College Entrance Requirements
To be eligible for admission, students must complete the following college-prep, vocational, integrated, or college course equivalents, before enrolling. Students are encouraged to pursue additional course work beyond these minimums.
For an easy to read chart in pdf form, check here.
NOTE: Freshman admission to a four-year college will be determined by using courses identified below, student's admission test score (SAT or ACT) and high school GPA. Meeting minimum requirements does not assure admission.
ENGLISH
Four years of study are required, at least three of which must be in composition and literature. One of the four years may be satisfied by courses in drama as literature, public speaking, debate, journalistic writing, business English, or English as a Second Language (ESL). (English courses taken in foreign countries are considered ESL, except those taken in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.) Courses generally not acceptable include those identified as remedial or developmental reading, remedial English, basic or review English, yearbook/annual, newspaper, acting, and library.
MATHEMATICS
Three years of mathematics study are required, at least at the level of algebra, geometry, and advanced (second year) algebra. The mathematics admission requirement stipulates that applicants attain a minimum level of study in mathematics, in addition to completing the specified number of years. (Preferably, the second year of algebra includes a component of introductory trigonometry, but this is not mandatory.) More advanced mathematics courses are recommended, such as trigonometry, mathematical analysis, elementary functions, and calculus. Arithmetic, pre-algebra, business mathematics, and statistics courses will not count toward the requirement. An algebra course taken in the eighth grade may satisfy one year of the requirement if second-year algebra is completed in high school.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Three years of study are required in history or in any of the social sciences, e.g., anthropology, contemporary world problems, economics, geography, government, political science, psychology, sociology. Courses in student government, leadership, community service, consumer economics, or other activity courses will not count toward the requirement.
SCIENCE
Two years of science are required. One year of biology, chemistry, physics, or applied physics must be completed with a lab experience (i.e., both semesters in the same field). The second year of science may be completed in any course that satisfies the high school graduation requirement in science. Two years of agricultural science is equal to one year of science. Students planning to major in science or science-related fields are encouraged to complete at least three years of science, including at least two years of laboratory science.
WWU further specifies that the science requirement be met by two years of college-preparatory science, including one year of algebra-based chemistry, physics, applied physics, or principles of technology.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Two years of study are required. The two years must be devoted to a single foreign language and must be in sequence, with no repetition of any prior term of study and without a reduction in what would normally be a full, second year of study. Any natural language that has been formally studied may be used to satisfy this requirement, including American Sign Language (ASL, the language of the deaf community), a Native American Language, and languages no longer spoken, such as Latin and ancient Greek. However, neither computer "languages" nor forms of signing aside from ASL are acceptable. A foreign language course taken in the eighth grade may satisfy one year of the requirement if the second-year course is completed in high school.
Note: The foreign-language admission requirement will be considered satisfied for students from non-English-speaking countries who entered the United States educational system in the eighth grade or later.
FINE, VISUAL, PERFORMING ARTS
One year of study is required in the fine, visual, and performing arts, or an additional year in any of the academic areas defined above. The fine, visual, or performing arts include art appreciation, band, ceramics, choir, dance, dramatic performance and production, drawing, fiber arts, graphic arts, metal design, music appreciation, music theory, orchestra, painting, photography, print making, and sculpture. Courses generally not acceptable include architecture, color guard, creative writing, drafting, fashion design, interior design, sewing, and woodworking.
The UW and WWU further specify that one-half year of this requirement must be in the fine, visual, or performing arts; the other half-year may be either in the arts or in an academic elective.
| FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Credit | Semesters |
| English | 4.00 | 8 semesters |
| Mathematics - Algebra 1-2 | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| Mathematics - Geometry 1-2 | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| Mathematics - Advanced Algebra | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| Science - Bio, Chem or Physics | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| Science - Lab | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| Contemporary World Studies | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| U.S. History | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| Social Studies Elective | 1.00 | 2 semesters |
| Occupational Education | 2.00 | 2 semesters |
| Physical Education/Health | 2.00 | 4 semesters |
| Foreign Language | 2.00 | 4 semesters |
| Fine, Visual, Performing Arts | 2.00 | 2 semesters |
| Electives | 4.50 | 9 semesters |
| Total | 22.00 | |