Early Online College

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Explore Early Online College: Your Path to Higher Education Starts Here!

What is Early Online College?

Early Online College gives qualified juniors and seniors in Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Schools an opportunity to take up to two tuition-free courses for the Fall 2024 semester. Early Online College courses run from September 23, 2024 - December 17, 2024.

Important Dates

  • Early Online College application opens April 22, 2024.
  • A completed application for Early Online College is due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024.
  • Online courses begin on September 23, 2024, and end on December 17, 2024.
  • The Drop date is October 5, 2024.
  • The Withdrawal Date is November 13, 2024.

Early Online College Information Session

All courses are offered online in an asynchronous format; you will not have real-time, scheduled meetings. This is a deadline driven course and you must meet course specific deadlines.

You can learn more about NOVA Online asynchronous courses here.

You can select your courses in the online portal here.

EOC Course

Course Name

Credits

Estimated Cost of Materials

ARA 101

Beginning Arabic I

4

$40.00

CST 110

Introduction to Communication

3

$0

ECO 201

Principles of Macroeconomics

3

$0

ECO 202

Principles of Microeconomics

3

$0

GEO 200

Introduction to Physical Geography

3

$0

HIS 102

Western Civilization Post 1600 CE

3

$0

ITE 152

Introduction to Digital and Information Literacy and Computer Applications

3

$165

ITN 101

Prerequisite or corequisite: ITE 152

Introduction to Network Concepts

3

$165

ITN 107

Personal Computer Hardware and Troubleshooting

3

$150

ITN 257

Cloud Computing: Infrastructure and Services

3

$165

REL 100

Introduction to the Study of Religion

3

$0

SDV 100

College Success Skills

1

$0

SOC 268

Social Problems

3

$0

These are estimated book costs based on Spring 2024 and are subject to change.

Information Systems Technology: IT Technical Support C.S.C.

The Information Systems Technology: IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate can be completed through Early Online College for students starting junior year in Fall 2023.

This certificate can be added to your NOVA account. If you plan to complete the C.S.C. please complete the DE Degree Seeing Request eForm.

Fall 2023 Junior Year Spring 2024 Junior Year Fall 2024 Senior Year Spring 2025 Senior Year
ITE 152 ITN 101. 3 credits (CompTIA Network+) ITN 107. 3 credits (CompTIA A+ Hardware) ITN 106. 3 credits (CompTIA A+ Software)
SDV 100 ITN 257. 3 credits (AWS Certified Cloud) ITN 260. 3 credits (CompTIA Security+)

Uniform Certificate of General Studies

Part of the Uniform Certificate of General Studies may be completed through Early Online College. 

This certificate can be added to your NOVA account. If you plan to complete the Uniform Certificate of General Studies, please complete the DE Degree Seeking Request eForm.

Tuition for up to two select courses will be paid via scholarship. Students do not owe tuition and fees for courses enrolled through the Early Online College program. Students are responsible for any textbooks or course materials required.

Students will see a tuition bill for their Early Online College courses and will receive email reminders to make a payment. As long as you followed the outlined registration steps and were enrolled in an Early Online College section (DN) through the Office of Dual Enrollment, please disregard these reminders. NOVA will apply your tuition and fees to your account by the last day of the course. You are responsible for tuition and fees for any course enrolled outside of the EOC program.

  1. Early Online College students must be a junior or senior attending Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, or Prince William County Schools. Students must provide a current transcript to demonstrate their enrollment in ACPS, APS, FCPS, LCPS, or PWCS.
  2. Students must be in good academic standing at NOVA. Learn more about academic standing at NOVA.
  3. Students may take 18 credits per term, 19 if taking SDV 100. This includes all NOVA course work each semester. Learn more about NOVA's credit limit.
  4. Students must provide evidence of a qualifying score. All students must provide a current high school transcript. Additional test scores can be added to meet college readiness policies outlined below:
    • High school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; or
    • PSAT EBRW score of 390 or higher; or
    • SAT EBRW score of 480 or higher; or
    • ACT English/Reading score of 18 or higher.

Early Online College courses are tuition free! Please note that you will be charged tuition by NOVA but the tuition will be paid during the semester by the College.

Textbook and other course material purchases may be required.

You may take a maximum of two courses through Early Online College for Fall 2024 semester.

College Transcript
By enrolling in an Early Online College class, you are starting or continuing an official college transcript. You will be required to share this transcript with every college or university to which you may later apply.

Enrollment is Limited
Early Online College enrollment is limited, and individual courses may be further limited based on qualified instructor availability. You will be notified if your choice is not available.

Accommodations & Accessibility
Under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability services are available to you if you are currently enrolled, have a documented disability that substantially limits you in one or more of life's major activities, and are otherwise academically qualified. To use services in a NOVA class, you must apply online at NOVA’s Accommodations and Accessibility Services page.

How Do I Apply to the Early Online College Program?

STEP 1: Apply to NOVA

  • Complete your application to NOVA and select your admit term as Fall 2024.
  • Be sure to copy your EMPLID, username, and password for future reference.
  • If you have already applied to NOVA, please skip to step 2.

STEP 2: Complete your Early Online College Application

  • Go to https://nvcc.dualenroll.com/login. First-time users must create an account using your personal email address and a new username and password. This is not the same as your NOVA login credentials that you were given when you applied to NOVA.
  • Returning users log into your existing https://nvcc.dualenroll.com/login account.
  • Be sure to select Early Online College Fall 2024 as your term.
  • Pick up two courses. If you select more than two courses, your request will not be approved.
  • All students must upload a current high school transcript, and any additional qualifying score reports if they are using test scores to qualify for courses.

STEP 3: Check your email for updates on your Early Online College application.

  • We will send you email updates as we process your application. Timely response is required. All steps and necessary documents must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on July 26, 2024.

EOC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Early Online College students must be high school juniors or seniors currently enrolled in Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, or Prince William County Public Schools.

Students must meet the same academic eligibility requirements as dual enrollment students.

Students who have previously taken courses with NOVA must have good academic standing at NOVA.

EOC courses were chosen because they apply to NOVA degrees and have a high percentage of transfer pathways. Courses are selected to meet Virginia’s Uniform Certificate of General Studies requirements.

The Early Online College (EOC) program will launch its first Career Studies Certificate (C.S.C.) opportunity in Fall 2023. EOC students will have the opportunity to complete the C.S.C., IT Technical Support in a 2-year pathway at no tuition cost. In addition to earning the C.S.C. while in high school, students will also be prepared to earn the following Industry Credentials: AWS - AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, CompTIA - A+ Software/Hardware, and CompTIA - Network+ CompTIA Security+.

High school students may have their degree or certificate(s) added to their account for tracking.

Please complete the Dual Enrollment Recommendation: Student Commitment to Complete Certificate or Degree (Form 125-345) if you are working towards a degree or certificate(s) at NOVA.

All EOC courses are offered asynchronously through NOVA Online (NOL). There will not be regularly scheduled real-time meetings. However, you will be expected to meet regular deadlines outlined on the course syllabus. Instructors are available for office hours and may offer virtual meetings throughout the course. Students who take courses through NOL must have access to a computer and reliable internet, and may be required to participate in classes or take exams with their camera on. Remote proctored exams also require the use of the Respondus Lockdown Browser, which must be downloaded to the student's computer. For more information about NOL courses, view the orientation section of their website.

No! Early Online College courses are college courses; final grades are entered on your official NOVA transcript. You will be required to submit this transcript to every college or university to which you may later apply. As an EOC student, you will have access to free online tutoring ,and NOVA Online Success Coaches to help you be successful in your classes – please take advantage of these resources!

Make sure you check your NOVA email regularly for reminders and updates from NOL and instructors and get started on the course start date.

Should you desire to drop or withdraw from your EOC courses, please see the links here:

NOVA Online instructors will teach courses. You will be enrolled in an EOC section and will not have the option to select your instructor.

Questions?