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WHAT ARE A-G COURSES?

A-G refers to the seven academic subject areas that high school students are required to pass with a grade of “C” or better to be eligible for UC and CSU admission.

The A-G curriculum comprises core subjects and elective courses that involve substantial reading, writing, problem solving and laboratory work (as appropriate), and show serious attention to analytical thinking, factual content and development of students’ oral and listening skills.

Students who have successfully met A-G requirements have attained a body of general knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to the new, more advanced demands of college coursework and rewarding careers in the 21st century.

A. HISTORY / SOCIAL SCIENCES

The “A” requirement for graduation is 2 years of social science. However, the CDE requires 4 specific courses and 3 years of history/social science.

These 4 specific courses are:

• World History AB
• U.S. History AB
• Principles of American Democracy (Government)
• Economics (counts as a “G” elective)

B. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

The “B” requirement for graduation is 4 years of English Language Arts.

Note: Literature and Language and Advanced ELD courses may be used to substitute the “B” requirement once the grade-level course has been attempted. Because these courses are “B” approved, a maximum of two semesters (10 credits) may be used to satisfy this requirement. However, UC requires that students pass non-ELD “B” approved English courses in the senior year.

Sample Courses:

• English 9 AB
• English 10 AB
• American Literature/Contemporary Composition
• Expos Comp/Modern Lit

C. MATHEMATICS

The “C” requirement for graduation is 3 years of mathematics. The CDE requires students to take and pass Algebra 1. Note: All students must take 3 years of math in high school regardless of the math courses completed in middle school.

Sample Courses:

• Algebra 1
• Geometry AB
• Algebra 2 AB

Validation:

•  A grade of “C” or better in the first semester of Algebra 2 validates both semesters of Algebra 1.
• A grade of “C” or better in an advanced math course will validate the entire high school college preparatory sequence.
• A grade of “C” or better in Statistics will only validate Algebra 1 and Algebra 2, not Geometry.
• Students applying to CSU and UC must complete a Geometry course. 

D. LABORATORY SCIENCE

The “D” requirement for graduation is 2 years of laboratory science. One year must be a physical science and one year must be a biological science.

Sample Courses:

• Biology AB
• Chemistry AB
• Physics AB

Validation:

• A grade of a “C” or better in the second semester of chemistry will validate a “D” in the first semester for CSU.
• Validation may not be used to meet the CDE graduation science requirement.

E. LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH

The “E” requirement for graduation is 2 years of a language other than English. (The 2 years must be in the same language).

Sample Courses:

• Spanish 1 AB and Spanish 2 AB
• French 1 AB and French 2 AB

Validation:

• A grade of “C” or better in a semester of a higher-level course validates a lower-level course.
• A higher-level LOTE course can validate the appropriate number of years based on the level.

Note: Students who take Spanish for Spanish Speakers are required to pass Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1B with a grade of “C” or better to meet the LOTE requirement.

F. VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

The “F” requirement for graduation is 1 year-long course or two-semester courses in visual and performing arts. Both semesters must be from the same discipline (Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, or Music).

Sample Courses:

• Theatre Intro AB
• Intro Art AB
• Instruments AB

There is no validation. Students must take and pass each course.

G. COLLEGE PREP ELECTIVES

The “G” requirement for graduation is 1 year of approved college prep electives.

Sample Courses:

• Economics (required for CDE)
• AP Psychology AB

There is no validation. Students must take and pass each course.