Overview
Get a Head Start on College at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU).
Central is the oldest public university in Connecticut and currently serves more than 9,000 students across five academic schools: the Carol A. Ammon College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Engineering, Science, and Technology, and the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Central’s Dual Enrollment and Concurrent Enrollment (DECE) programs offer Connecticut high school students the opportunity to earn college credit before graduating from high school.
Central offers high school students access to specialized courses, a broad array of subjects, specialized electives, and career-focused or technical programs that are often unavailable in a standard high school curriculum. Students can select from courses in nearly every discipline including art, business, communications, computer science, criminology, dance, education, engineering, health sciences, mathematics, psychology, robotics, science, and sociology.
Tuition and fees are waived for students whose school or district is a partner with Central. All course prerequisites and eligibility requirements apply. Upon successful completion of a DECE course, students earn college credit from Central that can be applied towards their degree at Central or transferred to other institutions.
Choose the Option That Works for You
- Concurrent Enrollment - Take Central-approved college courses at your high school, taught by qualified high school teachers who have been approved by Central faculty. Earn transferable college credit without leaving your high school and complete coursework that may satisfy both high school and college requirements.
- Dual Enrollment - Take college courses on Central's campus alongside Central students and experience college life firsthand. Receive direct access to Central’s amenities, including libraries, tutoring centers, science labs, and computer labs and learn to navigate college-level lectures, time management, and self-discipline outside the structured high school environment. Connect with professors for future recommendation letters and participate in campus events and student organizations. Enhance your college admissions profile by taking college courses on a college campus, which proves to admissions officers that you can handle university-level coursework.
The Future Doesn't Wait. Neither Should You. Get Your Head Start at Central!
Programming and Partnerships
Central Connecticut State University DECE is proud to partner with more than 30 high schools across the state of Connecticut to provide students with early opportunities to explore careers and experience college.
Central’s high school partners receive several targeted operational and institutional benefits.
- Tuition is waived for students enrolled through participating partner schools and districts.
- Enhanced College and Career Readiness for Central’s DECE Students
- Curriculum Enhancement and Faculty Development
- Equitable Access to Advanced Coursework
- Parental Satisfaction
Are you a school district or a high school that is interested in partnering with Central? Administrators or School Counselors looking for more information on how to initiate a partnership agreement with Central, should contact Dr. Kurt Love, Concurrent Enrollment Director, at lovekua@ccsu.edu or (860) 832-2124.
Student Eligibility
Central is committed to providing dual and concurrent credit opportunities to qualified high school students. Junior or Senior standing and a minimum high school GPA of 2.50 are typically required. Students who do not meet these criteria may apply but will require a pre-approval and a statement of readiness to be completed by their high school counselor and school principal.
Instructor Credentials for Concurrent Enrollment Courses
At Central, we qualify high school teachers to instruct our college-level course in adherence with New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) accreditation and Central’s standards. We offer teachers the opportunity for professional development and advancement. Concurrent instructors have comparable academic and professional backgrounds to Central’s Adjunct Faculty.
Teacher Requirements
- Master’s Degree with Teaching Experience
- Curriculum development and alignment experience
Central’s Commitment to Continuous Improvement for Faculty
- Participation in Professional Development
- Adherence to NECHE Standards
- Continuous Evaluation and Improvement
If you are interested in joining the Central family, please apply using our Concurrent Instructor Application.
Registration and Fees
Tuition and fees are waived for students whose school or district is a partner with Central. All submitted student registration requests must be approved by the high school counselor and approved by a parent/guardian. Students should contact their high school counselor to register and can learn more about the registration process on the Dual Enrollment and Concurrent Enrollment (DECE) website.
If your school or district is not a partner, or if you are a home-schooled student, we welcome you to take courses as a non-matriculated, visiting, part-time student. Visit the tuition and fees website for current rates.
Supports for Multilingual Families
CCSU Concurrent and Dual Enrollment follows all established University practices. Several programmatic documents including the Program Brochure and the Policies & Procedures Guide are available in Spanish. Parent/Guardian correspondence can be translated to Spanish.
Contact Information
Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships and Teaching Opportunities
Dr. Kurt Love, Concurrent Enrollment Director, Academic Affairs
lovekua@ccsu.edu
(860) 832-2124
Dual Enrollment and Concurrent Enrollment (DECE) Website
Dual Enrollment
Marylou Walsh Iannone, Academic Affairs
m.walshiannone@ccsu.edu
(860) 832-2219
DECE Website
Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Records
Barbara Zalot, Assistant Registrar
zalot@ccsu.edu
(860) 832-2240
DECE Website