What Is College and Career Readiness? State Requirements for High School Graduation and State Public University Admissions

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What Is College and

Career Readiness?

State Requirements for

High School Graduation

and State Public

University Admissions

Peter A. Conforti

Each high school student in the United States must meet the minimum academic

requirements for graduation, usually determined by the state education agency (SEA) in which that student resides. However, states differ on the subjects and numbers of respective credits a student must complete before graduating. Most SEAs use the

Carnegie Unit1_{as a way of measuring adequate}

academic preparation, while others, such as New Jersey, have their own unique methods of determining adequate course completion.2

As outlined in the table beginning on the next page, the minimum requirements for high school graduation do not necessarily prepare a student for admission to his or her state’s main (or “flagship”) university campus. For

example, a student attending a Denver public school and seeking admission to the University of Colorado, Boulder, must have three foreign language credits. However, Colorado’s

minimum high school plan does not require any foreign language instruction for graduation. In fact, forty states (80%) have high school graduation requirements that do not meet the minimum standards necessary for admission to their own state universities. In most cases,

Other states, though, demonstrate better alignment between minimum high school graduation standards and freshman admission requirements. In states such as Georgia, for example, students graduating from a public high school and seeking admission to the University of Georgia, Athens, will have all necessary credits. Only ten states (20%)— Alaska, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas,

Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, and Tennessee (as well as the District of Columbia)—have this consistency in design.

Unfortunately, the high school student bears the principal consequence for this lack of uniformity. Although professionals, such as high school counselors, can help students appropriately plan for post-secondary

education, the student must develop a sense of direction and purpose early enough in high school to ensure adequate academic progress. Furthermore, students who wish to attend a university out-of-state must prepare for any additional requirements that may not be set forth by their own state’s mandated secondary curriculum.

How To Read The Table

All data in the table has been aggregated from both the state’s department of education website and the “Admissions” sections of their respective state universities. The states are listed alphabetically and the names of their main campuses are parenthetically listed beneath them. Unless otherwise noted, all units are measured in Carnegie Units. Where there are deficiencies in university academic preparation, coursework has been italicized

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State State Requirements for High School Graduation State Requirements for College Admittance Alabama (University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa) Computer Applications: 0.5 Electives: 5.5

English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 0.5

Health Education: 0.5 Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 4 Physical Education: 1

Social Science/Social Studies: 4

Electives: 5

English Language Arts: 4

Foreign Language: 1

Mathematics: 3

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Social Science/Social Studies: 4

Cumulative High School GPA: Individually reviewed ACT Score: Individually reviewed

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Alaska

(University of Alaska System: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Southeast)

English Language Arts: 4 Mathematics: 2

Natural Sciences/Science: 2 Physical Education/Health: 1 Social Science/Social Studies: 2

The University of Alaska System requires that incoming freshmen earn a high school diploma.

Cumulative High School GPA: 2.5 ACT Score: Individually reviewed SAT Score: Individually reviewed Arizona

(University of Arizona, Tucson)

Electives: 7

Fine Arts/Career and Technical Education (CTE): 1 Mathematics: 4

English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 1

Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Social Science/Social Studies: 2 Cumulative High School GPA: 2.0

ACT Score: 21 (English); 24 (Mathematics); 20 (Natural Science)

SAT Score: 530 (Reasoning); 540 (Mathematics) Arkansas

(University of Arkansas, Fayetteville)

Electives: 0.5

Foreign Language: 2 Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education/Health: 0.5 Social Science/Social Studies: 3

Electives: 2

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California (University of California, Berkeley)

Fine Arts/Foreign Language/Technical Education: 1 Mathematics: 2

Electives: 1

English Language Arts: 4

Fine Arts: 1

Foreign Language: 2 Mathematics: 3

Natural Sciences/Science: 2 Social Science/Social Studies: 3 Cumulative High School GPA: 3.0 ACT Score: Individually reviewed SAT Score: Individually reviewed Colorado

(University of Colorado, Boulder)

Mathematics: 3

Natural Sciences/Science: 2 Physical Education: 0.5

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Social Science/Social Studies: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Connecticut

(University of Connecticut, Storrs)

Capstone Experience: 1

Electives: 1 (Humanities elective); 1 (Career and Life Skills Elective); 1.5 (Open elective)

English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 1 Foreign Language: 2 Health Education: 0.5 Mathematics: 4 Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education: 1

Electives: 3

English Language Arts: 4 Foreign Language: 2 Mathematics: 3

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State State Requirements for High School Graduation State Requirements for College Admittance Delaware (University of Delaware, Newark) Career Pathway: 3 Electives: 3.5

English Language Arts: 4 Health Education: 0.5 Mathematics: 4

Electives: 2

Mathematics: 3

Natural Sciences/Science: 3

Social Science/Social Studies: 4

SAT Score: Individually reviewed District of Columbia

(University of the District of Columbia)

Electives: 3.5

Natural Sciences/Science: 4 Physical Education/Health: 1.5 Social Science/Social Studies: 4

The University of the District of Columbia requires that incoming freshmen earn a high school diploma. Cumulative High School GPA: Individually reviewed ACT Score: Individually reviewed

SAT Score: Individually reviewed

Florida

(University of Florida, Gainesville)

Electives: 8

Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Social Science/Social Studies: 3 Cumulative High School GPA: 2.0 ACT Score: 19

SAT Score: 1360 Georgia

(University of Georgia, Athens)

Fine Arts/Foreign Language/Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE): 3

Mathematics: 4

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Hawaii (University of Hawaii,

Manoa)

Electives: 6

Fine Arts/Foreign Language/Career and Technical Education: 2 Health: 0.5

Mathematics: 3

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Personal Transition Plan: 0.5 Physical Education: 1

Electives: 5

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: 1530 Idaho

(University of Idaho, Moscow)

Fine Arts/Foreign Language/Humanities: 23 Health: 13

Mathematics: 63

Electives: 33

English Language Arts: 83 Fine Arts/Foreign Language: 23 Mathematics: 63

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Illinois

(University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)

Fine Arts/Foreign Language/Vocational Education: 1 Mathematics: 3

Electives: 2

Mathematics: 3

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State State Requirements for High School Graduation State Requirements for College Admittance

Indiana (Indiana University,

Bloomington)

College and Career Pathway Courses: 63 Electives: 53

English Language Arts: 83 Flex Credit: 53

Health and Wellness: 13 Mathematics: 43

Electives: 33

Mathematics: 73

Natural Sciences/Science: 63

Cumulative High School GPA: 3.0 ACT Score: Individually reviewed SAT Score: Individually reviewed Iowa

(University of Iowa, Iowa City)

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Kansas

(University of Kansas, Lawrence)

Electives: 6

Mathematics: 3

The University of Kansas requires that incoming freshmen earn a high school diploma with a "college preparatory curriculum."

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Kentucky (University of Kentucky, Lexington)

Electives: 7

Health: 0.5 Mathematics: 3

Electives: 7

English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 1 Foreign Language: 2 Health: 0.5 Mathematics: 3 Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education: 0.5

Social Science/Social Studies: 3 Cumulative High School GPA: 2.0 ACT Score: Individually reviewed SAT Score: Individually reviewed Louisiana

(University of Louisiana, Lafayette)

Career Education: 1 Electives: 7

English Language Arts: 4 Health: 0.5

Mathematics: 4

Fine Arts: 1

Mathematics: 4

Cumulative High School GPA: 2.5 ACT Score: 23

SAT Score: 1050 Maine

(University of Maine, Orono)

Mathematics: 2

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Maryland (University of Maryland, College

Park)

Electives: 2 (Foreign Language) or

2 (Advanced Technology Education) and 3 (Free electives) or

4 (Career and Technology) and 1 (Free elective) English Language Arts: 4

Fine Arts: 1 Health: 0.5 Mathematics: 3

Social Science/Social Studies: 3 Technology: 1

Massachusetts (University of Massachusetts,

Amherst)

"Core" Courses: 5 (Business Education, Health, or Technology) English Language Arts: 4

Fine Arts: 1

Electives: 2

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Michigan

(University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)

English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 1 Foreign Language: 2 Mathematics: 4 Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education/Health: 1 Social Studies: 3

English Language Arts: 4 Foreign Language: 2 Mathematics: 3-4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3-4

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Minnesota (University of Minnesota, Twin

Cities)

Mathematics: 3

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Social Science/Social Studies: 3.5

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Mississippi

(University of Mississippi, Oxford)

Business and Technology: 1 Electives: 5

Mathematics: 4

Business and Technology (Computer Applications): 0.5 Electives: 2

SAT Score: 860 Missouri

(University of Missouri, Columbia)

English Language Arts: 4 Electives: 7 Fine Arts: 1 Health Education: 0.5 Mathematics: 3 Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Personal Finance: 0.5 Physical Education: 1 Practical Arts: 1

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Montana(University of

Montana, Missoula) English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 1 Health Enhancement: 1 Mathematics: 2

Natural Sciences/Science: 2 Social Science/Social Studies: 2 Vocational and Technical Education: 1

Foreign Language/Computer Science/Fine Arts/Vocational Education: 2

Mathematics: 3

Cumulative High School GPA: 2.50 ACT Score: 22

SAT Score: 1540 Nebraska

(University of Nebraska, Lincoln)

Electives: Determined locally English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: Determined locally

Foreign Language: Determined locally Health: Determined locally

Mathematics: 2

Physical Education: Determined locally Social Science/Social Studies: 3

Cumulative High School GPA: Individually reviewed ACT Score: 20 SAT Score: 950 Nevada (University of Nevada, Reno) Computers: 0.5

Health: 0.5 Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Social Science/Social Studies: 3 Cumulative High School GPA: 3.0 ACT Score: 22 SAT Score: 1040 New Hampshire (University of New Hampshire, Durham) Electives: 6

Family and Consumer Science: 3 Fine Arts: 0.5

Health: 0.5

Information and Communication Technologies: 0.5 Mathematics: 3

Mathematics: 3

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New Jersey (Rutgers University,

New Brunswick)

21st Century Life and Careers/Career and Technical Education: 52

Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy: 2.52

Fine Arts: 52

Foreign Language: 52

Health, Safety, and Physical Education: 3.752 Mathematics: 152

Electives: 5-95

Foreign Language: 0-25

Mathematics: 3-45

Natural Sciences/Science: 0-25

New Mexico (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Career Cluster/Workplace Readiness/Foreign Language: 1 Electives: 7.5

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 New Mexico History: 0.5 Physical Education: 1

Mathematics: 4

SAT Score: Individually reviewed New York

(State University of New York System: Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Stony Brook)

Electives: 3.5

English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 1 Foreign Language: 1 Health: 0.5 Mathematics: 3 Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education: 2

The State University of New York (SUNY) system’s requirements differ based on campus and individual college attended.

North Carolina (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)

Electives: 6

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education/Health: 1

Mathematics: 4

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North Dakota (University of North Dakota, Grand Forks)

Electives: 5

Foreign Language/Native American Languages/Fine Arts/Career and Technical Education: 3

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Ohio

(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Electives: 5

English Language Arts: 4 Health: 0.5

Mathematics: 4

Fine Arts: 1

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Oklahoma

(University of Oklahoma, Norman)

Electives: 1

Fine Arts: 1

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Oregon

(University of Oregon, Eugene)

Electives: 6

Foreign Language/Arts/Career and Technical Education: 3 Health: 1

Mathematics: 3

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ACT Score: Individually reviewed SAT Score: Individually reviewed Pennsylvania

(Pennsylvania State University, University

Park)

Electives: 5

Mathematics: 3

Rhode Island (University of Rhode

Island, Kingston)

Electives: 5

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed South Carolina

(University of South Carolina, Columbia)

Electives: 1

Foreign Language/Computer Science/Career and Technology Education: 1

Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education/Junior ROTC: 1 Social Science/Social Studies: 3

Electives: 1

Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Physical Education/ROTC: 1 Social Science/Social Studies: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed South Dakota

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Social Science/Social Studies: 3 ACT Score: 21 SAT Score: 990 Tennessee

(University of Tennessee, Knoxville)

Electives: 3

Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Personal Finance: 0.5

Physical Education and Wellness: 1.5 Social Science/Social Studies: 3

Cumulative High School GPA: Individually reviewed ACT Score: The University of Tennessee uses a "Super Scoring" method of combining all test scores.

SAT Score: The University of Tennessee uses a "Super Scoring" method of combining all test scores.

Texas

(University of Texas, Austin)

Electives: 6.5

Mathematics: 3

Social Science/Social Studies: 3 Speech: 0.5

Electives: 1.5

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Utah

(University of Utah, Salt Lake City)

Career and Technical Education: 1 Computer Technology: 0.5 Electives: 6

Mathematics: 3

Electives: 4

Mathematics: 2

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Vermont (University of Vermont, Burlington)

Mathematics: 3

SAT Score: Individually reviewed Virginia

(University of Virginia, Charlottesville)

Economics and Personal Finance: 1 Electives: 4

Foreign Language/Fine Arts/Career and Technical Education: 2 Mathematics: 3

English Language Arts: 4 Foreign Language: 2

Mathematics: 4

Students also must take two SAT II subject tests. Washington (University of Washington, Seattle) Career Concentration: 2 Electives: 2

English Language Arts: 4 Fine Arts: 2 Foreign Language: 2 Health: 0.5 Mathematics: 3 Natural Sciences/Science: 3 Occupational Education: 1 Physical Education: 1.5

Electives: 0.5

Foreign Language: 2

Mathematics: 4

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State State Requirements for High School Graduation State Requirements for College Admittance West Virginia (West Virginia University, Morgantown) Career Concentration: 4 Electives: 2

Health: 1 Mathematics: 4

Mathematics: 4

Cumulative High School GPA: Individually reviewed (2011 average: 3.36)

ACT Score: Individually reviewed (2011 average: 23.7) SAT Score: Individually reviewed (2011 average: 1055) Wisconsin

(University of Wisconsin, Madison)

English Language Arts: 4 Health Education: 1.5 Mathematics: 2

Fine Arts: 2

Foreign Language: 3-4 Mathematics: 4

Natural Sciences/Science: 3-4 Social Science/Social Studies: 3-4

Cumulative High School GPA: 3.5-3.9 ACT Score: 27-29

SAT Score: 1860-2090 Wyoming

(University of Wyoming, Laramie)

Fine Arts/Social and Behavioral Studies/Humanities/Career and Technical Courses: 2

Social Science/Social Studies: 3 Cumulative High School GPA: 3.0 ACT Score: 21

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Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. (n.d.). FAQs. Retrieved from http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/faqs

1_{All values are in Carnegie Units. According to the} Carnegie Foundation, a Carnegie Unit “...was developed in 1906 as a measure of the amount of time a student has studied a subject. For example, a total of 120 hours in one subject—meeting 4 or 5 times a week for 40 to 60

minutes, for 36 to 40 weeks each year—earns the student one 'unit' of high school credit. Fourteen units were deemed to constitute the minimum amount of preparation that could be interpreted as 'four years of academic or high school preparation’” (Carnegie Foundation for the

Advancement of Teaching, n.d.).

2_{In New Jersey, 5 credits are equivalent to one academic} year's worth of work.

3_{Credits are equivalent to a course that meets for one} academic semester (one-half of an academic year). 4_{In Iowa, high school graduation requirements are set by} local education agencies (i.e., school districts). These values are general averages reported by districts across the state.

5_{The number of credits required by Rutgers University} depends on the student’s major.

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