation of a college degree, while simultaneously expressing interest in a college education at a particular school. Some programs issue college credits, while others are simply experiential. There are many options for Early College Programs across the country, each with their particular application process and requirements.
Here are four examples of Early College Programs: