SAMOHI HOMEPAGE I COLLEGE CENTER 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS/COLLEGE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
10 Credits = 1 year
To Graduate from Santa Monica High School, a student must successfully pass 220 semester credits in grades 9-12. The 220 credits are divided into 145 credits called The Basic Program of Required Courses and 75 elective credits. Beginning with the class of 2006, students must pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) in mathematics and language arts.
SUBJECT Samohi Graduation Requirements UC and Cal State
Admission Requirements

SOCIAL STUDIES
UC requirement A
30 Semester Credits
10 credits World History
10 credits US History
5 credits US Government
5 credits Economics
or AP Government or Economics
2 years required
1 year US History or 1/2 year US History & 1/2 year Civics or Government
1 year World History, Cultures, and Geography

ENGLISH
UC requirement B
40 Semester Credits
10 credits each English 9, 10, 11
10 credits Eng. 12 Electives
4 years required:
College Prep English that include frequent and regular writing and reading of classic and modern literature.

MATHEMATICS
UC requirement C
30 Semester Credits
3 years required/4 recommended
Algebra, Geometry, & Intermediate Algebra that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and 2- and 3-dimensional geometry. Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement as may math courses taken in the 7th and 8th grades that your high school accepts as equivalent to its own math courses.

SCIENCE
UC requirement D
20 Semester Credits
10 credits Physical Science
10 credits Life Science
2 years required/3 recommended
Laboratory Science - providing fundamental knowledge in at least 2 of these 3 disciplines: biology (which includes anatomy, physiology, marine biology, aquatic biology, etc), chemistry and physics. Laboratory courses in earth/space sciences are acceptable if they have as prerequisites or provide basic knowledge in biology, chemistry or physics. The appropriate 2 years of an approved integrated science program may be used to fulfill this requirement. Not more than 1 year of ninth grade laboratory science can be used to meet this requirement.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
UC requirement E

FINE ARTS
UC requirement F
10 Credits in a Foreign Language

OR

10 Credits in Fine Art
2 years of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking & understanding and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, and composition. Courses in language other than English taken in grades 7 & 8 may be used to fulfill part of this requirement if your high school accepts them as equivalent of its own courses.
Courses in this area consist of instruction in dance, drama/theater, music and visual art. Courses should enable students to understand & appreciate artistic expression and where appropriate, speak & write with discrimination about the artistic material studied. Courses devoted to artistic performance & developing creative artistic ability should have prerequisites (either 1 year of introductory coursework or experience approved by the instructor) and should assume proficiency beyond the introductory level. Courses must require, on average, the equivalent of a 5-period class per week. Work outside of class must be required: for example, portfolio/performance preparation, reading, writing or critical listening/viewing. Dance courses offered for PE credit or under any other departmental arrangement are acceptable if their content satisfies the above criteria. Courses that are primarily for recreation, athletics or body conditioning are not acceptable as visual and performing arts electives.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
20 Semester Credits
No requirement

OTHER
10 Semester Credits
5 credits each Health/Humanities
Admission Test Required
CSU: SAT1 or ACT
UC: SAT I or ACT and SAT II

ELECTIVES
UC requirement G
60 Semester Credits
1 year chosen from the following areas: visual and performing arts, history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, and language other than English (two years of a 2nd language.)
TOTAL 220 CREDITS
Fall 2006 Admission and Later: Students must satisfy the requirement by completing a year-long approved course (i.e. the second semester is to be a continuation of the first semester, requiring completion of the first semester as a perquisite). The year-long course must meet the standards outlined in the VPA guidelines.

VPA = Visual and Performing Arts
REQUIREMENTS FOR UC AND CAL STATE UNIVERSITIES
  • Completion of required courses with a "C" or better
  • ACT or SAT Reasoning Test (formerly SAT 1)
  • 2 SAT Subject Tests for UC - must be from 2 different categories
  • See Sample 4-Year Plan
REQUIREMENTS FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
  • High School Diploma or 18 years or older
  • Math and English placement test