Fall 2023: September 18 – December 15
Spring 2024: January 29 – April 26
The Beacon Foundations Difference
100% LIVE — not self-paced — classes.
At Beacon College, experience has taught us that self-paced asynchronous learning isn’t the best learning model for students who learn differently. It can be challenging, unsatisfying — and often leads to disappointing results. That’s why all Beacon Foundations classes are 100% live. They feature engaging, small online classes taught in “real time” by Beacon College faculty who are skilled in online instruction. Most of all, you’ll receive essential feedback on your academic performance and have the opportunity to interact with fellow students — as opposed to viewing pre-recorded classes, posting comments and waiting for feedback.
Our core courses are BUILDING BLOCKS for future college success.
Beacon Foundation classes feature basic coursework required of most first-year students — including composition, math and technology — plus several introductory electives. The credits you earn will be transferrable to most colleges and universities, whatever your college of choice. Each semester offers you the option of earning as few as 3 or as many as 12 college credits, based on your readiness and goals.
SUPPORT is all around you.
In addition to your professors, Beacon Foundations involves a team of counselors and learning skills professionals. We’ll help evaluate your needs, select the best courses, and offer recommendations on your next steps. Our live coaching gives you active, individualized support around your executive function skills. You’ll participate in weekly one-to-one meetings to review your progress. You’ll also have virtual access to all of Beacon’s on-campus academic and support resources — from our library and Center for Success to our Writing Center.
Who Should Enroll?
Are you interested in college — but unsure you can handle a full course load?
Are you uncertain about living on campus — but want to begin your college studies?
Have your college plans been delayed due to housing limitations or waitlisting?
If you’re a high school graduate, you can begin or even complete your fundamental first-year college classes at home through Beacon Foundations.
Beacon Foundations is about more than taking college courses. We’ll prepare you to become a better college student by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses, and providing you with the right interventions to support your success.
Our goal is to get you ready for the next step on your academic journey — whether that’s on-campus classes at Beacon, enrollment at another college or university, or continued remote learning at an online university or program.
Beacon Foundations is your introduction to college without the added pressures of adjusting to campus life, allowing you to focus on your academic success. It’s the perfect way to test drive, begin or stay on track with your college plans.
Applying for Admission
To participate in Beacon Foundations, you must have a diagnosed learning disability, such as dyslexia, ADHD or related conditions. If you do not have an official diagnosis, please email Alexander Morris-Wood or call 352-638-9777 to arrange for an evaluation.
If you have already applied and been accepted to Beacon College, you need only complete our Beacon Foundations Application.
Academic Courses
Each student participates in an Introduction to E-Learning course before beginning online classes. This is a personal orientation session to introduce you to Canvas, strategies for successful virtual learning, and to review the course syllabi. Students enroll in 1-4 college courses.
Courses for fall 2023 and spring 2024 will be announced soon!
In the meantime, here is a sampling of courses offered in previous semesters. Click the course name to see the full description.
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- Learning Essentials & Self-Discovery • 3 credits
In this course, you will explore how your choices directly impact your opportunities for greater success in college and life. Topics include: accepting personal responsibility, discovering self-motivation, mastering self-management, employing interdependence, gaining self-awareness, adopting lifelong learning, developing emotional intelligence, believing in oneself, and identifying individual learning styles and effective learning strategies. You’ll develop your critical thinking skills through self-assessments, case studies, guided journaling and an individual research project.
- College Mathematics • 3 Credits
NOTE: Your placement in one of the following four courses will be based on your academic background and a placement test.
- General Education Mathematics:
A general education course that offers a solid foundation in the basics of college mathematics. Real-life applications, conceptual understanding, problem-solving, using technology appropriately, and critical thinking are emphasized and integrated throughout the course. - Mathematic Strategies:
Computational review and practice prepare you for the demands of college-level math through a focus on whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, proportions, practical applications, and word problems. You will learn to use a basic scientific calculator to facilitate learning and provide assistive technology.
- General Education Mathematics:
- General Psychology • 3 credits
Provides an overview of the principles of human behavior and the scope and methods of psychology. Topics include human development, intelligence, emotion, motivation, personality, social psychology, and abnormal behavior.
- Technology in Global Environments • 3 credits
This course presents an introduction to current technologies on a global scale. You will acquire computer skills and build a stronger foundation in word processing, presentation software, and web communications. Your studies will also introduce you to business applications and digital media programs. Class work focuses on productivity and creative projects. This course will help you advance your computer literacy in both academic and work environments.
- College English • 3 credits
NOTE: Your placement in one of the following courses will be based on your academic background and a placement test.
- Accelerated Literacy:
This course will focus on critical thinking skills required to read, analyze, and synthesize written information, including the expansion of vocabulary and grammatical/mechanical skills required to successfully negotiate the writing process in preparation for reading and writing at the college level. - College Composition:
This class is designed to develop skills in writing multi-paragraph essays with emphasis on exposition, including the selection, restriction, organization, and development of topics. Students examine selected writing samples as models of form and sources of ideas for their own writing.
- Accelerated Literacy:
- Introduction to Criminal Justice • 3 credits
This course will provide students with an introduction and overview of the field of criminal justice operated in the United States today, including the police, courts, probation, parole, jails, and prison systems
- Introduction to Business • 3 credits
This course is designed to introduce the student to the principles and functions of business. Business will be studied as part of a total social, political, and economic environment. The various functional areas of business will be discussed: economic systems, forms of business ownership, small business, management, human relations, marketing,
accounting, finance, stock market, and business law. - Exploring Atlantic History • 3 credits
This course uses a transnational and comparative approach to explore events that connected the peoples of the Americas, Europe and Africa starting in the mid-1400s. Students will explore increasingly complex social, economic and cultural connections by examining major themes that united peoples across national and regional boundaries. Through the use of historical texts and contemporary analysis this course will provide insight into how modern Atlantic societies interact with each other and continually struggle with their pasts.
Value-Added Support Beyond the Coursework
Weekly Coaching:
You will engage in weekly 1-to-1 coaching sessions. You’ll be asked to define your goals, review your performance, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and discuss ways to achieve those goals.Office Hours:
You can meet with your professors during virtual office hours on a weekly basis. These sessions will provide opportunities to receive individualized support in order to master concepts and class-based skills.Writing Center:
You will have access to the professional staff at Beacon College’s acclaimed Writing Center for support. Meetings can be scheduled with a writing consultant to work on starting and organizing your writing assignments.Family Support:
Parents of Beacon Foundations students are invited to monthly family webinars focused on aspects related to college readiness. If student permission is granted, parents can also participate in monthly check-ins to discuss student progress.Cost of Attendance, Financial Aid & Scholarships
The costs for Beacon Foundations include tuition, fees, coaching and support services.
Based on your personal circumstances, you may qualify to receive federal aid. If you are interested in being considered for federal financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) as soon as possible if you have not already done so. A minimum of six credits must be taken to receive federal aid.
Beacon College also offers generous college-funded need-based awards and scholarships for students enrolling in Beacon Foundations. The FAFSA is required to be considered for these awards.
Because Beacon’s programs serve students with diagnosed learning differences, our tuition and fees may qualify your family to receive valuable medical tax benefits.
Transfer Credits
Credits earned at Beacon College are transferrable to most college and universities. If you plan to transfer credits, you should first check with the receiving institution to review the courses you plan to take and their transferability to that college or university.
More Information
Watch the Virtual Information Session:
On January 11, we hosted the final virtual information of the spring for Beacon Foundations! We invite you to watch the recording for detailed information about the program, important dates & deadlines, scholarship opportunities, and a live Q&A with the director of college readiness programs, Katy Reinke.
ACCESS THE RECORDING >Schedule a Video Chat:
Want to chat with us about your unique situation or ask questions about Beacon Foundations? You can schedule a one-on-one Zoom conversation with Katy Reinke, our director of college readiness programs, for more information face-to-face.
MEET WITH KATY >Read or Download the Full Brochure:
Check out complete program details, course descriptions, daily schedule and more in the full Foundations program brochure.
VIEW THE BROCHURE >"*" indicates required fields
- Learning Essentials & Self-Discovery • 3 credits
