The intent of the Subject Requirement is to assure that students can participate fully in the first-year program at the University in a wide variety of fields of study. The requirements are written deliberately for the benefit of all students expecting to enter the University, and not for preparation for specific majors.
The UC faculty consider the Subject Requirement to be effective preparation, on many levels, for undergraduate work at the University. This pattern of secondary-level study assures the faculty that the student has attained a body of general knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced study. Fulfillment of the "a-g" pattern also demonstrates that the student has attained essential critical-thinking and study skills.
Students may satisfy the Subject Requirement by taking specified "a-g" high school courses or community college courses, or by achieving specified minimum scores on SAT Subject Tests, Advanced Placement Examinations or International Baccalaureate Examinations.
Options for Satisfying the Subject Requirement
A
HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCES
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UC-Approved High School Courses |
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Two years of history/social science, including: |
| one year of world history, cultures and geography (may be a single yearlong course or two one-semester courses), and |
| one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government |
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SAT Subject Examination |
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U.S. History: Score of 550 satisfies one year. |
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World History: Score of 540 satisfies one year. |
AP or IB Examination |
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U.S. History: Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP U.S. History Exam;
Score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB History of the Americas HL exam |
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U.S. Government: Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Exam satisfies a half year. |
World History/Cultures/Geography: Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Exam in European History, World History or Human Geography;
Score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB History HL or Geography HL exam |
College Courses |
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U.S. History/Civics/American Government: Grade of C or better in a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in U.S. history, civics or American government |
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World History/Cultures/Geography: Grade of C or better in a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in world history, cultures and geography |
B
English |
UC-Approved High School Courses |
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Four years of college-preparatory English that include frequent writing, from brainstorming to final paper, as well as reading of classic and modern literature. No more than one year of ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement. |
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SAT Subject Examination |
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Literature: Score of 560 satisfies first three years |
| Writing: Score of 680 satisfies entire four-year requirement |
AP or IB Examination |
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Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition Exam;
Score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB Language A1 English HL exam |
College Courses |
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For each year required through the 11th grade, a grade of C or better in a course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in English composition, literature (American or English) or foreign literature in translation. Courses used to satisfy the fourth year of the requirement must be transferable. For lower-division transfer, all courses must be transferable. Literature courses must include substantial work in composition. |
C
Mathematics |
UC-Approved High School Courses |
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Three years (four years recommended) 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 if the high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses. |
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SAT Subject Examination |
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Mathematics 1C: Score of 570 satisfies entire requirement. |
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Mathematics Level 2: Score of 480 satisfies entire requirement. |
AP or IB Examination |
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Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics Exam satisfies elementary and intermediate algebra;
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB or Calculus BC Exam satisfies three years;
Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IB Mathematics HL exam |
College Courses |
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Grade of C or better in a transferable mathematics course that has intermediate algebra as a prerequisite satisfies the entire requirement. Freshman applicants cannot satisfy this requirement with statistics. |
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Three semester (4 quarter) units of non-transferable courses in elementary algebra, geometry, intermediate algebra or trigonometry, with a grade of C or better, satisfy one year of the math requirement. |
D
Laboratory Science |
UC-Approved High School Courses |
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Two years (three years recommended) of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three foundational subjects: biology, chemistry and physics. 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 may be used to fulfill this requirement. |
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SAT Subject Examination |
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Each test clears one year: |
- Biology: Score of 540
- Chemistry: Score of 530
- Physics: Score of 530
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AP or IB Examination |
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Score of 3, 4 or 5 on any two AP Exams in Biology, Chemistry, Physics B or Physics C, and Environmental Science;
Score of 5, 6 or 7 on any two IB HL exams in Biology, Chemistry or Physics |
College Courses |
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For each year of the requirement, a grade of C or better in a transferable course in a natural (physical or biological) science with at least 30 hours of laboratory (not "demonstration") |
E
Language Other Than English |
UC-Approved High School Courses |
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Two years (three years recommended) of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition and culture. American Sign Language and classical languages, such as Latin and Greek, are acceptable. |
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SAT Subject Examination |
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The following scores satisfy the entire requirement: |
- Chinese With Listening: 520
- French/French With Listening: 540
- German/German With Listening: 510
- Modern Hebrew: 470
- Italian: 520
- Japanese With Listening: 510
- Korean With Listeninig: 500
- Latin: 530
- Spanish/Spanish With Listening: 520
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AP or IB Examination |
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Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Language or Literature Exam in French, German, Spanish or Latin (Chinese, Italian and Japanese are pending faculty approval);
Score of 5, 6 or 7 on an IB Language A2 HL exam |
College Courses |
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Grade of C or better in any transferable course(s) (excluding conversation) held by the college to be equivalent to two years of high school language. Many colleges list the prerequisites for their second course in language as "Language 1 at this college or two years of high school language." In this case, Language 1 clears both years of the requirement. |
F
Visual and Performing Arts |
UC-Approved High School Courses |
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One yearlong course of visual and performing arts chosen from the following: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art |
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AP or IB Examination |
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Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP History of Art, Studio Art or Music Theory Exam;
Score of 5, 6 or 7 on any one IB HL exam in Dance, Film, Music, Theatre Arts or Visual Arts |
College Courses |
| Grade of C or better in any transferable course of 3 semester (4 quarter) units that clearly falls within one of four visual/performing arts disciplines: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art |
G
College-Preparatory Elective |
UC-Approved High School Courses |
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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) |
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SAT Subject Examination |
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U.S. History: Score of 550 |
| World History: Score of 540 |
| Writing/English Compositions or Literature: Score of 560 |
| Mathematics Level 2: Score of 520 |
| Science (other than taken for "d" requirement): Same tests and scores as listed above under "d" |
| Language Other Than English, third year |
- Chinese With Listening: 570
- French/French With Listening: 590
- German/German With Listening: 570
- Modern Hebrew: 500
- Italian: 570
- Japanese With Listening: 570
- Korean With Listening: 550
- Latin: 580
- Spanish/Spanish With Listening: 570
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A second Language Other Than English: Same tests and scores as listed under "e" |
AP or IB Examination |
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Score of 3, 4 or 5 on any one AP Exam in Computer Science A, Computer Science AB, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Human Geography, Psychology, U.S. Government or Comparative Government;
Score of 5, 6 or 7 on any one IB HL exam in Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Social and Cultural Anthropology, or Computer Science |
College Courses |
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Grade of C or better in one transferable course beyond those listed above as clearing any of the “a-f” requirements; or a transferable course having as a prerequisite the equivalent of two high school years in a second language; or a transferable course equivalent to those that clear the “c,” “d” or “e” requirement; or a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in history, social science, or visual or performing arts |
