Early College at Performing Arts Academy

The Early College at the High School program offers high school students the opportunity to earn credits during their regular high school day. These courses are set up through articulation agreements between OCC and individual school districts. Each course meets the standards and curricular requirements of a college class taught at OCC and are taught by high school teachers possessing academic credentials that meet college adjunct requirements.

Each participating district offers a different number of classes each year based on teacher eligibility and course content. Interested students can contact their school to find out if they are a partner, what classes are offered, and how to register.

Click the arrows next to each step to view more details.

Step 1: Register for Classes

If you are looking to register for Dual Enrollment classes (classes at your high school that also count toward college credit), follow the steps in this tutorial:

EC Dual Enrollment PDF

If you are looking to register for On-campus or Online classes at OCC as an Early College Student (not at your high school), follow the steps in this tutorial:

EC@OCC PDF

Step 2: Complete the Required Parental Consent Form (Required)

Once you have completed your self-registration on Ocean Connect, your parent/guardian is required to complete the Parental Consent Form. This form can be filled out online for your convenience but please note that it you will be required to log in to Ocean Connect. It should be filled out by both the parent and the student. This form is required for all high school students to secure their OCC courses. A PDF version of the form can be found here. Please see below for upcoming courses available at your school.

Step 3: FERPA Form for Parent Access (Optional)

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a United States federal law that governs access to educational information and records. This act protects a student who has reached 18 years of age or is attending a college at any age (including dual-enrolled high school students).

This form can be filled out online for your convenience but please note that it you will be required to log in to Ocean Connect: Authorization to Release FERPA Protected Information (Online Form).

A PDF version can be found here: Authorization to Release FERPA Protected Information (PDF). PDF forms can be filled out and emailed to earlycollege@ocean.edu with a legible copy of the student’s government issued photo ID or Student ID Card.

Additional details regarding FERPA and Student Proxy can be found on our FERPA Webpage.

Step 4: Tuition Payment

Payment or setting up a payment plan is due upon registration for courses. Follow the steps below to set up payment arrangements. Please make note of withdrawal and drop deadlines, and review this link for our refund policy.

To make a payment:

Set up payment arrangements
Sign into Ocean Connect
Click on the Plus (+) sign next to “Student Planning”
Click “View and Pay Bill”
Click on “Proceed to Payment
If this is your first time paying a tuition bill through OCC, follow the steps to create an account with NelNet.

Registration Questions?
View the Tutorial

2026 Spring (SPE) Courses at GPAA!

Course Listing	High School Course Name	HS Class Period	Instructor	Term	Prerequisites	Transcript Required?
BIOL-114-PAS3 Principles of Biological Science	AP Biology/BIOL 144	S3	Kerry Anderson	SPE	None	No
COEM-230-PAS3 Audio Recording for Electronic Media	COEM 230-GPAA Audio 2 – Spring	S3	William Bourke	SPE	None	No
COEM-232-PAS1 Advanced Audio Mixing Techniques	COEM 232/GPAA Audio Engineering 3 – Spring	S1	William Bourke	SPE	COEM-231	Yes*
COMM-154-PAS3A Fundamentals of Public Speaking	COMM 154/Public Speaking (Audio)	S3A	Michelle Stavros (Weinberg)	SPE	None	No
COMM-154-PAS3B Fundamentals of Public Speaking	COMM 154/Public Speaking (Dance)	S3B	Michelle Stavros (Weinberg)	SPE	None	No
COMM-154-PAS3C Fundamentals of Public Speaking	COMM 154/Public Speaking (Acting)	S3C	Michelle Stavros (Weinberg)	SPE	None	No
COMM-154-PAS3D Fundamentals of Public Speaking	COMM 154/Public Speaking (Vocal)	S3D	Michelle Stavros (Weinberg)	SPE	None	No
CSIT-123-PAA1 Integrated Office Software	CSIT-123: Integrated Office Software-Audio Engineering	A1	Joanie Beckenhauer	SPE	None	No
CSIT-123-PAD1 Integrated Office Software	CSIT-123: Integrated Office Software-Dance	D1	Joanie Beckenhauer	SPE	None	No
CSIT-123-PAT1 Integrated Office Software	CSIT-123: Integrated Office Software-Theater/Actors	T1	Joanie Beckenhauer	SPE	None	No
CSIT-123-PAV1 Integrated Office Software	CSIT-123: Integrated Office Software-Vocalists	V1	Joanie Beckenhauer	SPE	None	No
DANC-120-PAS2 Modern Dance I	DANC 120/GPAA Dance 1 – Spring	S2	Melissa Faisst	SPE	None	No
DANC-121-PAS4 Modern Dance II	DANC 121/GPAA Dance 4 – Spring	S4	Melissa Faisst	SPE	DANC 120	Yes*
DANC-145-PAS4 Dance Appreciation	DANC 145/Dance Minor	S4	Kelly Bourke	SPE	None	No
DANC-150-PAS3 Jazz Dance	DANC 150/GPAA Dance 2 – Spring	S3	Melissa Faisst	SPE	None	No
ENGL-151-PAS4 English I	ENGL 151/English III	S4	Michelle Stavros (Weinberg)	SPE	None	No
ENGL-152-PAS1 English II	ENGL 152/English IV	S1	Gabriella Grant	SPE	ENGL 151	Yes*
ENGL-152-PAS2 English II	ENGL 152/English IV	S2	Gabriella Grant	SPE	ENGL 151	Yes*
ENVI-152-PAS2 Environmental Sci	ENVI 152/Environmental Science	S2	Kerry Anderson	SPE	None	No
ENVI-152-PAS3 Environmental Sci	ENVI 152/Environmental Science	S3	Olympia Gaglioti	SPE	None	No
HIST-173-PAS2A United States History to 1877	HIST 173/US History I	S2A	Michael Mazzola	SPE	None	No
HIST-173-PAS4 United States History to 1877	HIST 173/US History I	S4	Melissa Petric-Morrison	SPE	None	No
HIST-174-PAS1 United States History from 1877	HIST 174/US History II	S1	Melissa Petric-Morrison	SPE	None	No
HIST-174-PAS1B United States History from 1877	HIST 174/US History II	S1B	Michael Mazzola	SPE	None	No
HIST-181-PAS1 World Civilization to 1660	HIST 181/World Civilization	S1	Matthew Leddin	SPE	None	No
HIST-181-PAS3 World Civilization to 1660	HIST 181/World Civilization	S3	Matthew Leddin	SPE	None	No
HIST-181-PAS4 World Civilization to 1660	HIST 181/World Civilization	S4	Matthew Leddin	SPE	None	No
MATH-151-PAS2 A Survey of Mathematics	MATH 151/A Survey of Mathematics	S2	Nicole Komorowski	SPE	None	No
MATH-165-PAS1 College Algebra (Accelerated)	MATH 165/Honor Algebra II	S1	Robin Kelly	SPE	None	No
MATH-196-PAS2 Precalculus	AP Pre Calculus w/ MATH 196 Option	S2	Robin Kelly	SPE	MATH-CLMT	Yes*
MATH-196-PAS3 Precalculus	MATH 196/Pre Calculus	S3	Robin Kelly	SPE	MATH-CLMT	Yes*
MUSC-120-PAS1 Individual Applied Music Lessons I	MUSC 120/GPAA Voice 3 – Spring	S1	Joseph Puliafico	SPE	None	No
MUSC-161-PAS4 Vocal Ensemble II	MUSC 161/GPAA Voice 4 – Spring	S4	Mary Kenny	SPE	MUSC-160	Yes*
MUSC-181-PAS1 Theory of Music I	MUSC 181/GPAA Voice 3 – Spring	S1	Joseph Puliafico	SPE	MUSC 101	Yes*
MUSC-190-PAS3 Introduction to Music Appreciation	MUSC 190/GPAA Voice 2 – Spring	S3	Joseph Puliafico	SPE	None	No
MUSC-190-PAS4 Introduction to Music Appreciation	MUSC 190/Vocal Minor	S4	Joseph Puliafico	SPE	None	No
POLI-183-PAS33 Introduction to Political Science	POLI 183/Political Science	S33	Michael Mazzola	SPE	None	No
POLI-183-PAS34 Introduction to Political Science	POLI 183/Political Science	S34	Michael Mazzola	SPE	None	No
SOCI-181-PAS33 Introduction to Sociology	SOCI 181/Introduction to Sociology	S33	Melissa Petric-Morrison	SPE	None	No
SOCI-181-PAS34 Introduction to Sociology	SOCI 181/Introduction to Sociology	S34	Melissa Petric-Morrison	SPE	None	No
SPAN-151-PAS1 Elementary Spanish I	SPAN 151/Spanish II	S1	Kory Indahl	SPE	None	No
SPAN-151-PAS2 Elementary Spanish I	SPAN 151/Spanish II	S2	Kory Indahl	SPE	None	No
THTR-189-PAS4 Musical Theatre Workshop	THTR 189/GPAA Theater 4 – Spring	S4	Anthony Ciccotelli	SPE	None	No
THTR-193-PAS2 Introduction to Acting I	THTR 193/GPAA Theater 1 – Spring	S2	Anthony Ciccotelli	SPE	None	No
THTR-195-PAS1 Theatre Appreciation	THTR 195/GPAA Theater 3 – Spring	S1	Carolyn Little	SPE	None	No
THTR-195-PAS4 Theatre Appreciation	THTR 195/GPAA Theater 3 – Spring	S4	Carolyn Little	SPE	None	No
THTR-197-PAS3 Stagecraft I	THTR 197/GPAA Theater 2 – Spring	S3	Anthony Ciccotelli	SPE	None	No

*Some dual enrollment courses are marked as transcript required. This means you must meet the listed prerequisite in one of the following ways:
• You have already taken the prerequisite course at Ocean County College, or
• You completed an equivalent course at your high school

If you are using a high school course to meet the prerequisite, send proof of completion as a high school transcript at least two weeks before the registration deadline for the term. You or your guidance counselor should email the transcript to registrar@ocean.edu. In the message, clearly note the course you want the prerequisite applied to.

What to include in your email:
• Student full name
• OCC student ID, if available
• Term you plan to enroll in
• Course code and title that needs the prerequisite waiver

Next Steps:
• The Registrar’s Office will review your transcript
• You will be notified when the waiver has been applied
• After the waiver is applied, you will be able to register for the course

Need to Know

Deadlines:

Important Spring 2026 (2026SPE) Dates & Deadlines:

Spring Foundation Grant Application Opens: 1/5/2026
Spring Foundation Grant Application Deadline: 3/4/2026
YI and SPE Grade Submission Deadline: Final day of school orJune 30^th, whichever is first.

Important Fall 2025 (2025FAE) Dates & Deadlines:

Registration Deadline: 10/3/2025
FAE Grades Due: 2/6/2026
FAE Withdrawal Deadline: 1/16/2026

Add/Drop Period

2026SPE Add/Drop deadline: March 11^th, 2026
(Courses dropped prior to the drop deadline will receive 100% refund/do not owe tuition for course.)

2026SPE Withdrawal deadline: June 16th, 2026
Course must be dropped on Ocean Connect or be requested in writing to earlycollege@ocean.edu by the drop deadline.

Refund Policy

Costs & Textbooks

$126 per credit (*plus any applicable course fees)
Textbooks will be provided by your district at no additional cost for OCC courses taught at your high school

Resources

Course Descriptions
Online Registration Tutorial Video
Apply for the Foundation Early College Grant to help pay for courses!

I am a…

Early College for High School Students

Grunin Performing Arts Academy High School

2026 Spring (SPE) Courses at GPAA!

Need to Know

Deadlines:

Resources

Questions?