Guide to "a-g" Requirements [PDF]

Honors Level Courses

The University grants special "honors" designation and extra credit in students' grade point average computation only to those high school honors level courses that meet the following criteria. The University strongly encourages that such courses be available to all sectors of the school population.

• AP Courses. Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the "a-g" subjects which are designed to prepare students for an Advanced Placement Examination of the College Board are automatically granted honors status, even if they are offered at the 10th grade level (e.g., newly developed courses/exams in Human Geography and World History). For more information about AP, go to the College Board's web site at www.collegeboard.org/ap/.

• International Baccalaureate. Designated International Baccalaureate (IB) courses offered by schools participating in the IB program are automatically granted honors status. For a list of IB courses that are granted honors status, search for the "International Baccalaureate" program list on the Doorways course list web site at https://doorways.ucop.edu/list. For more information about IB programs, go to www.ibo.org.

• College Courses. College courses in the "a-g" subjects that are transferable to the University of California. To determine whether a course is transferable, go to www.assist.org.

• Other Honors Courses. Other honors courses (that are not AP, IB, or college courses) specifically designed by the high school are acceptable if they are in the disciplines of history, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, languages other than English, and advanced visual and performing arts and have distinctive features which set them apart from regular high school courses in the same discipline areas. These courses should be seen as comparable in terms of workload and emphasis to AP, IB, or introductory college courses in the subject. Acceptable honors level courses are specialized, advanced, collegiate-level courses offered at the 11th and 12th grade levels. Please refer to the notes below for special requirements for the certification of these honors courses.

NOTES on honors courses other than AP and IB:

1. Honors level courses should have established prerequisites, as appropriate to the discipline. See subject specific explanations below.

2. Honors level courses must have a comprehensive, written final exam. The purpose of the final examination is to permit students to exhibit depth of knowledge and sustained mastery of subject material. The final examination permits each student to demonstrate knowledge that is acquired, integrated, and retained.

3. Honors level courses must be designed for 11th and 12th graders who have already completed foundation work in the subject area. Ninth and tenth grade level high school courses that schools might designate as "honors" do not meet the UC honors level requirement and therefore are not granted special "honors" credit by the University. (Note: Tenth grade students who have the necessary preparation to complete UC designated honors courses (i.e., those designed for 11th and 12th graders) will receive UC honors credit; however, they will receive credit for not more than two units of these courses completed in the tenth grade.)

4. In addition to ninth and tenth grade courses, other courses that a school may designate as "honors" for local purposes but that do not fill the requirements stated in this section will not be granted special credit by the University.

5. In addition to AP and IB higher level courses, high schools may certify as honors level courses not more than one unit in each of the following subject areas only: history, English, advanced mathematics, each laboratory science, each language other than English, and each of the four VPA disciplines.

6. If there are no AP or IB higher level courses in a given subject area, the high school may certify up to, but not more than, two units at the honors level in that area. Exceptions to this rule require strong justification and documentation.

7. Most high school courses, which are not an AP or IB higher level course, shall be designated an honors level course only when there is a regular course offered in the same subject area at the same grade level. Exceptions to this rule require strong justification and documentation. See subject specific explanations below.

Descriptions for UC Approval of Honors Level Course by Subject

1. History/Social Science. UC approved honors level history / social science courses used to satisfy the "a" requirement characteristically consist of courses in U.S. government, U.S. history, European history, world history, world cultures, and geography. Such courses are expected to provide both breadth and depth of exploration in the subject area, developing writing, research, and analytical skills. The courses must offer content and/or experience that are demonstrably more challenging than what is offered through the regular college preparatory courses in the same field. Factors considered for UC approved honors courses that satisfy the "a" requirement include but are not limited to the assignment and evaluation of one long or numerous short, challenging, and properly-annotated research papers and a comprehensive final examination. The use of college-level textbooks is encouraged. The regular college preparatory courses in the subject areas should be offered, as well.

2. English. UC-approved honors level courses in English should have as prerequisite at least two years of college preparatory composition and literature. Such courses should require extensive reading of poetry, prose, plays and novels chosen from a variety of historical periods and styles. The curriculum must emphasize advanced critical analysis and interpretation in order to develop sophisticated written arguments about assigned literature. Frequent writing assignments, especially of papers averaging 3-5 pages in length, should emphasize the stages of composing sustained arguments based on detailed textual analysis: pre-writing, drafting, revising. Writing instruction and carefully-designed prompts should aim at enabling students to express complex and interrelated ideas with clarity and a mature, sophisticated style. Regular feedback on written assignments is essential to the success of honors level courses. Regular college preparatory sections in English must also be available in the curriculum. The UC honors-approved courses must be demonstrably more challenging than regular college preparatory sections, requiring more extensive and challenging reading assignments; more frequent, complex, sustained writing assignments; and written examinations, including a comprehensive written final examination.

3. Mathematics. UC-approved honors level courses in mathematics must be at the mathematical analysis (pre-calculus) level or above. These courses should have three years of college preparatory mathematics as prerequisite work. Mathematical analysis that includes the development of the trigonometric and exponential functions can be certified for UC honors credit. If mathematical analysis is certified at the UC honors level, there should be a section of the regular college preparatory course offered, as well. The honors level course should be demonstrably more challenging than the regular college preparatory sections. Calculus, with four years of college preparatory mathematics as prerequisite, qualifies as an honors level course if it is substantially equivalent to an AP calculus course. Statistics, with a three-year mathematics prerequisite, may also be approved for honors credit if it is substantially equivalent to an AP statistics course. These two courses do not require a separate section in the regular college preparatory curriculum. Each UC-approved honors level course in mathematics must include a comprehensive final examination.

4. Laboratory Science. UC approved honors level courses in laboratory sciences are generally in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics. Honors level courses in these disciplines typically require one year of prior laboratory science. Honors level courses in any other laboratory science (e.g., Environmental Science, Marine Biology, etc.) may also be considered for UC honors certification if they require a year of biology, chemistry, or physics, as well as at least algebra as prerequisites. The third course in an integrated science sequence may be considered for honors designation if it has the appropriate breadth, depth, and prerequisites. All UC-approved honors level laboratory science courses should be demonstrably more challenging than the college preparatory courses required as prerequisites. Topics covered and laboratory exercises must be in depth and involve analysis and research. Each UC approved honors level course must have a comprehensive written final examination including laboratory concepts. There should be a section of the regular college preparatory course offered for each UC-approved honors level laboratory science course.

5. Language Other Than English. UC-approved honors level courses in languages other than English must have as a prerequisite at least two years of college preparatory instruction in that language. Modern language courses should focus on the use of the language for active communication and provide advanced training in oral/aural proficiency and literacy skills. Courses should include instruction in grammar, culture, reading comprehension, composition, and conversation and should be conducted exclusively in the target language. Coursework should be developed around authentic texts from diverse genres, including literary works of art, recordings, films, newspapers, and magazines. There should be a comprehensive final examination that evaluates levels of performance in the use of both written and spoken forms of the language. Classical language courses should include as many of these elements as appropriate. If the third year of any language other than English is certified at the UC honors level, there should be a regular third-year college preparatory course offered, as well. A UC-approved honors course in a language other than English at the fourth or fifth year level must have as a prerequisite three or four years, respectively, of college preparatory instruction in that language and does not necessarily require a corresponding regular college preparatory section.

6. VPA: General Criteria. UC-approved honors level courses in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) should have as a prerequisite at least two years of college preparatory work in the discipline or comparable (alternative) experience that includes all five component strands of the state-adopted VPA Content Standards.

   Honors courses may be open to students who have not completed the prerequisite college preparatory work but whose preparation in the art form is at a high artistic level and who can demonstrate comprehensive knowledge in all five component strands of the art form. Alternative entrance into the honors level course shall be by audition/demonstration and a standards-based content exam (oral, written, or portfolio/performance).

   Honors level courses should be demonstrably more challenging than regular college preparatory classes and study content in the art form that is of artistic and cultural merit and represents a variety of styles, genres, or historical periods. The curriculum must be comparable to college curriculum and target skills and conceptual development beyond the art form's advanced level of the VPA Content Standards. The curriculum must require in-depth written assignments that demonstrate student knowledge across the component strands. Each student must complete a variety of individual assessments with a comprehensive final examination that includes a written component as well as other assessment tools appropriate to the five strands of the art form and are representative of high levels of analysis and self-evaluation.

   Honors level course work in the art form may not require a separate class section in the regular college preparatory curriculum. These courses necessitate a separate written curriculum documenting the additional breadth and depth expected as well as an explanation of the differentiated curriculum. The use of college-level textbooks is encouraged.

   All VPA honors course work shall include advanced studies/projects, examples of which are listed for each specific arts discipline (Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts) in the sections below.

   VPA Discipline-Specific Criteria:

   In addition to the above general criteria, each separate arts discipline must include the following specific guidelines to qualify for honors credit.

   • Dance courses at the honors level require students to demonstrate artistic superiority in multiple aspects of dance as an art form. Dance honors studies/projects may include but are not limited to sophisticated choreography including production collaborations, advanced written and oral research analysis, and advanced kinesthetic mastery and historical knowledge of many genres of dance. Critical self-analysis and peer review of projects may be broadened by technology resources, traditional and innovative documentation and recording (e.g., notation, virtual reality and/or simulation).

   • Music course descriptions will delineate the honors level of achievement expected by the individual student as well as explicit descriptions of honors studies/projects that will be completed. These studies/projects may include but are not limited to solo and/or small ensemble performance, score analysis, musical composition and/or arranging, critical analysis of individual performances by others, critical self-analysis through portfolio development.

   • Theatre courses at the honors level require students to demonstrate artistic leadership. Collaborative skills continue to be essential in students' work, but the honors distinction is that the individual takes the responsibility for organizing others to complete a theatrical performance project. The student must first qualify as an outstanding playwright, director, designer, dramaturg, actor, or stage manager, then must also serve as producer of the project or chief of a major area of production. Analysis of the honor student's project is required and must include a post-show critique, written or oral, of leadership skills conducted by the teacher and ensemble peers, and a critical self-analysis.

   • Visual Arts course descriptions will define the high level of achievement expected by the individual student as well as suggested descriptions of honors visual arts projects. The honors level subjects/projects may include but are not limited to compiling a body of work at the mastery level in a particular arts medium, written research and analysis of a particular genre, style, or historical period. Critical self-analysis through portfolio development, solo exhibition of original work, and verification of honors achievement level relevant to the art form, is required.