Dual Enrollment World History

By: Erva N. Coskun

Over the past couple of years, EVHS’s catalog of courses has remained largely consistent. Yet, those choosing classes for the next year may have noticed a couple of new options. Amongst the most dramatic is a continued overhaul of the math system which started this school year, as EV gradually transitions away from an integrated math course sequence and back into a traditional sequence. However, perhaps the most intriguing addition is Dual Enrollment World History, which will replace Advanced Placement (AP) World History in the coming year (2026-2027). By taking the course, students with a grade of C or higher earn college credits through Evergreen Valley College in addition to their high school credits. This is done without the usual complications and travel of enrolling in Dual Enrollment through the college. Ms. Michelle Shanelec, who has been at EV for over a decade, teaching several social science classes including AP World History and regular World History, is set to teach Dual Enrollment World History. This month, we spoke with Shanelec about the upcoming class and other related topics.

Shanelec first became interested in history in high school, during which she was part of Independence High School’s teaching academy. Inspired by the program’s passionate teachers and the way “they brought history to life,” she decided to pursue a career as a history teacher. Her interest expanded as she continued her education: “In college I realized it’s more than just learning stories, it’s questioning events and people’s different perspectives, and so it became more interesting that way.” Now inspiring others, Shanelec’s love for history is still evident, especially world history. Upon queries of why it’s important to receive such a globally historical education, she responds, “I think it’s good for developing empathy, but also coming to understand how our world is shaped to how it is today, and how to react to that.”

While World History is certainly a very interesting and diverse subject, it can be hard to differentiate between the many types available. Shanelec weighs in on the differences between Dual Enrollment and the AP it replaces: “While I do think AP has good, kind of, curriculum, and it broadly covers a variety of historical skills and content, I like that this [Dual Enrollment] is a way for students to get college level material and experience in a way they don’t feel pressured that they have to perform at the end of the year at a test… it also allows students to feel like they can make mistakes and progress and learn and grow, without [those] stakes… So my goal, really, with this class is for them to dig more into topics that they’re interested in, rather than have them having standardized learning for a standardized test.”

But for students who are currently trying to decide which World History course is a better fit for them, a more pressing question might be the differences between Dual Enrollment and regular World History: “[In Dual Enrollment] they would be expected to do quite a bit of learning at home, as is expected in college, and then… having discussions at a deeper level. I think the workload is higher in the Dual Enrollment class because it is college level text, and so the vocabulary and the writing that’s expected of them is [also] higher than in a regular class.” In addition, Dual Enrollment gives students the opportunity to earn both high school and college college credit at the same time.

So if Dual Enrollment is such a strong alternative to AP, why is World History the only Dual Enrollment course currently listed at EV? While Shanelec is clearly a talented teacher, even receiving the San Jose Educator of the Year Award from San Jose Public Library in 2025, the qualification that allows her to teach the Dual Enrollment class is her Master’s Degree in History. Our district’s recently renewed contract with Evergreen Valley College requires that the teacher for a Dual Enrollment course must have a Master’s in the same subject as the course. Many teachers have their Master’s in Education, Leadership, Administration, or other fields, but not in the subject they teach, which prevents the Dual Enrollment class from being opened. However, with World History taking the first step, perhaps more Dual Enrollment classes will be approved in the coming years, creating new opportunities for a more diverse high school learning experience. This diverse experience is sorely needed, as proposed courses like Creative Writing and non-AP Environmental Science have still not been able to draw enough students to become offered courses. Perhaps with Dual Enrollment and the enticement of college credits, new classes in areas such as Band may be approved.

Whatever the future may hold, Dual Enrollment World History currently opens a path into the past in a fresh, new way, showing that even history has the power to change.

Thank you to Ms. Shanelec for a wonderful interview!