Diploma Seals of Distinction & College Requirements

College Preparatory Course Prerequisite Requirements

For Entering College Freshmen Beginning in Academic Year 2019-2020

As published by the SC Commission on Higher Education

1. FOUR UNITS OF ENGLISH: All four units must have strong reading (including works of fiction and non-fiction), writing, communicating and researching components. It is strongly recommended that students take two units that are literature-based, including American, British, and World Literature. 

2. FOUR UNITS OF MATHEMATICS: These units must include Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry. A fourth higher-level mathematics unit should be taken before or during the senior year.

3. THREE UNITS OF LABORATORY SCIENCE: Two units must be taken in two different fields of the physical, earth, or life sciences and selected from among biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science. The third unit may be from the same field as one of the first two units (biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science) or from any laboratory science for which biology, chemistry, physics, and/or earth science is a prerequisite. Courses in general or introductory science for which one of these four units is not a prerequisite will not meet this requirement. It is strongly recommended that students desiring to pursue careers in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology take one course in all four fields (biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science.) 

4. TWO UNITS OF THE SAME WORLD LANGUAGE: Two units with a heavy emphasis on language acquisition.

5. THREE UNITS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE: One unit of U.S. History, a half unit of Economics, and a half unit of Government are required. World History or Geography is strongly recommended

6. ONE UNIT OF FINE ARTS: One unit in appreciation of, history of, or performance in one of the fine arts. The unit should be selected from among media/digital arts, dance, music, theater, or visual and spatial arts. 

7. ONE UNIT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION OR JROTC: One unit of physical education to include one semester of personal fitness and another semester in lifetime fitness. Exemption applies to student enrolled in Junior ROTC and for students exempted because of physical disability or for religious reasons. 

8. TWO UNITS OF ELECTIVES: Two units must be taken as an electives. A college preparatory course in Computer Science (i.e., one involving significant programming content, not simply keyboarding or using applications) is strongly recommended for this elective. Other acceptable electives include college preparatory courses in English; fine arts; foreign languages; social science; humanities; mathematics; physical education; and laboratory science (courses for which biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science is a prerequisite).