Early College

Ignite Learning’s Early College program serves students and increases opportunities for individuals to earn an Associate degree. Get a head start on your college journey today!

Associate of Arts, General Studies Program

The Associate of Arts degree (AA) from Southeastern University online partnership offers students a strong foundation in general education, empowering them to succeed now and in the future.

 

This program is a great option for high school students pursuing an early college education, recent high school graduates looking to continue their education, non-traditional students looking to earn their Associate degree and those with full-time work schedules trying to improve their employment opportunities.

What we offer

Support

We provide a lot of support! Our classes have mentors and faculty available to answer questions, provide guidance and help students succeed in their courses.

Mastery-Based Learning

We want students to master the materials. This approach encourages students to take ownership of their learning and promotes long-term retention of the material.

Flexibility

Online, self-directed education enables students to have complete control over when learning takes place.

Affordability

We provide highly affordable options, particularly for non-traditional and high school students. The majority of our students can access our courses through funding opportunities that cover their tuition.

Transferability

Through our partners, students can not only earn their Associate degree, but can transfer their earned credits to other schools to continue their education journey.

Frequently Asked Questions for Ignite Learning’s Early College Program

Yes. Students can take breaks after each semester, if needed. Once you return, the credits you have earned can still be applied to your degree and you can pick up where you left off.
No. The ACT is not a prerequisite to enroll in the Ignite Learning Early College Program.
Many of our students earn a High School Diploma and an Associate’s degree at the same time, however, every high school has different graduation requirements and policies governing the acceptance of college credits towards a high school diploma. Check with your local high school principal and counselor. Ignite Learning’s college partner, Southeastern University, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Every university has different policies governing the acceptance of transferred college credits. Check with the admissions department at the university to which you would like to attend in the future and ask about Southeastern University, Ignite Learning’s college partner. Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
With our SEU program, students can take a max of 15 credits per semester. This is a mastery-based program that allows students to add classes when the student is ready and has completed the coursework prior to the end of the semester. A typical college load would be 10–12 credits per semester.
Possibly. Students who are participating through their high school program need to complete at least 6 credits each semester to remain actively enrolled. Students who are unable to earn 6 credits in a semester will have one additional semester to demonstrate that this minimum pace is achievable before being withdrawn. If you are not participating through your high school program, there are no minimum requirements. However, we encourage you to earn as many credits as you can to gain the full benefit of the program.
No, but the courses are rigorous and students should be ready to handle complex topics and challenging course work. Students who are going into 9th grade will need approval prior to being admitted to the program via a written assessment. All written assessment information is in the application via the “Apply Today” button on the Ignite Learning website.
Students can progress through the courses in any order. There may be some courses that will need a certain course completed prior to taking it. For example, English Composition II may need the English Composition I completed prior to starting it.

Please visit learningignite.com/college for more information and submit an application.

Students are able to re-submit / retake most assignments, quizzes, and tests as many times as needed to demonstrate mastery. However, some assignments do have limits on the number of times they can be completed. Please review the syllabus for each course to get specific details.

Tuition

The Associate of Art (AA) degree from Southeastern University provides students with a solid foundation of general education knowledge that equips them to thrive in the present and pursue a successful path in the future.

Self Pay:

  • $190 a credit
  • $1900 a semester (10 Credits or More)


The large majority of our students that participate in our Early College Program attend for free through their high school.

If you want your high school to participate in this program, fill out this form with your school information and our team will reach out to them.

How To Get An Associate Degree

There are two options to get an Associate’s Degree with Ignite Learning:

Western Texas College:

60 Total Credits
42 Required Credits
18 Electives
(see details below)

Southeastern University:

60 Total Credits
25 Required Credits
35 Electives
(see details below)

WTC Sample Plan

There are two options to get an Associate’s Degree with Ignite Learning:
Required Courses
Course NameCredit Hours
Composition I3
Learning Frameworks3
English Composition II3
Interpersonal Communication3
College Algebra3
World Civilization I3
Music Appreciation3
United States History I3
United States History II3
Federal Government3
State and Local Government3
Intro to Psychology3
Select Two Below: 
General Zoology4
Anatomy & Physiology I3
Environmental Biology4
Introduction to Chemistry I4
Geography3
Total Required Hours Needed:42
Additional course options to reach at least 60 credits

(Select six below)

Course NameCredit Hours
Intro to Sociology3
Lifespan Growth and Development3
Art Appreciation3
Business Principles3
Personal Finance3
Public Speaking3
British Literature3
Other Elective of Choice3
Other Elective of Choice3
Other Elective of Choice3
Total Elective Credit Hours Needed:18

SEU Sample Plan

There are two options to get an Associate’s Degree with Ignite Learning:
Required Courses
Course NameCredit Hours
Foundational Core Elective3
English Composition I3
English Composition II3
Biology I and Lab4
Intro to Psychology3
Intro to Sociology3
Select One Below: 
Photography3
Introduction to Literature3
Music Appreciation3
Select One Below: 
College Algebra3
Intro to Probability and Statistics3
Total Foundational Core Hours Needed:25

 

Additional course options to reach at least 60 credits
Course NameCredit Hours
United States Government3
Critical Issues in American History3
World Civilization to 16003
Introduction to Business Concepts3
Personal Finance3
Intro to Chemistry & Lab4
Intro to Communication3
Interpersonal Communication3
Survey of Western Art3
Developmental Psychology3
Introduction to Visual Arts3
Total Elective Core Hours Needed:35

 

Additional Planning Tools

Here are some schedule planning tools that we share with our students as they are planning their upcoming semester