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FAQ: Credits & Academic Recognition

How many credits can my student earn with Cactus Curricula?

Completing the full six-mystery series awards three high school credits.

Forensic Science with Lab (Science)
English/Creative Writing (English)
Applied Critical Thinking (Elective)

Each mystery runs for six weeks with 3–4 hours of work per week. We estimate about 2–3 hours of class time plus 1 hour of writing per week, though many students naturally spend additional time developing their stories. Over the series, students complete about 130–140 instructional hours in total. In our interdisciplinary model, three subject areas share these hours. They also meet high school–level learning objectives in science, English, and applied critical thinking.

The Forensic Science Showcase is the course’s capstone project and is required for all students once during the six-mystery series to meet credit requirements. In states that require a specific minimum number of documented hours per subject, or for students who want to expand their learning, students can also complete it after each mystery to increase instructional time in science, English, and applied critical thinking.

For states or umbrella schools requiring more documented hours per subject, the program includes additional built-in opportunities to deepen learning:

My Research projects: 10 ready-to-use, case-specific research topics that go beyond the core assignments.
My Forensic Lab projects: optional hands-on lab challenges for deeper science application.

The Teacher’s Edition includes these options, which make extending learning time and meeting state-specific requirements without extra planning easy.

How does an interdisciplinary course count for multiple credits?

In an interdisciplinary program, the same instructional hours can count toward more than one subject if:

The total instructional time is documented.
The learning objectives for each subject are met.

With Cactus Curricula, running a forensic lab, writing a chapter, or analyzing evidence often advances skills in science, English, and applied critical thinking at the same time.
The required Forensic Science Showcase, along with the optional My Research and My Forensic Lab projects, can also increase documented instructional hours in each subject when needed.

This approach aligns with models recognized by state guidelines, such as the Ohio Department of Education’s Integrated Coursework framework, and is widely accepted in U.S. project-based learning programs.

Will colleges accept these credits?

Yes, colleges are familiar with integrated and project-based learning, provided that credits are clearly documented. On transcripts, list each subject separately, for example:

Forensic Science with Lab—1 credit
English/Creative Writing—1 credit
Applied Critical Thinking—1 credit

Important: Every state, umbrella school, and college may have its own policies. We provide course descriptions, instructional hours, and grading tools, but families are responsible for confirming how credits apply to their own high school requirements and college admissions plans. If additional hours are needed, the program provides optional projects and research extensions to expand the credit documentation.

Are there any states that require extra documentation?

Most states accept integrated courses for multiple credits if hours and objectives are documented. Some, such as New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Hawaii, and certain Florida districts, require a subject-by-subject hour log.

Cactus Curricula makes this simple by:

Labeling each My Research project with the subject(s) it counts toward, while My Forensic Lab projects count fully toward science.
Allowing the Forensic Science Showcase to be completed after each mystery—rather than just once—adds substantial hours in science, English, and applied critical thinking when required.

These built-in options ensure families can meet even the strictest state requirements without adding lessons beyond the program itself.