Philadelphia, PA - Today, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin visited the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) to learn how high school students can earn college credentials through CCP’s Advance College Experience (ACE) program.
“Giving high school students the opportunity to engage in college-level courses helps them to build time-management skills, explore different interests, and jumpstart their careers,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Programs like CCP’s ACE program are preparing Pennsylvania students to be the future video game designers, psychologists, entrepreneurs, and workforce of the Commonwealth, with real-world skills and knowledge that will serve them well for years to come.”
CCP’s ACE program provides college-level courses for highly motivated high school students, as well as students up to age 21 pursuing a high school equivalency credential. The program includes a full semester of college-level course material over five weeks and gives students college credit or a certificate of completion from the Community College of Philadelphia. Students can enroll in up to two courses, choosing from a wide variety of classes including Introduction to Music Technology, Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle, Sociology, Business Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Survey of Justice, Introduction to Automotive Technology, Introduction to Japanese, and other courses in social sciences, languages, business, and more.
“Community College of Philadelphia’s Advance College Experience program, more commonly known as Summer A.C.E., is a great opportunity for high school students to get a jump-start on their college journey,” said CCP President Dr. Donald “Guy” Generals. “Uniquely designed to be the first and one of the only summer dual enrollment programs for high schoolers and young adults of its kind in Pennsylvania, we emphasize courses that are academic, engaging, and fun for students and that offer a first-hand glimpse into industry areas that allow students to see themselves pursuing various career pathways — everything from video game development to music business.”
Introduction to Video Game Development introduces students to concepts and material including professional video game simulation development, game analysis and design, game programming technology and practices, and ethical issues related to video games and simulations. Students learn about the game development process for both serious and casual games and the roles that various professionals play in development and engage in a semester-long project to design, build, and publish an entry-level computer-based video game using a game development engine.
"A first attempt at college for most high school students, A.C.E. coursework is rigorous, and students earn high school and college credit for their dedication and hard work in a meaningful academic experience,” said Dr. Dave Thomas, vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement. “We continue to see growing interest in our dual enrollment programs as students and their families see A.C.E. and our other offerings as opportunities that broaden their horizon and will brighten their future.”