A-G courses are a specific set of 15 college-preparatory high school classes required for admission to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. The letters A through G each represent a subject area, from history to electives, and together they form the minimum academic foundation these universities expect from incoming freshmen. Whether you’re a student planning your schedule or a parent trying to understand the requirements, here’s what each category covers and how the system works.
The Seven Subject Areas
Each letter corresponds to a subject, and each subject requires a set number of yearlong courses. The full list adds up to 15 courses minimum:
- A: History (2 years) — One year of world history, cultures, or historical geography, plus one year of U.S. history. The U.S. history year can be split into one semester of U.S. history and one semester of civics or American government.
- B: English (4 years) — Four years of college-preparatory English involving regular writing assignments and reading of both classic and modern literature. No more than one year of ESL-type courses can count toward this requirement.
- C: Mathematics (3 years, 4 recommended) — Three years covering elementary algebra, advanced algebra, and geometry. A geometry course or an integrated math course with sufficient geometry content is required. A fourth year is strongly recommended.
- D: Science (2 years, 3 recommended) — Two years of lab science covering at least two of the three core disciplines: biology, chemistry, or physics. One year of approved earth and space science or interdisciplinary science can satisfy one year of this requirement.
- E: Language other than English (2 years, 3 recommended) — Two years of the same foreign language, equivalent to reaching the second level of high school instruction. You can’t mix one year of Spanish and one year of French.
- F: Visual and performing arts (1 year) — One yearlong course in dance, music, theater, visual arts, or interdisciplinary arts. Two one-semester courses from the same discipline also count.
- G: College-preparatory elective (1 year) — One additional year chosen from an approved elective course or from extra courses in any of the A through F subject areas. For example, a third year of science beyond what you used for the D requirement could count here.
Grade Requirements
Every A-G course must be completed with a letter grade of C or better. A C-minus does not count. If you earn a D or F in a required course, you’ll need to retake it, and there’s no limit on how many times you can repeat a course to meet the standard.
Timing matters too. Of the 15 required courses, at least 11 must be finished before the start of your senior year. That means most of your A-G work should be done by the end of junior year, with only a few courses left for 12th grade. Planning your schedule early, ideally starting in 9th grade, makes this much more manageable.
How to Check If Your Courses Count
Not every class your high school offers is automatically A-G approved. Schools submit their courses to the University of California for review, and only approved courses carry A-G credit. A class called “Biology” at one school might be approved while a similarly named course at another school is not.
You can verify whether a specific course at your high school is approved by searching the A-G Course Lists on the UC’s online course management portal. Search by your school’s name to see every approved course organized by subject area. If a course you’re considering doesn’t appear on the list, it won’t satisfy the requirement no matter what grade you earn. Your school counselor can also help confirm which classes on your campus carry A-G approval.
Minimum vs. Competitive Coursework
Completing the 15 required A-G courses makes you eligible to apply, but eligibility and admission are not the same thing. Competitive applicants at most UC and CSU campuses go well beyond the minimums. Taking a fourth year of math, a third year of science, and a third year of a foreign language (all recommended but not required) strengthens your application considerably.
Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate versions of A-G courses also carry extra weight. UC calculates a weighted GPA that gives an additional grade point for up to eight semesters of certified honors-level or AP/IB coursework. Choosing the more rigorous version of a course when it’s available signals academic readiness and can boost your GPA in the admissions calculation.
Who Needs to Care About A-G
A-G requirements apply specifically to students seeking freshman admission at any UC or CSU campus. If you’re planning to attend a California community college first and then transfer, the A-G requirements don’t apply to you directly, though completing them in high school still gives you a stronger academic foundation.
Even students with no plans to attend a UC or CSU benefit from understanding A-G. Many private universities and out-of-state schools expect a similar college-prep curriculum, and completing A-G courses keeps your options open if your plans change. Some school districts have adopted A-G completion as a graduation requirement, meaning all students in those districts must finish the courses regardless of their college plans.
Planning Your Four-Year Schedule
The 15-course minimum spreads naturally across four years of high school, but some subjects need to start early. English runs all four years, so that begins freshman year automatically. Math typically starts with algebra or an integrated math sequence in 9th grade and continues through at least 11th grade. Foreign language is easiest to complete if you start in 9th or 10th grade, giving you two consecutive years of the same language without rushing.
History, science, and visual/performing arts offer more flexibility in when you take them, but remember the 11-course junior-year deadline. A practical approach is to map out all 15 courses across your four years during freshman orientation or early in 9th grade. That way you can spot scheduling conflicts before they become problems and leave room for electives or advanced courses that strengthen your application.