Howard Community College

Early College Gives High School Students an Advance Start A recent partnership between the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and Howard Community College will enable local high school students to earn their associate degree only one year after graduating from high school. The Early College program starts while students are still in high school, providing a unique opportunity for students to enrich their education and get an advanced start on college. Early College Cybersecurity is designed for students who want to pursue careers in cybersecurity, an evolving industry in which professionals work to protect business and government computer systems from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. Courses will be offered at the HCPSS Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL) and Howard Community College. Early College STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is designed for students at Oakland Mills High School who are interested in pursuing a college degree in science or in education with a science or math emphasis. Courses will be offered at Oakland Mills High School and Howard Community College. As a key feature of the Early College program, students will learn with a group of other students called a cohort. By taking many of their classes together, students will experience a collaborative learning community and connect with others who have similar academic interests. Through Early College, students will earn college credits and a degree for a fraction of the cost typically paid for the first two years at a four-year university. In fact, families will pay reduced tuition costs while their children take college classes in high school, and there is an even greater reduction for families who qualify for tuition assistance. By participating in Early College, students will discover the value of learning at Howard Community College. COLLEGE 4 Howard Community College

• Cover