Fall 2026 Courses @ WSU

Free College Courses for Worcester Public School Students

Full WSU Course List

Fall Early College Course (on campus)

  • Introduction to basic concepts related to business practices; includes examination of local, regional and national organizations in the business world. 3 Credits

    Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00pm-3:15pm

    In-Person at Worcester State University Main Campus

    09/03/2026 - 12/17/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • Man's dependence upon plants and their influence on civilization and its art, religions, literature, folklore, medicine, and human behavior. 3 Credits

    Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00pm-5:15pm

    In-Person at Worcester State University Main Campus

    09/03/2026 - 12/17/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • This course provides a general introduction to the criminal justice system, including the historical development, fundamental principles, and legal framework of the criminal justice system in the United States and around the world. It examines the various components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections, assessing their effectiveness in promoting public safety and ensuring justice. The course also explores various theoretical perspectives on criminal behavior and ethical considerations for criminal justice professionals. 3 Credits

    Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00pm-3:15pm

    In-Person Worcester State University Main Campus

    09/03/2026 - 12/17/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • Essentials of speech production and speech writing for large and small groups. Classroom practice in delivering various types of speeches. 3 Credits

    Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30pm-4:45pm

    In-Person at Worcester State Campus

    09/03/2026 - 12/17/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • Overview of the teaching profession, including an examination of a variety of grade levels (Birth-Grade 12), learning environments, equity issues and school management and organization. Developmental domains of learning will be introduced. Students will engage in lesson planning, observational techniques and collaboration. 5 hours of fieldwork or Experiential Learning. 3 Credits.

    Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30pm-4:45pm

    In-Person at Worcester State Campus

    09/03/2026 - 12/17/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • Introduction to the history of psychology, scientific method, brain/nervous system, development, learning, motivation, sensation/perception, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, cognitive processes, social behavior. 3 Credits.

    Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:00 – 5:15pm

    In-Person at Worcester State Campus

    09/03/2026 - 12/17/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • The nature of group behavior and social interaction viewed through analysis of structure, norms, and values. What makes societies operate, establish norms, contribute to group-think, and more. 3 Credits.

    Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30pm-4:45pm

    In-Person at Worcester State University Main Campus

    09/03/2026 - 12/17/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

 

Fall 2026 Courses @ QCC

Free College Courses for Worcester Public School Students

Full QCC Course List

 

Spring 2026 Courses @ the High Schools

Free College Courses for Worcester Public School Students

  • This course provides a basic foundation for students interested in the allied health field. Emphasis is on analyzing word parts and learning basic prefixes, suffixes and word roots. The course also highlights the body systems: basic anatomy and physiology, including terms used in diseases and surgical procedures. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites: 2.7 GPA

    Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00pm-3:15pm

    In-Person @ QCC

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • This course covers both posed and candid photographs of people. Students learn the proper operation of various cameras (automatic, manual, single-lens reflex, digital) and the selection of subjects, posing, and lighting. Students must supply their own photographic equipment (a working camera) and pay their own processing costs for prints. 3 Credits

    Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00pm- 3:15pm

    In-Person @ QCC

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • The basic tenets of biotechnology including the scientific method will be presented through readings on the commercialization of recombinant DNA technology to produce therapeutic proteins and on the drug discovery process. Students will discuss the ethics, public policy issues, patent issues, career opportunities, and therapeutic promises of recombinant DNA technology. Students will also learn about the drug discovery process to elucidate issues in drug discovery such as target identification, lead discovery and optimization, candidate selection, ethical clinical trials, and drug markets. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites: 2.7 GPA, B in Algebra l

    Fridays 4:00pm-6:50pm

    In-Person@ QCC

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • This course provides an overview of the core aspects of information technology. The topics include: computer hardware, operating systems, application software, networks, information security, interactive media, and programming. The course focuses on defining how each IT area relates to, and interacts with, each other. Upon completion of the course, students have the knowledge necessary for further study in IT as well as understanding of the impact of technology on society and organizations of all types. This course requires hands-on projects in which the students use the Windows environment. 3 Credits

    Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00pm- 5:15pm

    In-Person @ QCC

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • This course provides an overview to fire protection and emergency services; career opportunities in fire protection and related fields; culture and history of emergency services; fire loss analysis; organization and function of public and private fire protection services; fire departments as part of local government; laws and regulations affecting the fire service; fire service nomenclature; specific fire protection functions; basic fire chemistry and physics; introduction to fire protection systems; introduction to fire strategy and tactics; life safety initiatives. This course follows the curriculum established by the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) network. 3 Credits

    Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00pm- 3:15pm

    In-Person @ QCC DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • First year students who want success and direction in their college experience gain practical skills that are directly applied to selection of a healthcare college major and future healthcare career paths. Students gain effective learning strategies and information on how to navigate and use college procedures and resources. This course emphasizes self-discovery, the workplace, life decisions, and career/future planning within a multicultural framework. Students identify their abilities and explore their values, interests, motives, motivations, behaviors, personalities, and interaction styles. Students acquire and develop skills for healthcare career planning, job searching and understanding healthcare job requirements/satisfaction. Students develop an e-portfolio that integrates information developed through the self-assessment and healthcare career development process. 3 Credits

    Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00pm- 3:15pm

    In-Person at QCC DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • This course presents an overview of marketing management in modern organizations including an introduction to the concept of marketing, the role of marketing in society and the firm, marketing terms, and the various factors that influence marketing decision-making. Students learn how to apply those factors to analyze customers, competition, marketing strengths, and marketing weaknesses. Students study market research and selection, consumer buying behavior, and product development including pricing, promotion, distribution, and global marketing strategies. 3 Credits

    Wednesdays at 4:00 - 6:30pm

    In-Person at QCC

    01/26/2026 - 5/13/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • This course provides an initial overview of public health concepts and practice. The course examines the philosophy, purpose, history, organization, function, tools, and activities of public health practice. Case studies and a variety of practice related exercises serve as a basis for student participation and interaction. The course identifies problems and issues currently facing public health. This course aims at enhancing, facilitating and promoting the use of technologies for obtaining and sharing information. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites2.7 GPA

    Asynchronous Online

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • This course guides students to the main concepts of global health and the critical links between public health and social and economic development. Students think about the determinants of health, how health status is measured, and what key factors influence disease burdens. This course introduces students to key concerns regarding reproductive health, child survival, nutrition, communicable diseases, and chronic diseases. The course stimulates interaction around problems and issues currently facing global health. This course aims at enhancing, facilitating and promoting the use of technologies for obtaining and sharing information. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites 2.7 GPA

    Asynchronous Online

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this course here: Early College Registration

  • In this survey course, the student becomes aware of and appreciates the various influences upon behavior. The topics covered include, but are not limited to, the nervous system, sensation and perception, motivation, learning, emotion, and personality. Through an investigation of these areas, within a multiplicity of cultural contexts, the student understands the diversity of the human condition. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites: 2.7 GPA

    Fridays 3:00pm-5:50pm

    In-Person@ QCC

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • This course introduces basic theories and vocabulary of sociology including its historical origins and research process. It examines the major principles that govern the structure and function of society, its institutions, groups, and processes. Students learn how societies meet or do not meet the social, psychological, economic and everyday needs of their members. The course emphasizes making connections between students' personal lives and the social change occurring around them. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites: 2.7 GPA

    Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00-5:15pm

    In-Person@ QCC

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this class here: Early College Registration

 

Courses offered at High Schools

  • This course examines the varied experiences involved in the drawing process while emphasizing an awareness of traditional disciplines. Students learn how to solve problems of surface organization and to develop the ability to analyze and translate three-dimensional space into a two-dimensional surface by using both perceptual and conceptual drawing methods. 3 Credits

    Held during the school day at Burncoat, Doherty, North and South.

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • This course provides an overview of the core aspects of information technology. The topics include: computer hardware, operating systems, application software, networks, information security, interactive media, and programming. The course focuses on defining how each IT area relates to, and interacts with, each other. Upon completion of the course, students have the knowledge necessary for further study in IT as well as understanding of the impact of technology on society and organizations of all types. This course requires hands-on projects in which the students use the Windows environment.3 Credits

    Held during the school day at Claremont.

    09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • The course focuses on theme-based argument. Students practice and develop critical reading, thinking, and writing skills necessary for college. Students read, analyze, and summarize college level analytic arguments from various genres (popular, academic, etc.) and compose research-based analytic arguments based on the course's theme. Students become aware of writing decisions made for different audiences, purposes, and genres, with a focus on academic writing conventions. Students also learn beginning research skills, including appropriate quotation, summary, paraphrase, and documentation skills. At the end of the semester, students compile a portfolio of 15-25 pages, to include their summary, synthesis, and analysis projects. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites2.7 GPA

    Held during the school day at Burncoat, Claremont, Doherty, North, South, UPCS, WTHS.

    09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • This course will help new students make a successful transition to campus, both academically and personally. The course aims to foster a sense of belonging, promote engagement in the curricular and co-curricular life of the college, develop learning strategies, establish career planning skills, and help to clarify purpose, meaning and direction. 3 Credits

    Held during the day @ Claremont. Held after school at Burncoat, Claremont, Doherty, North, South, and WTHS.

    09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • This course presents an overview of marketing management in modern organizations including an introduction to the concept of marketing, the role of marketing in society and the firm, marketing terms, and the various factors that influence marketing decision-making. Students learn how to apply those factors to analyze customers, competition, marketing strengths, and marketing weaknesses. Students study market research and selection, consumer buying behavior, and product development including pricing, promotion, distribution, and global marketing strategies. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites2.7 GPA

    Held @ Doherty for Doherty High students Tuesdays/Thursdays 2:00-3:15pm

    09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • In this survey course, the student becomes aware of and appreciates the various influences upon behavior. The topics covered include, but are not limited to, the nervous system, sensation and perception, motivation, learning, emotion, and personality. Through an investigation of these areas, within a multiplicity of cultural contexts, the student understands the diversity of the human condition.

    Prerequisites2.7 GPA

    Held during the school day at Burncoat.

    Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15pm at North

    09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

  • This course introduces basic theories and vocabulary of sociology including its historical origins and research process. It examines the major principles that govern the structure and function of society, its institutions, groups, and processes. Students learn how societies meet or do not meet the social, psychological, economic and everyday needs of their members. The course emphasizes making connections between students' personal lives and the social change occurring around them. 3 Credits

    Prerequisites: 2.7 GPA

    Held during the school day at Burncoat.

    09/26/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for this class here: Early College Registration

  • This course introduces the fundamentals of the Spanish language. Students examine brief readings on the everyday aspects of the contemporary Spanish-speaking world. Students use common conversation, tell time, make comparisons, discuss the weather, and recognize and use basic tenses for common verbs. Previous knowledge of Spanish is not necessary. 3 Credits

    Held during the school day at Burncoat, South.

    Tuesdays and Thursdays @ WTHS 2:30-3:45 pm

    09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026

    Register for the class here: Early College Registration

 

Past Early College Courses