From a-g to UC and CSU too: What a-g course requirements mean for college-bound students in California

To be eligible to attend a UC or CSU after high school, students need “a-g”

It’s course selection season for high school students across California, and many parents and their kids are beginning to worry about “a-g” requirements. What are they, who needs them, and why do they matter?

a-g requirements refer to a set of high school courses which the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems have determined demonstrate basic college readiness. Successful completion of these courses (with a C or better) suggests that a student is academically ready to begin coursework at either of the California university systems.

The letters (a through g) refer to each of the academic areas, as summarized at the CSU system’s website:

a-g requirements for high school students seeking admission to the UC or CSU systems

Most students complete these requirements by taking high school classes, but completion can be demonstrated through taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, taking college classes (at a local community college, for example), or, in some cases, with SAT and ACT test scores or other waivers. You can find the complete guide to the requirements and how to fulfill them at the UC admission website and the CSU admission website.

Easy enough, right?

Here are a few other things you might want to know about the a-g requirements:

1. As unbelievable as it sounds, you can graduate high school in California and not be eligible to apply to our own state’s university systems. Don’t assume that any path to a high school diploma will lead to a-g completion. Take an active role in course planning. Even if a student isn’t sure s/he wants to go to college or is exploring a community college transfer path, there’s no reason not to start out with a-g as a baseline. Don’t let that door shut at 14 or 15 simply because of careless planning. I wish it didn’t happen (I wish it couldn’t happen!), but it does.
2. a-g requirements are minimum admission requirements, not a guarantee of admission. At competitive schools, simply completing a-g is not enough. This is true for CSUs as well; depending on the campus and department, some impacted CSU programs and STEM programs may also require more than the minimum a-g for admission. For both UC and CSU campuses, GPAs factor heavily in the admissions process; these are calculated based on the student’s grades in a-g courses completed after 9th grade. Even for 9th grade courses, though, a-g courses must be completed with a C or better; Ds only count for high school graduation. (I’ve taught a handful of sad students who, after scraping through freshman English with a D, decided as seniors that they wanted to go to college after all, only to learn that that one freshman D made them ineligible.)

To be an a-g course, each school must have the course certified as appropriate in the content, rigor, and critical thinking skills necessary for college preparation. Want to know which courses at your school count for a-g? Go to UC Doorways and search for your school. Both UC and CSU systems use this list.

Not a student in California? You have different admissions requirements for both the CSU and UC systems.

California student not planning to attend either the UC or CSU systems? You’re in luck; a-g doesn’t apply to you. You’ll want to consult with the private, out-of-state, or international school you wish to attend. (But don’t be surprised if their recommended high school course work looks an awful lot like a-g!)

Completing the a-g requirements in four years of high school (and still having time for high school requirements like PE) requires careful planning. Start early and check in with your counselor often. And remember that it’s not just about admission: the content and skills in a-g classes are well-suited to prepare students for college-level coursework, and that’s the real test.