Preparing Students for New Challenges
The Dual Diploma is the official programme for
the international recognition of baccalaureates
and school-leaving diplomas, created and
developed by Academica Corporation, which
allows students to obtain two qualifications at the
same time: (Bachillerato in Spain, Baccalauréat in
France, Scuola Secondaria Superiore in Italy, etc.)
and the American High School Diploma.
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Academica, An Institution of
Renowned Prestige
Academica, with more than 90,000 students,
4000 teachers and 150 schools in more than 10
states, including Florida, Texas, Utah, Georgia,
Nevada and California, and headquarters in Miami
(Florida), is the principal and largest charter
school management institution (charter schools
are high performing public schools that are
100% privately managed) in the United States.
Academica schools teach K-16, which means
that their students can graduate high school and
even leave having taken the first two years of
university courses.
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Academica: Leader in Virtual
Education
As a leader in virtual education, Academica is one of
the few private educational-services institutions in
the United States that is recognized as an American
Virtual Public School Provider. It provides service
to its own schools and to any schools that request
it. Because of this, Academica is continually
creating exciting new content and programs to
inspire students in different subjects.
At Academica, virtual learning as bringing the
school closer to university teaching.
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Origin of the Dual Diploma
The Dual Diploma was created in 2001, when
Academica began a program for official
recognition of qualifications from different
countries to assist students who temporarily move
to the United States to obtain the American high
school diploma and, at the same time, complete
the school-leaving certification in their country of
origin, which they would otherwise not obtain.
Today, the Dual Diploma is available in different
countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Argentina,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, Chile,
Korea and China.
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The Dual Diploma in Spain
In 2009, Academica chose Spain as a base for its
internationalization project, with the creation of a
structure with its own specialized personnel and
implementation of the Dual Diploma.
In Spain, which has more than 250 schools
associated with the programme, the Dual Diploma
is only provided under the Academica brand.
Dual Diploma
The Dual Diploma, created and developed by
Academica, is a multidisciplinary programme that
prepares students to acquire the highest skill levels
based on three goals:
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1 Linguistic immersion
2 Technological immersion
3 Personal immersion
The programme is provided exclusively in English, but goes far beyond
simply learning the language. Students think and work in English, attend
lectures and can communicate on a daily basis with native teachers in live
sessions with other students, and become self-reliant in English, which
increases their confidence and skill.
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I like the idea of “leaving” my small school in my small town and being part of something much bigger, and that expands the value of my studies.
4th Year of ESO
Dual Diploma
San Sebastián
1 Linguistic Immersion
Technological immersion provides mastery of the most advanced digital
learning technologies. Students play an active role, set their learning
pace, are responsible for building their knowledge and play a central role
in their own educational process.
Virtual education develops the capacity for critical thinking and research
and information-analysis skills. Students undertake a more active learning
process, as they not only receive instruction from their teachers but also
learn through information research, self-reflection and different activities
that they carry out individually and cooperatively.
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2 Technological Immersion
Dual Diploma
Students acquire responsibility and maturity in work, with a high level
of autonomy. They learn to manage time and the flexibility to adapt
to working in different and multicultural settings. These acquired and
applied values ensure that students obtain and reach the small initial
achievements and milestones that they encounter and that will be of
greater magnitude at university.
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Academica
I think that the best part of our work, though most often invisible, is that we help students to realize their incredible potential.
Director of Global Student Services
3 Personal Immersion
Dual Diploma
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One of the advantages of the Dual Diploma, together with the notable improvement in the level of English, is the independence that students
acquire and the facility for managing new technologies, so that they have an insight into what their university education will be like.
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Students who want to be challenged
Self management mastery and Leadership skills
Window to the world
Language immersion
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An Internationally Recognized Qualification
The Dual Diploma is possible because the
American education system evaluates students
based on their knowledge and abilities.
Based on this concept, in order to obtain the
American high school diploma, students of the
Dual Diploma do not have to study the same
subject (math, physics, literature, etc.) twice, in
English and in Spanish; they only have to study
the subjects specific to the country (language,
history, culture, etc.), while the other subjects
are recognized.
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Dual Diploma
When they complete their studies, the
students of the Dual Diploma obtain exactly
the same qualification as students of
Academica schools on completing their
studies: the American high school diploma,
recognized in all states and by every
university in the world.
Academic educational services and its institutions
are accredited with the highest standards in the
country: the State of Florida and its Department
of Education, the US Department of Education, the
National Blue Ribbon Schools, AdvancED and the
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
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MaximumRecognition of
Subjects
The international agreements signed by Academica,
together with the academic excellence of the syllabus
(recognized by the main educational institutions in the
United States) allow for the highest rate of recognition:
75% of the 24 credits needed to obtain the American
high school diploma. Of the six subject that students must
take, four are part of the compulsory syllabus and two are
elective. The 18 remaining subjects are recognized with the
corresponding Spanish academic results.
Compulsory Subjects1
Everyday English I-II : 2 credits
Everyday English II-III : 2 credits
Everyday English III-IV : 2 credits
Everyday English IV-V: 2 credits
U.S History: 1 crédito
U.S Goverment/Economics: 1 credit
1 Students must take 2 credits in English and the
level of these credits is assigned following the test
taken at the start of the programme.
Elective SubjectsLife Management Skills2: 1 credit
College Preparation (SAT-ACT): 1 credit
Digital Photography: 1 credit
Criminology: 1 credit
Tourism and Hospitality: 1 credit
English: 1 credit
Global Studies: 1 credit
2 Compulsory Elective Subject.
Dual Diploma
Students of the Dual Diploma only need to take six subject in order to obtain the American
qualification.
Elective subjects include subjects such as Digital Photography, Criminology,
Tourism and SAT (preparation for the university-access examination).
These are subjects of great interest that do not form part of the European
curriculum and that provide students with extra motivation and allow them to
enrich their vocabulary in subjects that would not be covered in English.
Furthermore, students of the Dual Diploma can play an active role in
American student life by joining student clubs, where they will find other
students with the same interests: journalism, photography, the arts, etc.
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Dual Diploma
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1st Year of Bachillerato 1st Year of Bachillerato 4th Year of ESO
Salamanca Barcelona Córdoba
“I love digital photography. Now I am learning useful things that make me feel happy”
“I choose Criminology because I like TV crime series. Maybe one day I’ll write one ;)”
“If life is a great trip, you better study Tourism”
Dual Diploma
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Syllabus
The Dual Diploma can be started in the 3rd or 4th year of compulsory secondary education or in the 1st year of higher secondary education (secondary 5th year). The advantage of starting early is that students will only have to take one or two subjects per academic year and the learning load will be lower during the final two years of secondary school.
Moreover, for students who, in the final year of secondary
school, require two or three credits, the Dual Diploma
provides the opportunity to move the final-year elective subject ahead to the summer between the last two years
of secondary school.
This initiative, initially developed at the request of
the students themselves, is reserved exclusively for
students who began the programme in the final year of
compulsory secondary education or the 1st year of higher
secondary education (secondary 4th or 5th year) and
have obtained good results. This is a way of rewarding
their commitment and hard work, so that they enter the
final year of secondary school with a smaller educational
workload, i.e., with just one or two subjects.
Syllabus
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4 Year Program3rd Year of ESO*: English & Life Management Skills (electiva obligatoria)
4th Year of ESO: English & U.S History
1st Year of Bachillerato: U.S Government/Economics + Elective
2nd Year of Bachillerato: Elective3 years
3 Year Program
4th Year of ESO: English & Life Management Skills (electiva obligatoria)
1st Year of Bachillerato: English & U.S History
2nd Year of Bachillerato: U.S Government/Economics & Elective
2 Year Program
1st Year of Bachillerato: English, U.S History & Life Management Skills (electiva obligatoria)
2nd Year of Bachillerato: English, U.S Government/Economics & Elective
* When starting in the 3rd year of compulsory secondary education, students can also register in the three-year format and finish the program in the 1st year of higher secondary education (secondary 5th year).
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Admission and First Steps in the Programme
• 1. Submit the completed admission-application form.
• 2. Access test.
3. Notification of selected students.
• 4. Issue of user name and password.
The process for students taking part in the Dual Diploma is as follows:
5. First contact with the teacher in the United States.
• 6. Welcome speech.
• 7. Start of the course.
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Quick Guide to the Dual Diploma
1 What does the Dual Diploma offer?
The Dual Diploma provides the opportunity to obtain two qualifications at the same time:
the school-leaving qualification of the country of origin, obtained in situ, and the American
high school diploma obtained online.
2 Are students enrolled in the United States?
Yes. Once their application has been accepted, students are enrolled in the American high
school diploma like any other American Academica student.
3 What access score do students have to achieve?
Although and average score of 7 is generally recommended, there is no cutoff score.
To access the programme, all subjects taken and passed are analyzed and the student’s
level of English is assessed.
4 In which academic year can students begin the American Dual Diploma?
In the 3rd or 4th year of compulsory secondary education or in the 1st year of higher
secondary education (secondary 5th year).
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Quick Guide to the Dual Diploma
5 What level of academic effort is required of students?
The equivalent to an extra after-school activity. That is, between three and five hours a week,
depending on the initial level of English and the academic year in which the student begins.
6 How many subjects will the student take in total?
The excellence of the Dual Diploma allows Academica to recognize 75% of the 24 credits
required to obtain the American high school diploma. A Spanish student will only have to
take six credits (four compulsory subjects and two elective subjects).
7 What advantages does the Dual Diploma provide for students?
The Dual Diploma is a multidisciplinary programme that emphasizes educational immersion
in English, technological training and the personal development of the student.
The syllabus of the Dual Diploma includes interesting content to which students would
not normally have access and which will enrich them personally and academically. The
opportunity to join social clubs (journalism, arts, photography, etc.) allows them to interrelate
with students that share their interests.
Furthermore, taking the double qualification shows that the student has ability and discipline,
and the ability to meet the challenge of taking on a double qualification - qualities that are
highly valued in the labor market.
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Quick Guide to the Dual Diploma
8 What materials do students need?
A computer with an Internet connection and headphones with a microphone. Academica
will provide everything needed to access the content and activity platforms and for
communicating with teachers and students.
9 What quality guarantee does the American Dual Diploma provide?
It provides a full guarantee, as the students taking this programme receive the same
qualification as American students, which is valid in all states and is recognized by every
university in the world.
10 Do you have more questions?
We understand that it is often easier to talk in person. Please don’t hesitate to contact us
directly. Or contact the director of the Dual Diploma in any of the more than 250 schools
affiliated with the programme in Spain, who will certainly be able to answer any questions
you may have or invite you to one of the informational talks organized at each school.
More than 9000 students enrolled in the Dual Diploma
and hundreds of graduates each year.
A Large Community of Students