All you Need to Know About College Credits at Cathedral

1. When can I start earning college credits at Cathedral and why would I choose to do so?

Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography is offered to 9th graders, the first AP course available to students. Students interested in Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and College in Schools (CIS) must be juniors or seniors.  

Earning college-level credits at Cathedral is a great way to get a head start on college coursework. It allows students to understand the level of academic rigor of post-high school studies. It matters – the grades earned for CIS and PSEO classes will be on their transcripts.  

2. What AP options does Cathedral offer in 2024-25? Anything new?

Cathedral has eight AP courses, including Chemistry which is new for 2024-25. The other AP courses include Biology, Calculus AB, Comparative Government, English – Literature, & Composition, Human Geography, Physics I & II, and Psychology. AP German was offered in previous years, but all courses require a minimum number of students.  

3. Tell us the difference between AP Classes, College in Schools (CIS), and PSEO.  Are the credits worth the same?

AP courses use a standardized curriculum developed by the College Board and are the most rigorous option. These are taught by high school instructors and more selective colleges prefer AP coursework. 

CIS is a great option for students who prefer to not leave the high school building as they earn college credit. High school teachers partner with instructors at colleges so dual credit is given. 

PSEO provides additional options outside Cathedral course offerings with courses taught by college professors.  

Most colleges recognize these courses as transfer credits.  Sometimes it can depend on your major if you need to retake a requirement for that major and AP courses require a minimum test score, with individual colleges determining what they require for a score.  

4. How many advanced classes should a student try to take in any given year?

Earning college credits can be a nice option, and it depends on the student, but students should take courses that interest them as they need to be motivated and willing to work harder than a regular grade-level class. There is an expectation that students will need to study more in-depth level of course content. 

5. What help does Cathedral offer during these classes? 

AP classes are taught by our Cathedral teachers so students can get the help and support they need to succeed in these courses. CIS classes (Chemistry, Human Anatomy, Introduction to Rhetorical and Analytical Writing, and Spanish) are also taught by Cathedral teachers, in partnership with St. Cloud State University and Southwest Minnesota State faculty.  

6. Why are Cathedral students limited to taking only one PSEO class at a time?

We utilize PSEO so students can access courses not offered at Cathedral. For example, students who have completed our math curriculum may continue their math study through PSEO.  Seniors may take one PSEO course each semester. Juniors may take one PSEO class during the year, either first or second semester.  

These courses are taught and coordinated by the colleges. A student’s progress, assignments, feedback, and grades are only communicated to the student and not shared directly with the school or parents. Cathedral counselors and faculty do not monitor the students and only receive their final grades. This is the reason Cathedral places a limit on the number of PSEO courses students can take. It’s important for students to communicate with high school counselors about their coursework to ensure they are meeting all Cathedral graduation requirements.