Accelerated Biomedical Careers Initiative
(ABC Initiative)

From Classroom to Clinic.

An Exceptional Opportunity for Burleson ISD Students

The Accelerated Biomedical Careers (ABC) Initiative gives motivated students a head start on a future in healthcare and biomedical science. Through a partnership between Hill College, Burleson ISD, and the UNT Health Fort Worth, students can begin earning college credit in high school, continue to a bachelor’s degree, and prepare for medical professional programs—all before most students complete their freshman year of college.

This unique collaboration provides an affordable, structured, and supportive path that helps students and families save both time and money while building a strong foundation for long-term career success.

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A — Earn Your Associate’s Degree

Students complete college coursework through Hill College while still in high school, earning an Associate of Science degree by the time they graduate. Courses are conveniently offered on the high school campus, providing an accessible and affordable introduction to higher education.

B — Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

After completing their associate’s degree, students can transfer directly to the UNT Health’s fully online Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences program. This flexible degree prepares students for advanced study in fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and other professional healthcare programs.

C — Start Your Career Early

By following the ABC Initiative, students can be ready to apply to professional medical schools years earlier than a traditional timeline. This accelerated path allows students to pursue their passion for healthcare while minimizing educational costs and maximizing opportunity.

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The ABC Initiative bridges the gap between high school, college, and professional education—empowering students to achieve their goals and meet the growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals.

Hill College • Burleson ISD • UNT Health
Together shaping tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.

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Contact information will be available soon.

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Sample of Classes

**Please note that this is a sample of what classes could look like. All courses offered by BISD, Hill College, and UNT Health could be moved around pending scheduling. All courses offered by BISD are part of the high school schedule. **

Ninth Grade Fall Hill College  Learning Frameworks	Ninth Grade Spring Hill College  Art Appreciation
Tenth Grade Fall Hill College  Intro to Psychology In order to continue in this pathway, you will need to be TSI compliant. More information on the TSI can be found here.	Tenth Grade Spring Hill College  Public Speaking
Eleventh Grade Fall Hill College  Composition I College Algebra US History I Biology for Science Majors I with lab	Eleventh Grade Spring Hill College  Composition II  Elementary Statistics US History II Biology for Science Majors II with lab
Twelfth Grade Fall Hill College  British Literature I  Federal Government Genetics with lab General Chemistry I with lab	Twelfth Grade Fall Hill College  Texas Government Organic Chemistry I with lab British Literature II
Graduate from BISD and Hill College
UNT Health Year 1 Fall Biomedical Ethics Biochemistry with lab Career Readiness Elective Elective	UNT Health Year 1 Spring Analysis of Scientific Literature Human Anatomy with lab Human Physiology with lab Elective Elective
UNT Health Year 2 Fall Applied Microbiology with lab Introduction to Health Disparities Fundamentals of Psychology Elective  Elective	UNT Health Year 2 Spring Scientific Communication for Health Professionals Biomedical Statistics Elective Elective Elective

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Click to toggle information about FAQs add

• How many college credit hours can I earn before I graduate high school?
  • The ABC pathway is a partnership with UNT Health Fort Worth, and students may earn an Associate of Applied Science or 60 semester credit hours 
• Will I still be able to participate in sports, band, FFA, cheer, or other extracurricular activities? 
  • Yes, in general, the SDC allows students to take college credit classes while still having a more traditional high school experience. However, if a student has a lot of interests, there may be conflicts.  
• Are the classes part of the normal high school schedule? 
  • Yes, all courses are part of the BISD schedule. 
• Are classes taught by Hill College instructors or high school teachers? 
  • The courses are taught by Hill College faculty. 
• Will I have to travel to Hill College campus for classes? 
  • No, all classes are taught on the high school campus either in person or via live-stream 
• What support is available if I struggle in a class? 
  • Hill College provides Navigators who check in with students regularly. The Navigators serve as the liaison to academic support.  
• Who helps students stay on track with course selection and graduation requirements? 
  • Hill College Navigators and Advisors will meet with the students regularly to ensure course selection and graduation requirements are on track. 
• What if I move to another school district while in the program? 
  • The student retains college credit, and it is up to the new district whether it is accepted as high school credit. 
• What happens if I decide I do not want to continue in the pathway? 
  • Students can exit the program at any point.  
• Will dropping a class affect my high school graduation requirements? 
  • Potentially, students are advised to seek guidance from their school counselor prior to dropping a college credit course.  
• Will withdrawing from a college course show up on my college transcript? 
  • Yes, withdrawal appears as a W on the college transcript 
• What happens if I fail a dual credit class? 
  • The college transcript will note an F 
• If I fail a class, can I retake it? 
  • Yes, a student that repeat a course to improve a grade and will be awarded the grade from the last attempt 
• What if I realize I do not want to pursue a healthcare career anymore? 
  • Students can participate in the general Structured Dual Credit program 
• Are tuition and books covered? 
  • FAST eligible students do not pay for tuition or learning materials.  
• What does FAST-funded mean? 
  • Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch in the past four years are eligible for the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer program and do not incur costs for college courses, learning materials, or fees.  
• What happens if my district does not cover books or supplies? 
  • Non-FAST funded students are responsible for books and supplies. 
• Are there any additional fees? 
  • Some courses require a learning materials “inclusive access” fee that allows students access to learning materials  
• Is there a cost if I withdraw from a class? 
  • Partial refunds are awarded when a student drops prior to the 12th class day of a course.  
• Are college classes harder than regular high school classes? 
  • Courses are designed to meet college standards for curriculum, instruction, and assessment. 
• What happens if a student misses class? 
  • Students missing a class should consult the course syllabus for instructor guidelines on absences. 
    
• How much studying is required outside of class? 
  • A general rule is to spend 2-3 hours studying outside of class for every one hour spent inside the classroom.  
• Will all of these credits transfer to another college or university?
  • Transfer credit is determined by the receiving university, but yes, the majority of college credits will transfer to a public 4-year university in Texas. Private universities may not transfer in all credits.
• What happens if my student wants to attend a university other than UNT Health?
  • Once the student completes their associate's degree, they can transfer to any 4-year university. However, they will likely take traditional face-to-face courses and need two full years or more to graduate with their bachelor’s degree.
• Will these credits transfer out of state?
  • Yes, many of the credits will transfer out of state, but not all of them.
• Can students still change majors after completing the pathway?
  • Yes, the program includes Texas core completion, which will contribute to the completion of any major. Depending on the selected major, some courses may not transfer.
• Does completing the ABC Initiative guarantee admission into UNT Health?
  • Yes, students who complete the ABC pathway and meet all performance criteria will have guaranteed admission to the BS-BMSC program at UNT Health.
• Does completing the ABC pathway guarantee admission into medical school?
  • No, it does not. Each medical school has its own admissions requirements. However, the BS-BMSC program has graduated students who have successfully entered medical school.
• How much money could this save compared to a traditional college path?
  • The amount of monetary savings is hard to estimate as each university has its own tuition and fees rates. However, the ABC pathway shaves 2 years off from high school to a bachelor’s degree. That is equivalent to 8 semesters' worth of tuition and fees saved.
• Will students graduate from Hill College at the same time they graduate high school?
  • Actually, yes,  similar to early college high schools, students will graduate with their associate's degree from Hill College in the same spring semester that they earn their high school diploma from BISD.
• What degree will students earn from Hill College?
  • Associates of Science
• How much earlier could a student finish college through the ABC pathway?
  • These students will graduate with their bachelor’s degree 2 years earlier than traditional programs, which is approximately 8 semesters. Students can expect to finish approximately two years earlier than those who do not take dual credit courses in high school.
• Is the ABC Initiative only for students who want to become doctors?
  • No, this pathway prepares students for any career in health care, for non-health-related careers, and prepares students for graduate and professional school admissions.
• What other careers could this pathway prepare students for?
  • Other health care careers include physical therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant, health administrator, dentist, and occupational therapist, to name a few.
    • Other careers outside of health care include laboratory technician, pharmaceutical sales representative, or biomedical research scientist.
• What happens if I want to pursue nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, or physical therapy instead?
  • If students want to transfer to a nursing program, they could do that at UNT Health as they offer a BSN degree. These other careers require a degree beyond the bachelor’s degree, and the BS-BMSC is the best bachelor’s degree to prepare for admissions to these health care professional programs.
• Why are there science labs in high school?
  • Most of the prerequisite courses for any science-focused degree, including the BS-BMSC degree, and graduate and professional schools require students to have wet lab, safety, and analytical skills. The science courses they take for their associate’s degree from Hill College provide them the opportunity to develop these requisite skills.
• Will students have access to healthcare professionals or mentors?
  • Yes, once students start coursework at UNT Health, they will have regular access to healthcare professionals as instructors and faculty advisors. Before their UNT Health courses, they will have informal access to healthcare professionals via the co-curriculum and extracurricular offerings.
• What kind of bachelor’s degree will students earn after Hill College?
  • ABC pathway students will earn a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences.
• Is the UNT Health bachelor’s degree fully online?
  • Yes, it is fully online and asynchronous, which means students never have to come to campus or meet at specific times to meet any degree requirements. That said, they are always welcome to come to campus to meet with their instructors, advisors, or participate in co-curricular events.
• How long does it take to finish a bachelor’s degree after high school graduation?
  • They will complete the bachelor’s portion of the pathway in five semesters if they choose to enroll full-time each semester.
• Will students have opportunities for internships, shadowing, or research?
  • Yes, there are opportunities for research, service, and participation in student organization