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Courses to Take - Course Guidelines for College Admission, ACE and Oklahoma's Promise

The following guidelines are designed to help students, parents, teachers, counselors and college officials determine what high school courses meet the State Regents’ requirements for college admission, the eligibility requirements for Oklahoma’s Promise and the requirements for the college preparatory/work-ready curriculum for Oklahoma high school graduation.

To meet approval, all courses must meet the following requirements:

  • All courses must fit into one of the State Regents’ categories for college admission: English, laboratory science, mathematics or history/citizenship skills; or be one of the following: foreign language, computer science/computer technology or Advanced Placement (AP) (except studio art courses). All additional units must fit one of these categories. Oklahoma’s Promise also requires coursework in the fine arts.

  • Students participating in Oklahoma’s Promise must complete the college preparatory curriculum as outlined. Students with a disability or on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may participate in Oklahoma’s Promise. However, to qualify for the scholarship, the core courses completed by the student must have the same academic content and be of the same academic rigor as the regular college preparatory core courses offered by the high school in the same academic subject.

  • All courses must meet the Oklahoma Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS), if standards have been developed for that course. Course PASS standards can be found on the Oklahoma State Department of Education website at www.sde.state.ok.us.

  • Note: The following does not automatically qualify the course as acceptable.
    All courses must meet the NCAA’s criteria for a core course and be listed as an acceptable course on the NCAA website at https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/hs/index_hs.html (except computer science/computer technology courses, which do not apply to the NCAA core).

  • One-year courses taught over a two-year period will count as only one unit (for example, Algebra IA and Algebra IB).

  • A course taken in the 8th grade may count only if it is a high school level course (for example, Algebra I).

  • High school courses not listed as approved may be submitted for consideration by the high school principal. All of the following documentation must be provided:
    • Course syllabus
    • Description of course
    • Course outline with units of instruction covered and time spent on each unit
    Requests may be submitted by mail to Gina Wekke, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, PO Box 108850, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850, by fax to 405.225.9230 (Attn: Academic Affairs) or by email to Gina Wekke at gwekke@osrhe.edu. State Regents’ staff will respond in writing to the high school principal within 45 days of receipt of the materials.
  • A limited number of career technology center courses may be included in the course listing. For course consideration, career technology centers and high school faculty/staff must submit the request to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE). The request must be submitted to Robin Schott, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, 1500 W. 7th Ave., Stillwater, OK 74074 or email robin_schott@okcareertech.org. Career tech courses submitted by high schools or other staff to State Regents’ staff will not be reviewed.

  • Concurrent enrollment courses may be used to satisfy high school graduation and college admission curricular requirements, Oklahoma’s Promise and the college preparation/work-ready curriculum if they meet the core subject areas approved by the student’s school district. Additionally, courses taken through concurrent enrollment that are not considered core courses may be counted as elective credits. Students should check with their high school counselor to determine how concurrent enrollment courses are counted at their school and make sure courses taken meet the requirements for college admission, Oklahoma’s Promise and the college preparation/work-ready curriculum.

English
Laboratory Science
Mathematics
History and Citizenship Skills
Foreign/Non-English Language
Computer Science/Computer Technology

English

Four units are required. All English courses must include an integrated writing component, demonstrate critical thinking skills and fit into one of the categories of grammar, composition or literature. The following are acceptable courses for the English requirement:

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
English/Language Arts I (grade 9) Must be taught to PASS standards.
English/Language Arts II (grade 10) Must be taught to PASS standards.
English/Language Arts III (grade 11) Must be taught to PASS standards.
English/Language Arts IV (grade 12) Must be taught to PASS standards.
AP English Language and Composition Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP English Literature and Composition Must be taught to AP course standards.
American Literature Must be taught to PASS standards.
Classical Literature Must be taught to PASS standards.
English Literature Must be taught to PASS standards.
Introduction to Literature Must be taught to PASS standards.
Shakespeare Must be taught to PASS standards.
World Literature Must be taught to PASS standards .

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Laboratory Science

Three units are required. All science courses must include a laboratory component and be taught at or above the rigor of Biology I. The following are some of the acceptable courses for the laboratory science requirement:

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Biology I Must be taught to PASS standards.
Chemistry Must be taught to PASS standards.
Physics Must be taught to PASS standards.
Physical Science Must be taught to PASS standards.
AP Biology Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP Chemistry Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP Environmental Science  Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP Physics (B or C) Must be taught to AP course standards.
Biology I taught in a
contextual methodology		 Must be taught to PASS standards.
Biology II  As with all science courses, these courses must include a laboratory component and be taught at or above the rigor of Biology I.
Earth Science As with all science courses, these courses must include a laboratory component and be taught at or above the rigor of Biology I.
Environmental Science As with all science courses, these courses must include a laboratory component and be taught at or above the rigor of Biology I.
Anatomy and Physiology  As with all science courses, these courses must include a laboratory component and be taught at or above the rigor of Biology I.
Principles of Technology
(Career Technology Centers) 		Must meet the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education’s official course description including 120 contact hours.
Anatomy and Physiology
(Career Technology Centers)  		Anatomy and Physiology courses taught within the following health careers certifications at career technology centers may count for one unit if the outlined requirements below are met. A second year of a course will not count as a second unit of lab science or as an "additional" unit for the requirement:
  • Health Science Technology – Grades 11 or 12
  • Health Careers Certification – Grades 11 or 12 (Level II Anatomy and Physiology or Level III Anatomy and Physiology)
  • Dental Assisting – Grades 11 or 12
  • Medical Assisting – Grades 11 or 12
  • Practical Nursing – Grade 12

The course must also meet four conditions to count for college admission and Oklahoma’s Promise-OHLAP: 1) be taught by a teacher certified to teach secondary biological sciences; 2) be taken by the student in the 11th or 12th grade; 3) be approved for credit by the local boards of education for both the school district and the technology center; 4) and be certified by the local school district as a lab science.

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Mathematics

Three units are required. All math courses must be taught at or above the rigor of Algebra I. Algebra courses taught over two years (i.e. Algebra IA and Algebra IB) will count as only one unit of mathematics. The following are acceptable courses for the mathematics requirement:

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Algebra I Must be taught to PASS standards. 
Geometry Must be taught to PASS standards. 
Algebra II  Must be taught to PASS standards.
AP Calculus (AB or BC) Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP Statistics Must be taught to AP course standards.
Algebra I taught in a
contextual methodology		 Must be taught to PASS standards for Algebra I.
Geometry taught in a
contextual methodology		 Must be taught to PASS standards for Geometry.
Algebra III Must have completed Geometry and Algebra II.
Calculus Must have completed Geometry and Algebra II.
Math Analysis Must have completed Geometry and Algebra II..
Precalculus Must have completed Geometry and Algebra II.
Trigonometry Must have completed Geometry and Algebra II.

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History/Citizenship Skills

Three units are required. The ACE College Preparatory/Work Ready Curriculum does require one unit of U.S. history, one-half unit of Oklahoma history, and one-half unit of U.S. government to be included in the history/citizenship skills three-unit requirement. All students must have one unit of U.S. history. Courses must be from one of the following categories: history, economics, geography, government, civics or non-Western culture. Courses in non-Western culture should teach students about a culture other than their own. The majority of the content of a course must match one of these categories. The following are acceptable courses for the history/citizenship skills requirement:

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
U.S. History  Must be taught to PASS standards.
World History Must be taught to PASS standards.
Oklahoma History Must be taught to PASS standards.
U.S. Government Must be taught to PASS standards. 
Economics Must be taught to PASS standards. 
World Geography Must be taught to PASS standards. 
AP Economics (Macro or Micro) Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP European History Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP Government and Politics
(Comparative or U.S.) 		Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP Human Geography Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP U.S. History Must be taught to AP course standards.
AP World History Must be taught to AP course standards.
African American History Courses in non-Western culture, Native American studies or African American studies should provide students with an in-depth view of the subject.
Asian History Courses in non-Western culture, Native American studies or African American studies should provide students with an in-depth view of the subject.
European History Courses in non-Western culture, Native American studies or African American studies should provide students with an in-depth view of the subject.
Native American History Courses in non-Western culture, Native American studies or African American studies should provide students with an in-depth view of the subject.
Political Science Must be taught to PASS standards for U.S. Government.
Civics Must be taught to PASS standards for U.S. Government.

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Foreign/Non-English Language

Foreign/non-English language courses may be used as additional units for college admission. Oklahoma’s Promise students must have two years of the same foreign/non-English language OR two years of computer science/technology. One year of each will not count for Oklahoma’s Promise.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Any modern language course Must be taught to PASS standards.
American Sign Language  Must be taught to PASS standards.
Any Native American language course  Must be taught to PASS standards.
Greek Must be taught to PASS standards. 
Latin Must be taught to PASS standards.
Any AP language course  Must be taught to AP course standards.

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Computer Science/Computer Technology

College Admission
Computer science or computer technology courses may be used as additional units for college admission. Courses in computer science/computer technology must teach one or more of the following concepts: programming, hardware, and/or business computer applications (such as word processing, databases, spreadsheets and graphics). Additionally, courses in this area offered at high schools must meet the Instructional Technology PASS standards at the Advanced Level. Courses that simply use the computer as a tool do not qualify. Not all courses with “technology” or “business” in the title qualify.

Oklahoma's Promise
Oklahoma’s Promise students must have two years of the same foreign/non-English language OR two years of computer science/computer technology. One year of each will not count for Oklahoma’s Promise.

Career Technology Courses
The following career technology courses are acceptable for the computer science/computer technology requirement and meet the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education’s official course description including 120 contact hours:

Active Directory Infrastructure – 1 unit
Administrative Technologies II – 1 unit
Advanced Computer Applications for the Law Office – 1 unit
Advanced Design Techniques – 1 unit
Advanced Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design - 1 unit
Advanced Digital Animation – 1 unit
Advanced Programming – 1 unit
Advanced Routing and Remote Access Networks - 1 unit
Advanced Scripting Languages – 1 unit
Advanced Web and Animation Design - 1 unit
Architectural Computer Aided Drafting and Design - 1 unit
Business and Computer Technology – ½ unit
C++ Programming – 1 unit
C# Programming – 1 unit
Computer Repair and Troubleshooting I – 1 unit
Computer Repair and Troubleshooting II – 1 unit
Computer Repair and Troubleshooting III - 1 unit
Computerized Accounting – 1 unit
Cyber Forensics – ½ unit
Database Administration – 1 unit
Database Design and Programming – 1 unit
Design Tools and Electronic Marketing Strategies – 1 unit
Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design – 1 unit
E-Commerce Site Production – 1 unit
Engineering Computer Aided Drafting and Design - 1 unit
Enterprise Security Management – ½ unit
Forms Development – 1 unit
Fundamentals of Administrative Technologies – 1 unit
Fundamentals of Computer Aided Drafting and Design - 1 unit
Fundamentals of Database Development – 1 unit
Fundamentals of Linux/UNIX – 1 unit
Fundamentals of Technology – 1 unit
Fundamentals of Web Design – 1 unit
Manufacturing Computer Aided Drafting and Design - 1 unit
Multi-Layer Switching and Internetwork Support – 1 unit
Multimedia and Image Management Techniques – 1 unit
Network/Client Operating Systems – 1 unit
Network and Routing Fundamentals – 1 unit
Network Management – 1 unit
Network Security – ½ unit
Office Administration and Management – 1 unit
Principles of Information Assurance – ½ unit
Regulatory Compliance & Auditing – 1 unit
Routing, Switching and WAN Technologies – 1 unit
Scripting Language Fundamentals – 1 unit
Secure Electronic Commerce – ½ unit
Server Infrastructure Design – 1 unit
Server Operating Systems – 1 unit
Software Configuration Management – 1 unit
SQL and PL/SQL Database Applications Development – 1 unit
Systems Analysis, Design and Testing – 1 unit
User Interface Design – 1 unit
Visual Basic .NET Programming – 1 unit
Web Scripting Foundations – 1 unit
Windows XP Command Line – 1 unit

The following are acceptable courses for the computer science/computer technology requirement and must be offered as part of the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum and meet the PLTW course requirements:

Introduction to Engineering Design – 1 unit
Principles of Engineering – 1 unit

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For more information on Oklahoma public college and university admission standards, email gwekke@osrhe.edu or call the Student Information Hotline at (800) 858-1840 (225-9239) in Oklahoma City