California State Standards for Sciences

Requirements for high school graduation:

• Two years of science with a grade of D or better in all semesters.
• One year of biology and the other year a physical science (environmental science, chemistry, or physics)

Requirements for four Year Colleges and Universities:

• Two years of science with a grade of C or better in all semesters
• Competitive students for UC admission will usually have three years of lab sciences.  Many other colleges require or recommend three or more years of science
• UC requires a minimum of two years of laboratory science; all AHS courses in biology, chemistry and physics plus AP environmental science are approved as lab sciences

Typical Student Science Pathways

9th Graders:

• Earth Science or Biology

10th Graders:

• Biology for those students who took Earth Science
• Chemistry or Physics
• For those who do well in science: Chemistry, or Honors/AP Chemistry or Physics

11th and 12th Graders:

• At least one science course per year, emphasizing AP courses:  AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Environmental Science

Elective:

• Physiology: relevant for health care fields