Clearing Course Deficiencies
If you did not satisfy the Subject Requirement while in high school, you must take transferable college courses in the missing subjects as detailed below.
A. History/Social Science
High School: 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.
College: For a deficiency in U.S. history/civics/American government, a transferable college course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in U.S. history, civics, or American government. For a deficiency in world history/cultures/geography, a transferable college course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in world history, cultures and geography. (Must earn grade of C or better in each course.)
B. English
High School: 4 YEARS REQUIRED: Four years of college-preparatory English that include frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature. Not more than two semesters of ninth-grade English can be used to meet this requirement.
College: For each year of deficiency, one transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in English composition, literature (American or English), speech, foreign literature in translation, public speaking, or oral interpretation of literature. Literature and speech courses must include substantial composition. (Must earn grade of C or better in each course.)
C. Mathematics
High School: 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 includes on your transcript with grades and units.
College: To clear the entire deficiency, complete one of the following: a transferable mathematics course that employs the topics of intermediate algebra, or a transferable statistics course offered by either the mathematics or statistics department that has intermediate algebra as a prerequisite. (Must earn grade of C or better in each course.)
D. Laboratory Science
High School: 2 YEARS REQUIRED, 3 YEARS RECOMMENDED: Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three core disciplines: biology, chemistry, and physics. Advanced laboratory science courses that have biology, chemistry, or physics as prerequisites and offer substantial additional material may be used to fulfill this requirement. The final two years of an approved three-year integrated science program may be used to fulfill this requirement. Not more than one year of ninth-grade laboratory science can be used to meet this requirement.
College: For each year of deficiency, a transferable course in a natural (physical or biological) science with at least 30 hours of laboratory (not "demonstration"). (Must earn grade of C or better in each course.)
E. Language Other than English
High School: 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 a language other than English taken in the seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part of this requirement if your high school includes the course, with grades and units, on your transcript.
College: Any transferable course(s) (excluding conversation) held by your 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. (Must earn grade of C or better in each course.)
F. Visual and Performing Arts (V P A)
High School: 1 YEAR REQUIRED: One year of visual and performing arts chosen from the following: dance, drama/theater, music, or visual art. Must earn grade of C or better.
College: Any transferable course of three semester (four quarter) units that clearly falls within one of four visual/performing arts disciplines: dance, drama/theater, music, or visual art. (Must earn grade of C or better.)
G. College Preparatory Electives
High School: 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).
College: One transferable course beyond those listed above as clearing any of the "A-F" requirements; or a transferable course having as prerequisite the equivalent of two high school years in a second language; or transferable courses equivalent to those that clear the "C," "D," or "E" requirement; or a transferable course of three or more semester (four or more quarter) units in history, social science, or visual and performing arts. (Must earn grade of C or better in each course.)
