To be admitted to a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campus, you must complete California's minimum high school graduation requirements and the A-G requirements (a sequence of courses) while in high school. You must also meet your local requirements for high school graduation. You must get a "C" or better in each course.
The minimum sequence of A-G courses you need to complete are:
(a) History/Social Science 2 years*
(b) Language Arts (English) 4 years
(c) Mathematics 3 years
(d) Science (Laboratory) 2 or 3 years
(e) Foreign Language 2 or 3 years
(f) Visual and Performing Arts 1 year
(g) College Preparatory Elective
*The California state required minimum for graduation is 3 years.
Use UC A-G Course Lists to find certified courses at your high school or community college.
Ninth grade is important because your ninth-grade classes can count toward college course requirements. For example, to get the four years of English you need to apply to either CSU or UC schools, you have to start taking English in the ninth grade. Also, classes taken in ninth grade prepare you for higher-level courses, not to mention high school graduation.
Related Pages
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Courses Required for College Admission
College Entrance Exams