The following sequence of high school courses is required by the Academic Senate of the University of California as appropriate for fulfilling the minimum eligibility requirements for admission to the University of California. It also illustrates the minimum level of academic preparation students ought to achieve in high school to undertake university level work.

The purposes of the "a-g" subject area requirements are to ensure that entering students

· Can participate fully in the first year program at the University in a broad variety of fields of study;

· Have attained the necessary preparation for courses, majors and programs offered at the University;

· Have attained a body of knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced studies; and

· Have attained essential critical thinking and study skills.

a) History/Social Science - 2 years required

Two years of history/social science, including one year of world history, cultures and geography; and one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government.

b) English - 4 years required

Four years of college-preparatory English that include frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature. No more than one year of 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 foundational subjects: biology, chemistry and physics. Advanced laboratory science classes that have biology, chemistry or physics as prerequisites and offer substantial additional material may be used to fulfill this requirement, as may the final two years of an approved three-year integrated science program that provides rigorous coverage of at least two of the three foundational subjects.

e) Language Other than English - 2 years required, 3 years recommended

Two years of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition and culture. Courses in languages other than English 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.

f) Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) - 1 year required

A single yearlong approved arts course from a single VAPA discipline: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art.

g) College-Preparatory Electives - 1 year required

One year (two semesters), in addition to those required in "a-f" above, chosen from the following areas: visual and performing arts (non-introductory level courses), 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).

ELIGIBILITY IN THE LOCAL CONTEXT

Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) is a program by which the University of California identifies top-performing California high school students. Unlike the broader statewide eligibility pathway, which seeks to recognize top students from throughout the state, ELC draws qualified students from among the top 9 percent of each participating high school.

The ELC program was implemented to:

· increase the pool of eligible students

· meet the guideline of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, which states that the top 12.5 percent of public high school graduates will be considered UC-eligible

· give UC a presence in each California high school and stimulate a college-going culture at those schools that typically do not send many graduates to the university

The ELC program also fulfills an important UC admissions goal: to recognize and reward the academic accomplishment of students who have made the most of the opportunities available to them.

To be designated as ELC, a student must have attended an eligible, participating California high school, satisfactorily completed a specific pattern of 11 UC-approved courses prior to the start of senior year, and have a UC-calculated GPA that meets or exceeds the top 9 percent GPA benchmark established by UC for their school. To maintain the ELC status, the student must satisfy the general admissions requirements including the successful completion of the 15 required “a-g” courses, maintain a 3.0 GPA and submit an official copy of ACT with Writing or SAT Reasoning Test scores.

California high school students who are eligible in the statewide context or eligible in the local context and are not admitted to any campus to which they apply will be offered a spot at another campus if space is available.

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