If you are thinking about college, then the Massachusetts Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership (CDEP) makes it easier! You can take college courses while still in high school and earn credits that will transfer to most two and four year public college and universities. It’s a head start on your college journey! These classes are meaningful and challenging, giving you an awesome early college experience. If you’re not sure if college is for you or not, CDEP can be your first step into exploring higher education. Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity!
- Free
- Get college credit
- Location varies by school (*virtual, high school, on-campus)
- Courses offered primarily in the spring and summer semesters on the Leominster or Gardner Campus, and open to Massachusetts rising juniors and seniors
Summer 2025 Courses
We’re excited to let you know about an incredible opportunity from Mount Wachusett Community College in partnership with the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership:
This summer, students can take a free college course that can count toward general education credits at Massachusetts state universities and many private colleges!
What You Need to Know:
- Four free college courses will be offered: Hazardous Materials Chemistry, College Writing 1, Sociology, and Psychology.
- Summer Session I: May 19 – July 1
- ST154 – Hazardous Materials Chemistry
- Format: Online + One In-Person Meeting (June 14, Devens Fire Department)
- Learn about: Chemical hazards, identification, reactivity, and health risks in emergency response
- Prerequisites: ENG 098, RDG 098, FYE 101, or placement
- ST154 – Hazardous Materials Chemistry
- Summer II: July 7 – August 14
- ENG101 – College Writing I
- Fully Online, Asynchronous
- Develop college-level essays, use MLA format, and complete a research paper with librarian support
- PSY105 – Introduction to Psychology
- Fully Online, Asynchronous
- Study brain function, learning, personality, and psychological disorders
- SOC103 – Introduction to Sociology
- Online with Live Meetings: Tues/Thurs, 9:00–10:30 AM
- Explore culture, inequality, social institutions, and global awareness
- All Summer II courses require the same prerequisites as above.
- ENG101 – College Writing I
- Summer Session I: May 19 – July 1
- Classes are online, so you can still work, travel, or relax this summer.
- Open to rising high school juniors and seniors.
- Current seniors are eligible for only the FST154: Hazardous Materials Chemistry Fire Science course, which starts before graduation.
Who Should Apply?
We encourage all interested students to apply—even if college isn’t something you’ve fully decided on yet. This is a great chance to try a real college class with no cost or long-term commitment. Priority is given to students who are not already participating in our early college program.
While a minimum GPA of 2.7 is typical, we’re flexible and also consider things like teacher recommendations, maturity, test scores (MCAS, SAT/ACT), and more. We want to make this opportunity available to as many students as possible. Students should indicate which class there are interested in enrolling in. If they are interested in more than one, they can make note of that but there is no guarantee that a second course seat will be available.
How to Apply
High school rising juniors and seniors apply by visiting mwcc.edu/apply Complete the Dual Enrollment Special Programs application and list which class you would like to take in the essay section.Â