a-g High School Courses

a-g School Status:

At this time, both SSCS and OGCS have an approved list of a-g courses. A school must be a WASC accreditation candidate before they can submit a-g course descriptions for approval. Please see the a-g course descriptions and texts list by school (OGCS SSCS)to view the approved course outlines and textbooks for IEM schools that are WASC accredited.

 

a-g defined:

“a-g” is the course code that indicates the student followed the approved University of California and California State University course description and used the approved text(s). The a-g course descriptions and texts list is posted on the school's web page.  Students must use approved texts and course descriptions for a-g credit.  Parents may choose one a-g text to use as the “backbone” for the course along with supplemental materials, or packaged curriculum, as long as the approved course outline is followed. 

 

a-g Subject Requirements

The University of California and the California State University require the following for admission:

Subject "a" History — 2 years required, including 1 year of “a-g” United States History and 1 year of “a-g” World History. US history may include one-half year of “a-g” American government.

Subject "b" English — 4 years of “a-g” English required, including frequent and regular writing and reading of classic and modern literature.  Not more than two semesters of ninth grade “a-g” English can be used to meet this requirement.

Subject "c" Mathematics — 3 years required, 4 years recommended     3 years of “a-g” Math required, including 2 years of elementary and advanced algebra (“a-g” Algebra 1 and “a-g” Algebra 2) and 1 year of two and three dimensional geometry (“a-g” Geometry).  “a-g” approved math courses taken in 7th and 8th grade are also accepted.

Subject "d" Laboratory Science — 2 years required, 3 recommended in at least two of the following three disciplines: “a-g”biology, “a-g”chemistry, and “a-g”physics.

Subject "e" Language Other Than English — 2 years required,3 recommended of the same “a-g” approved language other than english.  “a-g” courses in language other than English taken in the 7th and 8th grade may be used to fulfill this requirement. 

Subject "f" Visual and Performing Arts — 1 year required of an approved “a-g” course either “a-g” Music, “a-g” Theatre, “a-g” Visual Arts or “a-g” Dance. 

Subject "g" College Preparatory Electives — 1 year required in addition to those subject areas listed above, chosen from any of the above categories and must be an “a-g” course.

 

Many private universities require a-g college preparatory coursework. Parents should be advised early in their child’s high school career to plan to take “a-g” courses that lead not only to high school graduation but entrance into the university of their choice.

 

Who should take a-g College Prep Courses? 

A-g courses are required for students who wish to attend a California State University or University of California directly out of high school and are highly recommended for students wanting to attend a private college or university directly out of high school.  You should discuss this option with those students who are planning to attend a community college upon completion of high school.  Students who have not completed the a-g college prep sequence may be able to qualify for admission to the university through alternative paths and should talk to the college or university directly. 

 

Students who wish to return to their regular high school to graduate should be advised to take a-g coursework, especially in English, Social Studies and Math.  We have received feedback indicating that a-g coursework best prepares students for re-entry into the regular program.

 

Guidelines for a-g courses:

  • In order for students to earn a-g credit the textbook must be on the a-g course outline or the student must take the course through an approved UC vendor listed on your dropdownlist in the high school report card a-g detail field. www.uccp.org or www.cyberhigh.org are two sample vendors that have UC approved courses.  These courses would use the regular course names, and then the ES would complete the a-g detail and type spaces on the report card.
  • Other online programs can be used to supplement the a-g course as long as the student follows our school approved a-g course outline and uses an approved a-g textbook as the “backbone” of the course. These courses would use the a-g course name.

 

Lab Science Courses

  • UC requires at least 20% hands on laboratory activities for the a-g Biology, a-g Chemistry, a-g Anatomy and Physiology and a-g Physics courses
  • Students must be using the approved a-g textbook to earn a-g credit for the course
  • If a highly qualified science teacher offers the lab portion, your student will need to use the approved a-g textbook to earn a-g credit for the course
  • Chemistry should be taken through Community College or the study should be supplemented by a lab course.

Textbooks

  • If you’re looking for a textbook for your student, you can find a list of a-g textbooks by subject at www.ieminc.org/handbook/highschool/Courseinfo/agcoursetitle.htm .  This textbook list has been updated and includes the most recent ISBN’s as well as links to California state standards correlation maps.
  • If the text is outdated, the most recent edition can be used and the Learning Record should be documented with an asterisk next to the textbook title stating “updated version”

Submitting new textbooks and new courses

  • New courses for the year need to be submitted to the Guidance Department by November 1.
  • Any textbook additions should include the following information and need to be submitted to the Guidance Department by November 1:

Title
Author
Publisher
Date published
ISBN
Website of publisher
Copy of the California State Standard Correlation Map
Copy of our course outline detailing the chapters that cover each area of our curriculum
Copy of the text, if available (you may be able to request a sample copy from the publisher or portions may be available on the website) OR a copy of the table of contents and a chapter to preview

 

Documenting a-g College Coursework on the Report Card

When entering a course taken at a college on the report card that is being used to meet a-g coursework requirements, please, remember to do the following:

·         Be sure the college course is transferable to UC/ CSU, as indicated on the college’s course schedule (otherwise, it is not a-g and this process should NOT be followed).

·         Select one of our regular course titles that closely matches the college course content (For example Economics, Calculus A & B); NOT and “A-g” course title.

·         Click on the “a-g Type” box and select “College Course” from the drop down. 

·         Click on the “a-g Detail” box and enter the specific college’s course title (for example:  ECON 302, MATH 370)from the college’s course schedule/report card/transcript.

·         You will notice that our course title will now include the College Course information (for example: “Economics (College Course ECON 302)” – Seeing the entire entry is dependent upon the spaces available). This will indicate to the UC system that this is an a-g course, using the college’s a-g approved syllabus, not our school’s a-g approved syllabus.

·         For semester college courses that cover an entire year’s high school course content, you will use a block schedule type entry.  (for example: You will enter 2 courses -- Calculus A for 5 credits and Calculus B for 5 credits.  In such a case each would have the same college course title - MATH 370). (And yes, that translates to 2 portfolio samples, one for each section of the course.)