“Dual enrollment has opened up a world of opportunities for our students, because they can take classes that give them a jump start on their future,” Jennifer Cormier, guidance counselor, said.

Three representatives from Fullerton College visited the BOHS Career Center April 25 to promote three dual enrollment opportunities – Public Speaking, Music Appreciation, and Introduction to Biotechnology — available to BOHS and BCHS students this summer.

Dual enrollment enables students to earn high school graduation and college credits concurrently, free of tuition.

According to Allison Hancock, Fullerton College representative, the program saves students “a lot of time and money in the long run” and “just really helps with the transition from high school to college.”

Recommended for juniors and seniors, Public Speaking (COMM 100) is a three-unit course conducted online via Canvas that focuses on developing speaking proficiency by using logic and reasoning. The course will run from June 16 to July 27.

Hoping to improve her oratory skills, Sarah Lee (‘28) is enrolling in the Public Speaking course to gain 

Introduction to Biotechnology with Biotechnology Lab (BIOL 190 & 190L) combines basic biotechnology content with lab elements on the Fullerton College Campus.

The three-unit course is a higher-level science option for BOHS students to meet their three years of science graduation requirement.

Cecilia Story, assistant principal, said that the dual enrollment science course is “a great class for students who are interested in going into the medical field and maybe can’t fit that third-year of science.”

The class will meet Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., from June 16 to July 20.

Music Appreciation (MUSC 116) is available to all grade levels to meet the Visual and Performing Arts graduation arts requirement and is conducted online via Canvas from June 16 to July 20. The three-unit course covers musical development from the Renaissance period to the present.

The three courses were selected based on student requests from schools already participating in the dual enrollment partnership with Fullerton College, according to Darlene Penilla, Fullerton College liaison for BOHS.

Each course follows a curriculum requiring students to engage with college-level textbooks (purchased by BOUSD for student use while enrolled in class), assignments, and Fullerton College professors. 

Some students who have already taken dual enrollment courses, like Stella Kim (‘25), who participated in Music Awareness in summer 2024, acknowledged the program’s many benefits. “Dual enrollment teaches you how to be more independent and manage your own time,” Kim said, “and it’s very convenient, with some classes available online.”

Another, benefit, according to Aubrie Violet (‘25), is early exposure to the rigors of college. “Dual enrollment helps with college being less stressful because as a senior I would like to get a vision of what I should expect in college,” Violet said. “I am scared to go to college because I have no idea what it’s gonna be like but with dual enrollment, you’ll be able to live through a vision of what to expect.” 

Enrollment in the courses also comes with “a whole team of support” from Fullerton College’s faculty, according to Hancock. “We have counseling courses that help for career readiness, finding out where your interests are, what career you’re interested in getting, building better study habits,” she said.

Students who later matriculate at Fullerton College gain early access to register for classes towards their degree or transfer requirements, increasing their chances to secure seats in their top-choice classes among the college’s student body of 23,000. 

To enroll, students must follow a six-step process, with deadlines for steps one to four by May 28, and completion by June 10. Steps include completing an interest form, applying online on the Fullerton College-BOUSD dual enrollment page, and attending an in-person orientation at Fullerton College.