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The University of California and the California State University systems have laid out a plan for the courses a student needs to take for acceptance into those university systems. This includes:
| Letter | Subject Area | Description | Years Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | 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. | 2 years |
| b | English | College-preparatory English that includes frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature. | 4 years |
| c | Mathematics | College-preparatory mathematics that includes 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. | 3 years (4 years strongly recommended) |
| d | Laboratory Science | Fundamental knowledge in at least two of these three foundational subjects: biology, chemistry, and physics. Advanced laboratory science courses that have biology, chemistry, or physics as prerequisites and offer substantial new material may be used to fulfill this requirement. The last two years of an approved three-year integrated science program that provides rigorous coverage of at least two of the three foundational subjects may be used to fulfill this requirement. | 2 years required (3 years strongly recommended) |
| e | Language Other Than English (LOTE) | 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. | 2 years of the same language required (3 years strongly recommended) |
| f | Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) | Approved arts course from a single VAPA discipline (dance, drama/theater, music, or visual art). | 1 year |
| g | College Preparatory Elective | 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 or courses approved for use as "g" electives. | 1 year |