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 Fall(FAE) Courses at GPAA!

Your High School Course Name	HS Class Period	Instructor	OCC Course Code	Term	Credits	Prerequisites	Transcript Required?
Anatomy and Physiology	F2	Olympia Gaglioti	BIOL-130-PAF2 Human Anatomy and Physiology I	FAE	4**	None	No
AP Biology	TBD	Kerry Anderson	BIOL-114-PA Principles of Biological Science	FAE	4**	None	No
AP English Comp W/ENGL 151 OPT	F3	Michelle Stavros	ENGL-151-PAF3 English I	FAE	3	None	No
AP English Literature W/ENGL 152 OPT	F1	Gabriella Grant	ENGL-152-PAF1 English II	FAE	3	ENGL 151	Yes*
Audio Engineering 3	F1	Timothy Pannella	COEM-231-PAF1 Audio Production Techniques	FAE	3	COEM-230	Yes*
Audio Engineering 4	F4	William Bourke	COEM-233-PAF4 Live Sound Mixing and Sound Design	FAE	3	COEM 231	Yes*
DANC 130/Dance 2	F3	Melissa Faisst	DANC-130-PAF3 Ballet I	FAE	2	None	No
DANC 131/Dance 3	F1	Kelly Bourke	DANC-131-PAF1 Ballet II	FAE	2	DANC 130	Yes*
DANC 145/Dance History and Theory	F3	Kelly Bourke	DANC-145-PAF3 Dance Appreciation	FAE	3	None	No
DANC 214/Dance 4	F4	Melissa Faisst	DANC-241-PAF4 Dance Repertory I	FAE	2	DANC 120 Or DANC 130	Yes*
Dance 1 (for Froshmores)	F3	Melissa Faisst	DANC-120-PAF3 Modern Dance I	FAE	2	None	No
ENGL 151/English III	F4	Michelle Stavros	ENGL-151-PAF4 English I	FAE	3	None	No
ENVI 152/Environmental Science	F3	Alyson Wrisley	ENVI-152-PAF3 Environmental Sci	FAE	4**	None	No
FILM 192/Film	F2	Anthony Ciccotelli	FILM-192-PAF2 Introduction to Film Genres	FAE	3	None	No
FRSC 105/Foresic Science	F2	Alyson Wrisley	FRSC-105-PAF2 Forensic Science	FAE	4**	None	No
HIST 173/US History I	F2	Matthew Leddin	HIST-173-PAF2 United States History to 1877	FAE	3	None	No
HIST 173/US History I	F4A	Matthew Leddin	HIST-173-PAF4A United States History to 1877	FAE	3	None	No
HIST 174/US History II	F1B	Melissa Morrison	HIST-174-PAF1B United States History from 1877	FAE	3	None	No
HIST 174/US History II	F1A	Michael Mazzola	HIST-174-PAF1A United States History from 1877	FAE	3	None	No
HIST 181/World Civilization	TBD	Matthew Leddin	HIST-181-PA World Civilization to 1660	FAE	3	None	No
MATH 151/A Survey of Mathematics	TBD	Nicole Komorowski	MATH-151-PA A Survey of Mathematics	FAE	3	None	No
MATH 156/Intro Statistics	F2	Nicole Komorowski	MATH-156-PAF2 Introduction to Statistics	FAE	3	None	No
MATH 166/Honors Algebra II	F2	Robin Kelly	MATH-166-PAF2 Topics in Algebra	FAE	4	None	No
MATH 166/Honors Algebra II	F4	Robin Kelly	MATH-166-PAF4 Topics in Algebra	FAE	4	None	No
MATH 196/PreCalculus	TBD	Robin Kelly	MATH-196-PA Precalculus	FAE	4	MATH-161 OR Higher OR Math Placement Test	Yes*
MATH 265/Calculus	F1	Robin Kelly	MATH-265-PAF1 Calculus I	FAE	4	Math-192, Or Math-195, Or Math-196, Or Math-201	Yes*
MATH 265/Calculus	F2	Robin Kelly	MATH-265-PAF2 Calculus I	FAE	4	Math-192, Or Math-195, Or Math-196, Or Math-201	Yes*
MUSC 101/GPAA Voice 1	F2	Mary Kenny	MUSC-101-PAF2 Music Fundamentals	FAE	3	None	No
MUSC 160/GPAA Voice 3	F1	Joseph Puliafico	MUSC-160-PAF1 Vocal Ensemble I	FAE	1	None	No
MUSC 194/GPAA Audio Engineering 1	F2	William Bourke	MUSC-194-PAF2 Introduction to World Music	FAE	3	None	No
POLI 183/Political Science	F21	Michael Mazzola	POLI-183-PAF21 Introduction to Political Science	FAE	3	None	No
POLI 183/Political Science	F22	Michael Mazzola	POLI-183-PAF22 Introduction to Political Science	FAE	3	None	No
POLI 183/Political Science	F31	Michael Mazzola	POLI-183-PAF31 Introduction to Political Science	FAE	3	None	No
POLI 183/Political Science	F32	Michael Mazzola	POLI-183-PAF32 Introduction to Political Science	FAE	3	None	No
SOCI 181/Introduction to Sociology	F21	Melissa Morrison	SOCI-181-PAF21 Introduction to Sociology	FAE	3	None	No
SOCI 181/Introduction to Sociology	F22	Melissa Morrison	SOCI-181-PAF22 Introduction to Sociology	FAE	3	None	No
SOCI 181/Introduction to Sociology	F31	Melissa Morrison	SOCI-181-PAF31 Introduction to Sociology	FAE	3	None	No
SOCI 181/Introduction to Sociology	F32	Melissa Morrison	SOCI-181-PAF32 Introduction to Sociology	FAE	3	None	No
SPAN 151/Spanish II	F1	Dan Wellner	SPAN-151-PAF1 Elementary Spanish I	FAE	3	None	No
SPAN 151/Spanish II	F4	Dan Wellner	SPAN-151-PAF4 Elementary Spanish I	FAE	3	None	No
SPAN 152/Spanish III	F2	Dan Wellner	SPAN-152: Elementary Spanish II	FAE	3	SPAN-151	Yes*
STSC 150/Student Success Seminar	TBD	Tara Mangano	STSC-150-PA Student Success Seminar	FAE	2	None	No
THTR 189/GPAA Voice 4	F4	Mary Kenny	THTR-189-PAF4 Musical Theatre Workshop	FAE	3	None	No
THTR 193 (Froshmore)	F3	Anthony Ciccotelli	THTR-193-PAF3 Introduction to Acting I	FAE	3	None	No
THTR 194/GPAA Theater 3	F1	Carolyn Little	THTR-194-PAF1 Introduction to Acting II	FAE	3	THTR-193	Yes*

*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

**This course is a total of 4 credits, consisting of a 3-credit lecture and a 1-credit lab. When you enroll, you will register for the 3-credit lecture course and be billed for all 4 credits. The 1-credit lab will be added to your schedule automatically at the start of the term and will not generate a separate bill. For transfer and academic record purposes, both the lecture and lab courses will appear on your transcript.

Previous PAA Schedules

2026 Spring (SPE) Courses

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

Need to Know

Deadlines:

Important Fall 2026 (FAE and YI) Dates & Deadlines:

Registration Opens: 9/1/2026
Fall (FAE) Add/Drop Deadline: 10/13/2026
Year-Long (YI) Add/Drop Deadline: 10/28/2026
Fall (FAE) Withdrawal Deadline: 1/15/2027
Year-Long (YI) Withdrawal Deadline: 6/16/2027

Fall Foundation Grant Application Opens: 9/1/2026
Fall Foundation Grant Application Deadline: 10/28/2026

Add/Drop Period

2026FAE Add/Drop deadline: 10/15/2026
Courses dropped on or before the published drop deadline will receive a 100% tuition refund. Students will not be responsible for tuition charges for those courses.

2026YI Add/Drop deadline: 10/23/2026
Course must be dropped on Ocean Connect or be requested in writing to earlycollege@ocean.edu by the drop deadline.

Refund Policy

Costs & Textbooks

$133 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
Apply for the Foundation Early College Grant to help pay for courses!

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Early College for High School Students

Grunin Performing Arts Academy High School

2026 Fall(FAE) Courses at GPAA!

Need to Know

Deadlines:

Resources

Questions?