A-G Requirements for CA Colleges

The A-G requirements are a list of courses that California high school students must complete to be eligible for admission to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. These courses ensure that students have attained a baseline of knowledge and skills in key subject areas, preparing them for college-level work.

A-G Subject Requirements

To meet admission requirements, students must complete 15 yearlong high school courses with a C or better, 11 of which must be finished before the last year of high school. These can be met through high school, college courses, or exam scores. Math and foreign language courses taken before high school may also count.

A) History (2 years required)

• High School: 1 year of World History and 1 year of U.S. History or 1/2 year U.S. History + 1/2 year Civics/American government.
• Exams: AP or IB exams can satisfy the requirement.
• College Courses: U.S. and World History college courses of 3+ semester units can also fulfill this.

B) English (4 years required)

• High School: 4 years of English.
• Exams: ACT, SAT, AP, or IB exams can satisfy the requirement.
• College Courses: College-level composition or literature courses can also count.

C) Mathematics (3 years required, 4 recommended)

• High School: Algebra, Geometry, and advanced math.
• Exams: AP/IB exams in Calculus or Precalculus satisfy 2 years (excluding geometry).
• College Courses: Non-transferable and transferable courses can satisfy up to two years.

D) Science (2 years required, 3 recommended)

• High School: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
• Exams: AP/IB exams in two different sciences satisfy the requirement.
• College Courses: Lab-based science courses of 3+ semester units meet each year required.

E) Language Other than English (2 years required)

• High School: Two years of the same language.
• Exams: AP/IB language exams can fulfill the requirement.
• College Courses: College courses equivalent to two years of high school language.

F) Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) (1 year required)

• High School: 1 year in disciplines like music, theater, or visual arts.
• Exams: AP/IB exams in art history, music, or theater arts can satisfy this.
• College Courses: Transferable courses in visual/performing arts fulfill this.

G) College-Preparatory Elective (1 year required)

• High School: 1 year beyond those used for A-F requirements.
• Exams: AP/IB exams in subjects like economics, psychology, or government can satisfy this.
• College Courses: Transferable courses in elective subjects beyond A-F.