High School Credit Requirements

Class of 2016 and Beyond

Credits
Students must complete a minimum of 44 semester credits, as specified below. Students are expected to meet California standards in English, mathematics, science, history/social science, fine and practical arts, and physical education, as well as the UC/CSU "A-G" course requirements.
Students and parents can log into the district's Naviance high-school graduation system to find complete course lists.

  • See the Course of Study for specific classes that meet these requirements
  1. History/Social Science: Six semester credits (3 years) required: two credits in world history and geography in grades 9 or 10; two credits in U.S. history and geography or an advanced alternative in grade 11; one credit in government and one credit in economics, or two credits in an advanced alternative as specified in the Course of Study in grade 12.
  2. English: Eight semester credits (4 years) required: two credits in grade 9; two credits in grade 10; and four credits in grades 11 and 12, including one credit in a course that emphasizes American literature and three credits from a prescribed list of English courses. English credit is not granted for theater, public speaking or journalism courses. Theater earns visual and performing arts credit, public speaking earns elective credit, and journalism earns practical arts credit. English as a Second Language (ESL) 5, 6, may be used to fulfill two of the eight-credit English requirement.
  3. Mathematics: Six semester credits (3 years) required: two credits in an algebra course; two credits in a geometry course; and two credits in intermediate algebra as specified in the Course of Study. Students and parents can log into the district's Naviance high-school graduation system to find complete course lists.
  4. Science: Six semester credits (3 years) are required: one year of life science (biology or other laboratory science course in the UC "D" subject area); one year of physical science (physics, chemistry, or other laboratory science course on the UC "D" subject area); and one additional year of science coursework in the UC "D" (laboratory science) or UC "G" (elective) subject areas.
  5. Language Other Than English (World Language): Four semester credits (2 years) in the same World Language.
  6. Visual and Performing Arts: Two semester credits (1 year) in a single UC "F" approved Visual and Performing Arts course.
  7. Electives: No college-prep elective credits required for high-school graduation. Note: Satisfying San Diego Unified's science requirement fulfills the UC "G. elective" requirement.
  • Additional Credits:
    • Physical Education: Four semester credits (2 years) Physical Education (Fitnessgram required). Students who do not pass five out of six Healthy Fitness Zones on the Fitnessgram must enroll in physical education courses until an overall passing score is obtained
    • Career Technical Education: Eight semester credits (4 years) career-technical education courses or other electives

Additional credits needed to reach a minimum of 44 may be earned by completing additional courses in the above areas and/or career-technical education courses or other electives.

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