Subject requirement (A-G)

To meet minimum admission requirements, you must complete 15 yearlong high school courses with a letter grade of C or better — at least 11 of them prior to your last year of high school.

Keep in mind that taking high school (A-G) courses isn't the only way to satisfy these requirements. You also may meet them by completing college courses or earning certain scores on various acceptable exams. With the exception of math and language other than English, all subject requirements must be met in 9th through 12th grade.

A) History 

High school courses

Two years of history, including:

  • one year of world history, cultures or historical geography (may be a single yearlong course or two one-semester courses), and
  • one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government

AP or IB Examination

U.S. History: score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP U.S. History or African American Studies exam; score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB History of the Americas HL exam.

U.S. or Comparative Government: Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam satisfies a half year.

World History/Cultures/Geography: score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam in European History, World History, Modern World History or Human Geography; score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB History HL or Geography HL exam

College courses

U.S. History: grade of C or better in a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in U.S history; grade of C or better in a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in civics or American Government meets one semester of the requirement.

World History/Cultures/Geography: grade of C or better in a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in world history, cultures and geography

B) English

UC-approved high school courses

Four years of college-preparatory English that include frequent writing, from brainstorming to final paper, as well as reading of classic and modern literature. No more than one year of ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement.

 

ACT English Language Arts (ELA)

Score of 24 meets the first three years; score of 30 meets the entire four-year requirement.

SAT Writing and Language Test

Score of 31 meets the first three years; score of 36 meets the entire four-year requirement.

AP or IB Examination

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition exam; score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB HL English: Literature exam (formerly IB HL English A1)

College courses

For each year required through the 11th grade, a grade of C or better in a non-transferable college course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in English composition, literature (American or English) or foreign literature in translation. Courses used to satisfy the fourth year and/or the entire requirement must be transferable.

C) Mathematics

UC-approved high school courses

Three years of college-preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry; a fourth year of math is strongly recommended. A geometry course or an integrated math course with a sufficient amount of geometry content must be completed. 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 if the high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.

AP or IB Examination

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam, or score of 4 or 5 on the AP Precalculus exam, satisfies two years of the requirement (but not geometry).

Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IB Mathematics HL Analysis and Approaches exam satisfies two years of the requirement (but not geometry).

College courses

Three semester (4 quarter) units of non-transferable college courses in elementary algebra, geometry, intermediate algebra or trigonometry, with a grade of C or better, satisfy one year each of the math requirement.

Grade of C or better in a transferable mathematics course of at least 3 semester (4 quarter) units that has intermediate algebra as a prerequisite satisfies two years of the requirement (but not geometry).

NOTE: All students must complete a geometry course or integrated math with geometry content (e.g., Math II). One transferable college course will not satisfy the full three-year math requirement.

D) Science

UC-approved high school courses

Two years of college-preparatory science, including or integrating topics that provide fundamental knowledge in two of these three subjects: biology, chemistry, or physics. One year of approved interdisciplinary or earth and space sciences coursework can meet one year of the requirement. A third year of science is recommended. Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Science courses can be used in area D as an additional science (i.e., third year and beyond).

AP or IB Examination

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on any two AP exams from different disciplines in Biology, Chemistry, Physics (B, C, 1 or 2) and Environmental Science; score of 5, 6 or 7 on any two IB HL exams in Biology, Chemistry or Physics

College courses

For each year of the requirement, a grade of C or better in a transferable course of at least 3 semester (4 quarter) units in a natural (physical or biological) science with at least 30 hours of laboratory (not "demonstration")

E) Language other than English

High school courses

Two years, or equivalent to the 2nd level of high school instruction, of the same language other than English are required. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition and culture. American Sign Language and classical languages, such as Latin and Greek, are acceptable, as are Native American languages. Courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement if the high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.

AP or IB Examination

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam in Chinese Language and Culture, French Language and Culture, German Language and Culture, Italian Language and Culture, Japanese Language and Culture, Spanish Language, Spanish Language and Culture, Spanish Literature and Culture or Latin; score of 5, 6 or 7 on an IB HL language B exam.

College courses

Grade of C or better in any transferable course(s) (excluding conversation) held by the college to be equivalent to two years of high school language. Many colleges list the prerequisites for their second course in language as "Language 1 at this college or two years of high school language." In this case, Language 1 clears both years of the requirement.

F) Visual and performing arts

UC-approved high school courses

One yearlong course of visual and performing arts chosen from the following disciplines: dance, music, theater, visual arts or interdisciplinary arts — or two one-semester courses from the same discipline is also acceptable. 

AP or IB Examination

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Art History, Art and Design (2-D Art and Design, 3-D Art and Design or Drawing) Music Theory exam; score of 5, 6 or 7 on any one IB HL exam in Dance, Film, Music, Theatre Arts or Visual Arts

College courses

Grade of C or better in any transferable course of 3 semester (4 quarter) units that clearly falls within one of four visual/performing arts disciplines: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art

G) College-preparatory elective

UC-approved high school courses

One year (two semesters) chosen from courses specific to the elective (G) subject area or courses beyond those used to satisfy the requirements of the A-F subjects.

AP or IB Examination

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on any one AP exam in Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Psychology, U.S. Government or Comparative Government.

Score of 5, 6 or 7 on any one IB HL exam in Computer Science, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Social and Cultural Anthropology.

College courses

Grade of C or better in transferable college courses of at least 3 semester (4 quarter) units beyond those listed above as clearing any of the "A-F" requirements.