Early College Courses
Students can enroll in any of the following courses and integrate them into their current program of study with WAspire Learning.
Entrepreneurship
This comprehensive entrepreneurship course guides you through the process of transforming ideas into actionable business concepts. From developing an entrepreneurial mindset and identifying opportunities to refining business models and creating investment-ready pitches, you’ll gain the tools needed to succeed. By the end of the course, you’ll have a validated business concept and the skills to confidently launch and scale your venture.
Global Leadership Development
This course guides students through a comprehensive exploration of leadership, helping them reflect on their assumptions, understand different leadership styles, and assess their own traits. Emphasizing empathy, authenticity, and creative approaches, students will enhance team collaboration, practice giving and receiving feedback, and learn ethical decision-making. They will also develop actionable leadership growth plans and engage in self-assessment to track progress and set future goals.
Essentials in English
Ideal for 9th and 10th-grade students seeking to develop their foundational skills in English reading and writing. This course explores identity through novels, short stories, and non-fiction, with discussions promoting critical thinking. Writing assignments focus on thesis and paragraph development. By the end, students will improve skills needed for academic work, test-taking, and professional communication, including essay writing and effective dialogue with peers and instructors.
Professors
These courses were designed by the following faculty. Courses are moderated by Teaching Assistants from the WA Online Program.
Entrepreneurship
Elizabeth Trinh
is the Founder and Director of the ODESI Research Laba. She is a PhD student and researcher at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. She holds a BSH degree in Science, Technology, and Society; a BA degree in International Relations; and an MA degree in Sociology from Stanford University.
Essentials in English
Stephanie Goldstein
is a Barnard College-Columbia University graduate and current English PhD student at UCSB. Her experience includes teaching and TA'ing UCSB English classes, teaching in U.S. public school, and privately tutoring in New York City for 4 years.
Leadership Development
Gabriela Nagle Alverio
is both a J.D. and Ph.D. candidate at Duke University. She received a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University, where she was Class President. She was awarded the Stanford Women of Impact Award and Stanford Award of Excellence.
College Questions
Will I receive a transcript when I complete the course?
Yes, upon completing the course, your credits/units will be issued on an official University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) transcript. You will be able to access your transcript through Parchment, an online service for secure document exchange.
Can the UCSB credits I earn also be applied towards my WA graduation requirements?
Yes.
When a student completes a Global Early College course, it will not only result in college credit and a transcript from UCSB, it will also count as a single (1) credit towards their WA graduation requirement -- regardless of enrollment type.
Is the certificate from UCSB different than a US High School Diploma?
The certificate you earn from UCSB acknowledges your course completion. It is a valuable addition to your resume; however, it is not equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.
Is the the grading scale different in UCSB courses?
The grading scale for UCSB is different from WA, it is as follows:
- A+ 100%
- A 94-99%
- A- 90-93%
- B+ 88-89%
- B 84-87%
- B- 80-83%
- C+ 78-79%
- C 74-77%
- C- 70-73%
- D+ 68-69%
- D 64-67%
- D- 60-63%
- F Below 60%
How many college units will I earn if I successfully complete a Early College course?
You will receive 2 college units.
Are these units be transferable to the university which I will eventually attend?
Yes, these units are eligible transferrable.
Like AP credits, each university sets its own guidelines regarding which credits—and how many—are eligible for transfer. Be sure to check with your prospective university about the eligibility of transfer credits, whether earned through an AP exam or an Early College course
Will the Early College courses be on the same platform as my WA courses?
Yes, you will use the same platform and log-in to access your UCSB courses as you use for your WA courses.