Earn your High School Equivalency
24-Credit Hour Program
TC3 offers the 24-Credit Hour Program, enabling students to earn a high school equivalency diploma by completing a core set of college courses.
Once the required courses and some additional paperwork are completed, the student will receive their high school equivalency diploma. The High School Equivalency Program of the New York State Education Department has established the following guidelines for granting an equivalency diploma based on earned college credits:
- A student who has not earned a high school diploma may be issued a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma, provided satisfactory documentation is submitted for the ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵful completion of 24 college credits at an approved institution.
- The student must have reached the "maximum" compulsory school attendance age, defined as "the academic year in which the student turned 16 has ended (July 1)."
- The candidate must submit a completed special application form (Attachment J) and a transcript to the State Education Department. If the candidate is aged 17-18, or 16-18 and homeschooled, they must also complete and submit Attachment B with Attachment J.
- To certify Attachment J, the student must be accepted into a college degree program where the 24 credits will apply.
Students must receive the high school equivalency diploma from the State Education Department before matriculating into a college degree program. According to federal law, financial aid is not available for the 24-Credit Hour Program.
Course Distribution Requirements for Earning a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma Based on College Credits
The following courses meet the distribution requirements at TC3. The credits must satisfy requirements within the degree program to which the student will apply.
*Courses available online
- English Language Arts - 6 Credits
- Academic Writing I*
- Academic Writing II*
- Approaches to Literature*
- Fundamentals of Speech
- Interpersonal Communication*
- Creative Writing Workshop
- Mathematics - 3 Credits
- 100-level Math (Statistical Literacy*, College Algebra*, Pre-calculus*)
- 200-level Math (Calculus, Statistics*)
- Natural Science - 3 Credits
- Astronomy*
- Biology (including Human Biology/BIOL100* and Nutrition/BIOL114*)
- Chemistry
- Environmental Studies
- Geology
- Meteorology*
- Physics
- Social Science - 3 Credits
- Economics*
- History*
- Political Science*
- Psychology (such as PSYC103*, PSYC101*)
- Sociology (such as SOCI101*)
- Anthropology*
- Humanities - 3 Credits
- Approaches to Literature*
- Foreign Language (including SPAN101*)
- Art (including ART 101*)
- Music
- Philosophy (including PHIL101*, PHIL201*)
- Electives/College Degree Program Requirements - 6 Credits