College Credit
Students may earn college credit for select courses taken at Norwich Free Academy through our concurrent or dual enrollment partnerships with the University of Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut State University and Three Rivers Community College. Instructors are Academy teachers certified as adjunct professors by the colleges.
The Early College Experience program at UConn and the Dual Enrollment Program at ECSU provide academically motivated students opportunities to take university courses while still in high school. In these courses, students experience challenging college work, build their college readiness confidence and earn college credit, providing both an academic and financial head start on a college degree. These courses foster independent learning, creativity and critical thinking - all pivotal for success in college.
The UConn Office of Early College Programs (OECP) provides information on the likelihood of the transferability of UConn credit earned through UConn ECE while at NFA. To see the list of colleges and universities, click here.
ADR865
Students continue to develop observational drawing skills and enhance their knowledge of drawing methods and tools as they work from nature, the figure, still life and their imagination. Students demonstrate problem-solving and idea development in required sketchbooks. Studio fee, Prerequisite: ADR661 or ADR601 (full year – 1 credit) 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent course: ART 1030: Drawing I (3 courses)
VMA854
Students accepted into the YMPI program will prepare for career opportunities in advanced manufacturing after high school. Students learn the safe use of essential manufacturing tools and equipment. Integrated throughout the class are opportunities for students to strengthen manufacturing mathematics, spatial reasoning, and workplace preparedness skills (resumes, interviewing, etc.) Students have the opportunity to gain OSHA 10 certification, 150 pre-apprenticeship hours, four college credits and interview with local employers. Prerequisite: VIM651 with C or higher, Additional 1/2 credit Tech Ed course, teacher/counselor approval (½ year - 1 credit). Second semester, double channel, grade 12.
Three Rivers Community College equivalent courses: MFG 1415 Safety in the Workplace (2 credits), EGR 112- Engineering Drawing Specs (3 credits), MFG 145 Benchwork (2 credits)
HWT806
Students study the major developments of Western Civilization from ancient times through the early Renaissance (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Early Christianity, Crusades), and examine evidence surviving from the Ancient and Medieval Periods and the historian’s challenge to interpret these materials. Students develop research skills and participate in a project using Slater Museum’s collections (full year –1 credit) 11 & 12.
UConn course equivalent HIST 1300: Western Traditions before 1500 (3 credits)
MCA956
Students study topics of limits, derivatives, and integrals and their applications. Prerequisite: A- in MCA855 or B+ in MIC955 and current mathematics teacher’s approval (full year – 1 credit) 12.
HEC956
Students learn about microeconomics by developing a thorough understanding of the economic principles that apply to consumers and producers within an economic system and of the nature of markets and the government’s role in the economy. Students learn about macroeconomics by studying the economic system as a whole including economic performance measures, the financial sector and international economics (full year – 1 credit) 12.
EEN956
UConn’s First-Year Writing courses introduce students to the work of college writing, which includes posing questions, developing sustained intellectual projects, and generating knowledge that invites engagement with wide and varied audiences. Students work on projects in which they select and define places where they might advance the class conversation across various media. Additionally, students study a variety of texts and are offered the opportunity to take the AP Literature and Composition Exam. Prerequisite: EEN785 or EEN786 (full year – 1 credit) 12.
HWC806
*This course will be offered every other year. It will be next offered during the 2024-2025 school year.
Students examine European events and movements from the Renaissance to the present day to understand the forces and ideas that have shaped our culture. Because the study of history goes beyond content, students study topics in a variety of ways and approaches, including analysis of primary source documents, classroom discussions, simulations and historical writing tasks (full year - 1 credit) 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent course: HIST1400: Modern Western Traditions (3 credits).
MSA806
Students learn standard and nonparametric approaches to statistical analysis; exploratory data analysis, elementary probability, sampling distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing, one- and two-sample procedures, regression and correlation. Fee: Cost of textbook. Prerequisite: B+ in MFS854 or B- in MCA855 and current mathematics teacher’s approval (full year – 1 credit) 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent course STAT1100Q: Elementary Concepts of Statistics (3 credits)
SES756
Students investigate the Earth’s biotic and abiotic systems and how humans influence and depend upon them. With sustainability as a central theme, specific course topics include ecology, natural resources management, energy, pollution, human population dynamics, and climate change. Students have opportunities for field study, engage in required after-school labs, and complete summer coursework (full year – 1.25 credit) 10, 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent course NRE1000: Environmental Science (4 credits)
SPY976
Students cover material equivalent to two semesters of algebra-based college physics. Students study Newtonian mechanics, energy, heat, fluids, waves, and sound in the fall semester. In the spring semester, students study electricity and magnetism, modern physics and optics. After-school lab work is required. Fee: Cost of the textbook. Prerequisite: B or higher in Algebra 2 strongly recommended (full year – 1.25 credits) 11 & 12.
LSC956
Students attain proficiency to understand, speak, read, and write Spanish at a college level and to develop and refine skills acquired over several years of study. Students focus upon mastery of language skills, rather than upon content of specific texts. Fee: Cost of textbook. Prerequisite: LSC855, LSL855 or equivalent (full year – 1 credit) 12.
UConn equivalent course SPAN3178: Intermediate Spanish Composition (3 credits)
VED601
Students expand upon technical drawing concepts using AutoCAD for two-dimensional and 3D solid modeling applications. Students explore additional software tools used in the industry including Solidworks and Chief Architect. Students have the opportunity to earn college credit while engaging in real-life projects and develop teamwork, design and problem-solving skills. Strong foundations in algebra are highly recommended for success in this course Prerequisite VED201 (½ year – ½ credit) 9, 10, 11 & 12.
SHB805
In this rigorous college-level course, students engage in a more thorough study of the regions, structure, and function of the human body with an emphasis on tissue organization and organ systems. Students complete laboratory exercises involving microscopy of tissues, dissection of Felis domesticus, and investigations of contemporary scientific research. Students complete summer coursework (full year – 1 credit) 11 & 12.
ECSU equivalent course Bio 202/203: Human Biology, Lecture & Lab (4 credits)
SAY685
In this rigorous college-level course, students study the ever-changing universe while exploring galactic, stellar and planetary formation; investigate the relationships among math, physics, and astronomy; and study the history of astronomy. Prerequisite: B or better in Honors Integrated Science and/or Recommendation from current science teacher (½ year –½ credit) 10, 11 & 12.
ECSU equivalent course AST214: Descriptive Astronomy w/Lab (4 credits)
HEC905
Students learn about microeconomics by studying the relationship among scarcity, opportunity, cost, and supply and demand, and individual consumer and firm behavior. Students learn about macroeconomics by studying the economy as a whole, and by examining unemployment, productivity, inflation, trade, and development (full year – 1 credit) 11 & 12.
ECSU equivalent course ECO100: Political Economy of Social Issues (3 credits)
ACP875
Fine Arts students further develop observational drawing skills, enhance knowledge of basic drawing tools and techniques, and explore the conceptual ideas of image making by emphasizing concepts in composition and organization and creation of volumetric space. Students maintain required sketch-books for personal exploration and idea development. Studio fee, Prerequisite: ADR664 (full year – 1 credit) 10, 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent ART1030: Drawing 1 (3 Credits)
ESP985
Students learn the fundamentals of speech communication. They listen to, deliver, discuss, write about and respond to informative, persuasive, interview and impromptu speeches. Speeches are videotaped and critiqued. Literature, grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and critical thinking are central to the course (full year – 1 credit) 12.
ECSU equivalent course COM230: Basic Speech (3 credits)
FIF705
Students study human development and family studies in depth in this college-level course. Students gain an understanding of individual and family development over the lifespan and explore the development of the individual that occurs in family systems over time. Forty hours of student field study is a UConn/ECE requirement. This class requires a summer assignment (full year – 1 credit) 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent course: Individual & Family Development (3 credits)
VIM651
Students explore the changing high-tech, innovative nature of advanced manufacturing with emphasis upon manufacturing systems & processes, safety, materials, production and career paths. Students create everyday products and prototypes with CNC machines, 3D printers and a variety of materials (metals, woods, plastic). Students can earn college credit and entry into the (YMPI) Youth Manufacturing Program Initiative (½ year – ½ credit) 11 & 12.
SCH876
Students study general chemistry in depth at the college level and perform required after-school lab work and tests. UConn supplies tests, labs, online homework, and book work. Students complete summer coursework. Prerequisite: B or higher in SCH485, SCH804, or SCH805 (full year – 1.25 credits) 11 & 12.
LCH856
Students focus upon intensive development and use of grammar and vocabulary, develop fluency in oral communication, reading and writing, and exploration and research of aspects of Chinese culture, history and literature. Prerequisite: Successful completion of LCH654 or permission of teacher (full year – 1 credit) 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent course CHIN 1114: Intermediate Chinese II (4 credits)
HSO806
This course helps students understand the interconnection between society, groups and the individual. Students explore general themes, such as diversity, religion, culture, family, and various societal forces which intersect with one another to shape everyday lives. (full-year) 1 credit. Open to 11&12.
UConn course equivalent SOCI1001: Sociology (3 credits)
LLA956
Students expand their lexical and reading skills to understand, analyze, interpret, and enjoy the literature of late Roman Republic and early Empire. Students complete outside readings in English and Latin to develop analytical skills and a background in literary criticism. Prerequisite: LLA655 or equivalent (full year – 1 credit) 12.
UConn equivalent course CAMS3102: Topics in Advanced Latin (3 credits)
SPY956
Students study Newtonian mechanics, work, energy, heat, fluids, mechanical waves and sound in this algebra-based physics course. This course is UConn PHYS1201Q (first-semester course in college physics) presented over a full year. Prerequisite: B or higher in Algebra 2 strongly recommended (full year – 1 credit) 11 & 12.
UConn equivalent course PHYS1201Q: General Physics I (4 credits)
HUS806
Students develop the skills and factual knowledge to critically analyze events in U.S. history. Students prepare to meet the writing and research requirements of intermediate and advanced college courses. Students assess historical materials and weigh evidence and interpretations in historical scholarship. Students will complete major research projects, including participation in Connecticut History Day (full year –1 credit) 11 & 12.