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To satisfy this requirement, you must complete the 15 units of high school coursework listed in the table below. (A unit is equal to an academic year, or two semesters or three quarters of study.) These courses are also known as the “a-g” subjects or requirements. At least 7 of the 15 units must be taken in your last two years of high school.
You must choose courses from your high school’s UC-certified course list to satisfy these requirements. At the UC Office of the President’s Web site, you may search for UC-certified course lists from any accredited California high school.
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Subject |
Length |
Description |
| a |
History/Social Science |
2 years required |
Two years of history/social science, including one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government; and one year of world history, cultures and geography. |
| b |
English, or language of instruction |
4 years required |
Four years of college preparatory English (or your language of instruction) that include reading of classic and modern literature and frequent and regular writing. Not more than two semesters of ninth-grade English or ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement. |
| c |
Mathematics |
3 years required, 4 years recommended |
Three years of college preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry. Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement, as may math courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades that your high school accepts as equivalent to its own math courses. |
| d |
Laboratory Science |
2 years required, 3 years recommended |
Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in at least two of these three disciplines: biology (which includes anatomy, physiology, marine biology, etc.), chemistry and physics. Laboratory courses in earth/space sciences are acceptable if they have as prerequisites or provide basic knowledge in biology, chemistry, or physics. The appropriate two years of an approved integrated science program may be used to fulfill this requirement. Not more than one year of ninth-grade laboratory science may be used to meet this requirement. |
| e |
Language other than English (or second language) |
2 years required, 3 years recommended |
Two years of the same language other than English (or your language of instruction). Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading and composition. Courses in languages other than English (or your language of instruction) taken in the seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part of this requirement if your high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses. American Sign Language (ASL) courses may be used to fulfill this requirement if they appear on your high school’s UC-approved course list. |
| f |
Visual and Performing Arts |
1 year required |
One year (two semesters) of visual and performing arts chosen from one of the following areas: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art. |
| g |
College Preparatory Electives |
1 year required |
One year (two semesters) in addition to those required for subjects listed above, chosen from the following areas: visual and performing arts, history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, and language other than English (a third year in the language used for the “e” requirement or two years of another language). |
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