In the 2019-2020 school year, Maine’s students enrolled in 481 different courses. However, a closer look at this data reveal that similar courses are counted separately because each institution may use a different catalog number. For example, English 100 course titles include English Composition I and Writing Seminar. English 101 titles include College Composition, College Writing, Composition, and English Composition II. In order to get a better understanding of discrete topics, courses were grouped and assigned to a general category. Then, select course examples and topics were provided within each category. Course examples do not reflect the exact title of each course, and were synthesized for brevity. For example, United States History I, II, Civil: Past/Present/Future, US History Since 1900, US History Since 1877, and Early 20th Century US History 1989-1938 are encompassed in the General Category “History” with United States as the “Select Course Example”.
Early College (EC) Course Summary (2019-20)
| General Category | Select Course Examples* | Number of Students** |
|---|---|---|
| Math: Applied | For Elementary Teachers/Applications/Bridge | 8 |
| Math: Algebra | Models/Linear/College | 368 |
| Math: Calculus | Precalculus/Calculus (Levels 1-3) | 870 |
| Math: Advanced | Differential Equations/Discrete | 12 |
| Math: Statistics | Introductor | 650 |
| English | English Composition/Literature: Analysis, Anglo-American, British, Modern, Contemporary, American, Cultural Studies, Greek, Latin, World Masterpieces, Mythology & Fantasy/Writing: College, Journalism, Creative, Professional, Allied Health, Fiction, Poetry, Business & Technical/Women Writers/Understanding Dreaming | 1504 |
| Science: Physics | General/Descriptive/Engineering | 103 |
| Science: Biology | Arboriculture/Agriculture/Human/Anatomy & Physiology/Genetics/Marine/Plant/Behavior/Cellular/Evolution/Biotechnology/Cancer/Vet Technology | 369 |
| Science: Chemistry | Introductory/Allied Health | 210 |
| Science: Earth & Environmental | Oceanography/Sustainable Agriculture/Global Environmental Problems/Forestry/Geoscience/Volcanoes, Earthquakes & Plates/Astronomy/Meteorology | 140 |
| Science: Integrated | Career Explorations | 11 |
| Science: Engineering | Innovative Engineering Fundamentals/Civil Graphics/Sustainability | 32 |
| History | Civilizations/Global/United States/African American/Modern Europe/American Military/Maine Woods/Maine & the Sea/Latin America/North American Indian/Ancient Near East & Greece | 565 |
| Psychology | Introductory/Social Influence/Abnormal/Statistics/Motivation/Personality/Animal-Assisted Therapy/Behavior/ General/Social/ Cinema | 507 |
| Language & Culture | Languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, Spanish/Culture: Francophone, Japanese Society, World Food, Religious Studies | 358 |
| Computer Science | Programming/Web Applications/Networking/Coding/IT/App-G/Python/Algorithms/Java/Organization/Data Structures/Logic/Security/Game Design/Virtual Reality/Visual Basic | 247 |
| Sociology | Introductory/Social Problems | 144 |
| Political Science | American Government/International Relations/World Politics/Theory/State & Local Government | 128 |
| Art | History: Architecture, Photography, Prehistoric through Medieval/Visual Culture Modern Era/Intermedia/Sculpture/Photography/Drawing/Studio Art/Design/Watercolor/2D & 3D Design/Ceramics/Painting/Cinema/Film | 128 |
| Communication | Public Speaking/Advertising/Interpersonal/Organizational/Health Communications & Marketing | 118 |
| Economics | Micro/Macro/World Food Supply/Small Business Management | 106 |
| Business | Introductory/Financial Accounting/Personal Finance/Law/Management/IT for Business/Entrepreneurship/Marketing/Insurance | 94 |
| Music & Theater | Country/Rock/Jazz/History/Film/Audio Recording/Theory/Business/Digital/Dance/Acting/Voice & Speech/Movement | 91 |
| Criminal Justice | Forensic Science/Investigations/Law | 85 |
| Health and Wellness Sciences/Sports | Wilderness First Responder/Outdoor activities/Coaching/Wellness/Nutrition/SCUBA/exercise physiology/Sports Science/Emergency Medical Response/Intro to Nursing | 88 |
| Education & Human Development | Exceptionality/Development: Human, Early Childhood, Childhood, Adolescent, Multicultural, Adulthood & Aging/Family Interaction/Mental Health | 62 |
| Anthropology | Cultural/World Religions/Civilization in South Asia | 52 |
| Leadership | Foundations/Ethics/Project Management | 41 |
| Aviation | Private Pilot/History/Unmanned Aircraft/Electronics/Wing Design & Build/ | 29 |
| Native American Studies | Introductory/Wabanaki Languages/Native American Cultures | 19 |
| Sign Language | Introductory | 18 |
| Peace Studies | Introductory/Nonviolence Perceptions/Peace & Pop Culture | 10 |
| Philosophy | Introductory/Environmental/Ethics/Religion/History/Language/Community | 10 |
| Geography | Introductory/Human/Topics | 6 |
| Maine Studies | Introductory/Maine Coast | 5 |
| Intro to College | College & Career Success | 3 |
| Community Studies | Introductory | 1 |
| Library Science | Introductory/Information/Careers | 3 |
| Women’s Studies | Introductory/Gender/Human Sexuality | 38 |
| Total: | 7233 |
* Does not always reflect exact title of each course, course names are synthesized for brevity
** Total students in each course by category, does not reflect headcount, if a student takes 2 courses, each course will be counted 1 time
Course selections include common gateway and general education courses. The greatest participation includes English and STEM related courses. Course subjects fulfill several different purposes. While Early College (EC) was intended to supplement the high school curriculum, EC Administrators are increasingly hearing from high school principals and school counselors that EC is supplanting the high school curriculum. EC is being utilized when there is a teacher shortage (e.g. mathematics, languages), or there are not enough teachers or students to offer advanced courses in small, rural schools (e.g. calculus, statistics). Concurrent Enrollment (CE) classes include a mix of courses that the high school would normally offer, as well as unique offerings based on the credentials of particular high school teachers. CE provides an introductory college experience for students who might not be ready for an independent online course. CE offers underprivileged students the opportunity to gain skills and confidence with the benefits of additional class time and support from their high school teacher.
According to one parent:
Early College levels the playing field for all Maine’s students. The benefits of living in Eastport have been huge including having my children grow up with their family close by. There has been part of me, however, that has always wondered if we should have moved away to give our kids more educational opportunities. Living in such a rural area limits access to certain classes that may be required to put kids in the best position to get into selective college programs. This is perhaps the biggest benefit of the early college program; it gives our kids the same opportunities to get into tough programs as kids from bigger schools.
This parent attributed the EC courses at the University of Maine System and Maine Community College System in providing her children with advanced course opportunities within the supportive community environment offered by Shead High School. Her son and daughter earned scholarships and were accepted into competitive programs in engineering and radiography, respectively.