The Mater Dei High School course catalog for the 2026-27 school year is published on the department pages of the school website, and each course entry states the course number, course length, grade levels, A-G category and prerequisites. This page uses the University of California’s official A-G course list as its base, adds the grade levels and prerequisites from the school catalog course by course, and includes religion courses, dual-enrollment courses and other courses that are not on the A-G list. The overall picture of the UC list comes first.
UC A-G refers to the 7 subject areas that the University of California and California State University require of high school students: a history and social science, b English, c mathematics, d laboratory science, e language other than English, f visual and performing arts, and g college-preparatory elective.
183UC-approved A-G courses
66UC-weighted honors coursesincluding 25 AP
15School honors courses that UC does not weight
These courses are designated honors on the school transcript but are not on the UC-approved honors list, so UC counts them as standard courses in admission
- Cultural Geography MUN I Honors
- Hn Algebra 2/Trigonometry
- Hn Algebra I
- Hn Anatomy & Physiology
- Hn Bilingual Spanish
- Hn Chinese I
- Hn Chinese II
- Hn English I
- Hn French II
- Hn Geometry
- Hn Latin I
- Hn Latin II
- Hn Spanish I
- Hn Spanish II
- Hn Wind Ensemble
Graduation Requirements (260 Credits)
The school assigns 5 credits to a one-semester course and 10 credits to a year-long course. The requirements below apply to the Classes of 2026 through 2029.
| Subject | Credits |
|---|---|
| Religious Studies | 40 |
| English | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 |
| Social Studies | 30 |
| Science | 20 |
| World Languages (same language) | 20 |
| Visual or Performing Art | 10 |
| Additional Credits / Electives | 70 |
A one-semester course earns 5 credits and a full-year course earns 10 credits. These requirements apply to the Classes of 2026 through 2029. Each course must be passed with a D or higher, the minimum GPA for graduation is 2.0, and students must also complete 80 hours of Christian Service. Credits beyond each subject requirement count toward additional credits and electives. AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles count only as elective credit at the school, not toward the mathematics or science graduation requirement.
The school’s graduation requirements and UC admission requirements are two separate standards. The table below places them side by side; the UC column comes from the University of California admissions website.
| UC A-G category | School graduation requirement / UC requirement |
|---|---|
| a History and social science | School: 30 credits (3 years); UC: 2 years |
| b English | School: 40 credits (4 years); UC: 4 years |
| c Mathematics | School: 30 credits (3 years); UC: 3 years, 4 years strongly recommended |
| d Laboratory science | School: 20 credits (2 years); UC: 2 years, 3 years recommended |
| e Language other than English | School: 20 credits (2 years of the same language); UC: 2 years of the same language, 3 years recommended |
| f Visual and performing arts | School: 10 credits (1 year); UC: 1 year |
| g College-preparatory elective | Not listed separately by the school; UC: 1 year, which may be met by grade 12 courses such as Comparative Religion, Peace and Justice and Philosophy |
| Grades and number of courses | School: a D or higher passes each course; UC: 15 year-long courses with grades of C or higher, 11 of them completed before grade 12 |
EDUBUS recommends scheduling to the UC recommended standard rather than the school’s graduation standard: 4 years of math and 3 years each of science and a world language. Religion courses occupy one slot in each of the four years, so the schedule is tighter than at a public high school, and this needs to be built into planning in grade 9.
Religion Courses and UC A-G
The UC 2026-27 A-G list includes four courses: Comparative Religion, Peace and Justice, Philosophy, and Ethics, all in area g (elective), and none of them are UC-approved honors courses. Grade 9 Religious Studies I, grade 10 Religious Studies II, grade 11 Religious Studies III: Sacraments, grade 12 Christian Lifestyles, and the religion course aide position are not on the list. The school's course catalog marks the grade 11 Religious Studies III: Ethics as not A-G; whether it is the same course as Ethics on the UC list should be confirmed with the school.
Four-year Religious Studies sequence
- Grade 9: Religious Studies I: Apologetics, Scripture and Tradition (full year)
- Grade 10: Religious Studies II: Paschal Mystery/The Church (full year)
- Grade 11: Religious Studies III: Sacraments and Religious Studies III: Ethics (one semester each)
- Grade 12: two courses chosen from Christian Lifestyles, Comparative Religion, Peace and Justice, and Introduction to Philosophy (one semester each); students may also apply to serve as a religion course aide
Course Selection Rules
This section answers three questions: how the schedule is structured, when course selection takes place, and whether schedules can be changed after school starts.
| Schedule | The school uses a block schedule that alternates Red Days and Gray Days, and the course catalog refers to periods 1 through 8; summer school is also scheduled on Red and Gray Days |
|---|---|
| Course request period (2026-27) | Course requests for the 2026-27 school year are handled in the Aeries parent and student portal: from February 23, 2026, students can view their course requests. The school automatically places religion, English, mathematics, science, social studies, and world language courses according to prerequisites, and grade 12 students choose their own religion courses. Students must confirm or submit a change form by 11:59 p.m. on March 6 |
| Automatic placement | Each year the school automatically places students in the highest-level courses they qualify for based on graduation requirements and prerequisites; students who want a higher-level course must submit a course change request |
| Moving up to honors or AP | Students already in honors classes may continue in honors by maintaining a B or higher. Students in regular classes who want to move into Honors or AP generally need an A in both semesters of that subject in English, mathematics, and world languages, and must also pass a placement test in English and mathematics; eligibility for History Honors or AP depends on English grades |
| Changes after the selection period | After the course request period ends, a course change requires all four conditions: space in the class, prerequisites met, department approval, and parent approval; students cannot request a specific teacher or period. Grade 12 religion courses cannot be added, dropped, or changed after the first two weeks of school |
| Outside courses | To take a course outside the school (in summer or during the school year), students must first submit and receive approval for an Application to Take a Non-MD Course for Credit Recovery/Advancement, and must consult their counselor in advance. Only Mater Dei High School summer school courses appear on the school's transcript; once enrolled, students must complete all graduation requirements at the school |
| Summer school | Summer school in 2026 runs from June 15 to July 17 as a single five-week session, with three categories: Credit Recovery, Credit Advancement, and the freshman preparation program (HSP). HSP courses earn no credit and do not count toward the GPA; admission letters indicate which students are required or strongly encouraged to take HSP English or math. Incoming freshmen may also take Art I online in the summer to complete the art graduation requirement early |
The school’s public pages do not state the number of courses taken each semester or the specific add/drop deadline weeks. Families who need to confirm these details can ask during the counselor meetings held each year from February to March.
Four-Year Pathways by Subject
In the pathways below, CP refers to regular college-preparatory courses, Honors to honors courses, and AP to Advanced Placement courses.
English
- Grade 9: English I A, English I, or Honors English I
- Grade 10: English II or Honors English II
- Grade 11: English III or AP English Literature and Composition
- Grade 12: English IV, CSU Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC), or AP English Language and Composition
The honors English sequence covers only grades 9 and 10. It leads to AP English Literature in grade 11 and AP English Language in grade 12, the reverse of the order at most schools. Honors English students must maintain a B or higher in both semesters and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to continue to the next year’s honors or AP English course.
Science
- Grade 9: Biology or Honors Biology, determined by the HSPT composite percentile and the reading and language subscores; students must also take Algebra I or higher math
- Grade 10: Chemistry or Honors Chemistry; Zoology or Human Anatomy and Physiology are also options
- Grade 11: Physics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, Honors Marine Biology, or Sports Medicine
- Grade 12: AP Physics C: Mechanics or a science course not taken in grade 11; only two years of science are required for graduation
Computer science and engineering courses are housed in the science department: Robotics and Engineering and Intro to Coding are open from grade 9, Honors Robotics and Engineering 2 and AP Computer Science Principles from grade 10, and AP Computer Science A generally from grade 11. Note that AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A count only toward elective graduation credit at the school, not toward science or math graduation credit; under UC rules, the former is in category d (laboratory science) and the latter in category c (mathematics).
Social studies
- Grade 9: social studies is not required; options include AP Human Geography/MUN or Cultural Geography MUN Honors
- Grade 10: World History, Honors World History MUN, or AP World History
- Grade 11: United States History and Geography, Honors US History MUN, or AP United States History
- Grade 12: one semester each of US Government and Economics, or full-year AP US Government and Politics, AP Macroeconomics, or AP Comparative Government/MUN
The four-year social studies sequence is tied to the Model United Nations (MUN) program: AP Human Geography/MUN in grade 9, Honors World History MUN in grade 10, Honors United States History MUN in grade 11 and AP Comparative Government/MUN in grade 12. Honors and AP social studies courses from grade 10 onward generally require a cumulative GPA of 3.6.
World Languages
- Spanish I-IV, plus honors levels, Honors Bilingual Spanish for native speakers, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and AP Spanish Literature and Culture
- Latin I-IV, all at the honors level
- French I-IV, plus honors levels and AP French Language and Culture
- Chinese I-IV, with honors levels for II through IV; introductory instruction uses pinyin; AP Chinese is not offered
- American Sign Language I-IV, with honors levels for III and IV
Incoming freshmen with prior language study may take a placement test: in Chinese, French, and Spanish, a score of 70% or higher places students into level II, and 80% or higher into Honors level II; in Latin, a score of 80% or higher places students into Honors Latin II. UC A-G requires two years of the same language and recommends three; the school’s graduation requirement is also 2 years of the same language. Latin is offered only at the honors level, but UC designates only Honors Latin III and IV as honors courses.
Complete Course Map
Expand by department. Each course shows its level, grade levels, prerequisites and UC A-G category; courses shown with a dash in the UC A-G column are not on the UC 2026-27 list. The notes column states whether UC weights the course and gives the school course number, so the map can be checked line by line against the school’s course request form.
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 12 | Cumulative GPA of 3.5, with an A in both semesters of regular English III and a passing score on the AP qualifying test; or B or higher in both semesters of the three-year Honors English sequence, with an English teacher's recommendationCourse number 244; offered in grade 12 at the school; all students must take the AP Language exam; transcript abbreviation: AP Eng Lng&Cmp | b |
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 11 | Cumulative GPA of 3.5, with an A in both semesters of regular English II and a passing score on the AP qualifying test; or B or higher in both semesters of Honors English II, with an English teacher's recommendationCourse number 243; offered in grade 11 at the school; all students must take the AP Literature exam; transcript abbreviation: AP Eng Lit&Cmp | b |
| Hn English I | Honors | 9 | Placement by entrance exam scores with department chair approval; students may need to pass an honors writing test; students must maintain a B in both semesters and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to continue in Honors or AP EnglishSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 212; parents and students must sign a course commitment form | b |
| Hn English II | Honors | 10 | Cumulative GPA of 3.5, an A in both semesters of regular English I, Mastery on at least 3 writing assessment criteria, and a passing score on the honors qualifying test; or B or higher in both semesters of Honors English I, with the current teacher's approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 222 | b |
| Hn Academic Decathlon | Honors | 9-12 | Submit an application, pass a reading qualifying test, and obtain the instructor's approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 951H; Academic Decathlon team course; transcript abbreviation: Hn Acad Dec | g |
| CSU Expository Reading and Writing 3.0 (12th) | CP | 12 | Completion of all previous English coursesCourse number 209; CSU Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC); transcript abbreviation: Expo Read Write | b |
| English I | CP | 9 | —Course number 211 | b |
| English I A | CP | 9 | —Course number 210; support version of English I | b |
| English II | CP | 10 | —Course number 223 | b |
| English III | CP | 11 | —Course number 233 | b |
| English IV | CP | 12 | —Course number 242 | b |
| ESL: Introductory Academic Reading and Composition | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: ESL Rdg & Comp 1 | b |
| Creative Writing I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 250; one semester; the school catalog marks it as area b, but it is not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list | — |
| Creative Writing II | CP | 9-12 | C or higher in Creative Writing ICourse number 251; one semester; the school catalog marks it as area b, but it is not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list | — |
| Academic Decathlon | Other | 9-12 | Submit an application, pass a reading qualifying test, and obtain the instructor's approvalCourse number 951; non-honors version of Academic Decathlon; not on the UC A-G list | — |
| Speech & Debate / Competitive Speech and Debate | Other | 9-12 | Written applicationCourse number 905; the school catalog states that area g approval is under review; not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list | — |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 11-12 | B or higher each semester in Honors PreCalculus, or an A each semester in PreCalculus plus a passing score on the AP Calculus AB placement test; a diagnostic test is also given on the first day of classCourse number 443; students must take the May AP exam | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | An A each semester in Calculus, or B or higher each semester in AP Calculus AB; a diagnostic test is also given on the first day of classCourse number 445; at the school, BC follows AB or regular Calculus as a second year of calculus | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 12 | B or higher each semester in Algebra 2/Trigonometry, C or higher in PreCalculus, and a passing score on the diagnostic test on the first day of classCourse number 438; students must take the May AP exam | c |
| Hn Algebra 2/Trigonometry | Honors | 9-12 | B or higher in both semesters of Honors Geometry, or an A in both semesters of Geometry plus a passing score on the Honors Algebra 2 placement test; incoming freshmen need an entrance exam math score of 11.0 or higher, an A in both middle school Algebra I and Geometry, and a passing Qualifying Exam; a diagnostic test is also given on the first day of classSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 433; transcript abbreviation: Hn Alg 2 Trig | c |
| Hn Algebra I | Honors | 9-12 | Entrance exam math score of 9.0 or higher, or a passing score on the Honors Algebra I Qualifying ExamSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 413; covers about 25% more content than the regular class | c |
| Hn Geometry | Honors | 9-12 | B or higher each semester in Honors Algebra I, or an A each semester in Algebra I plus a passing score on the Honors Geometry placement test; incoming freshmen need an entrance exam math score of 11.0 or higher, an A in middle school Algebra I, and a passing score on the Honors Geometry Qualifying ExamSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 422 | c |
| Hn Pre-Calculus | Honors | 10-12 | A B each semester in Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry, or an A each semester in Algebra 2/Trigonometry plus a passing score on the Honors PreCalculus placement test; a diagnostic test is also given on the first day of classUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 442 | c |
| Algebra 2/Trigonometry | CP | 9-12 | C or higher in both semesters of Honors Geometry, or B or higher in both semesters of Geometry; incoming freshmen need an entrance exam math score of 11.0 or higher, a B or higher in both middle school Algebra I and Geometry, and a passing Qualifying ExamCourse number 429; Credit Advancement available in summer school; transcript abbreviation: Algebra 2/Trig | c |
| Algebra I | CP | 9-12 | None; students with an HSPT score of 7.5 or below may be required to take Algebra I Lab concurrentlyCourse number 412 | c |
| Algebra II | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Algebra I and GeometryCourse number 428; Algebra 2 for the non-STEM route; transcript abbreviations: Algebra 2, Algebra II | c |
| Calculus | CP | 11-12 | C or higher each semester in PreCalculus or Honors PreCalculusCourse number 440; the school notes that this course is not aimed at the AP exam | c |
| Geometry | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Algebra I; incoming freshmen need an entrance exam math score of 10.0 or higher, a B or higher in middle school Algebra I, and a passing score on the Geometry Qualifying ExamCourse number 421; Credit Advancement available in summer school | c |
| Intermediate Geometry | CP | 10 | —Grade 10 course on the non-STEM route in the school's math pathway chart; transcript abbreviation: Interm Geometry | c |
| Pre-Calculus | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in both semesters of Algebra 2/Trigonometry, or C or higher in both semesters of Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry; Algebra 2 students may also qualify with a B or higher in both semesters plus a B or higher in the summer Trigonometry courseCourse number 441; Credit Advancement available in summer school with pre-approval | c |
| Statistics | CP | 12 | C or higher each semester in Algebra 2 or Algebra 2/TrigonometryCourse number 437 | c |
| Trigonometry | CP | — | One-semester summer school course; pre-approval requiredAllows Algebra 2 students to complete trigonometry content before moving into PreCalculus; the school course catalog calls it Trigonometry for Advancement | c |
| Personal Finance | CP | 12 | —Course number 411; offered by the mathematics department and approved by UC as an area g elective; transcript abbreviation: Prsnl Finance | g |
| Algebra I Lab | Other | 9 | Students with an HSPT score of 7.5 or below may be required to take it concurrently with Algebra ISupport course in the school's math pathway chart; not on the UC A-G list | — |
Science & STEM
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 11-12 | B or higher in both semesters of Algebra I; Intro to Coding beforehand and concurrent Algebra 2 or higher math are strongly recommendedCourse number 707; grade 10 students may contact the department chair; counts only as elective credit toward graduation at the school; transcript abbreviation: AP Comp Sci A | c |
| AP Biology | AP | 11-12 | An A in Biology or a B in Honors Biology, and an A in Chemistry or a B in Honors Chemistry; concurrent enrollment in PreCalculus or higher math; department chair approvalCourse number 526; runs only with at least 25 students; all students must take the AP exam | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 11-12 | B or higher in both semesters of Honors Chemistry; an A in Algebra 2/Trigonometry or B or higher in Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry; PreCalculus completed or taken concurrently; department chair approvalCourse number 533 | d |
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 10-12 | B or higher in Algebra I; Intro to Coding recommended beforehandCourse number 719; counts only as elective credit toward graduation at the school; transcript abbreviation: AP Comp Sci Prn | d |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | — | —Registered on the UC list, but not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: AP Envirn Sci | d |
| AP Physics 1 | AP | 11-12 | All A grades in mathematics and science courses, with at most one B; Biology and Chemistry completed; concurrent enrollment in PreCalculus, Calculus, or AP Calculus; department chair approvalCourse number 546 | d |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | AP | 11-12 | An A in both semesters of regular Physics, or B or higher in both semesters of AP Physics 1; concurrent enrollment in at least regular or AP CalculusCalculus-based mechanics; transcript abbreviation: AP Physics C | d |
| Biology 191 Biotech A: Basic Lab Skills（Santa Ana College / Santiago Canyon College） | Dual Enrollment | 10-12 | Must meet the prerequisites of both the school and the community college and be in good academic standing4 community college units, tuition-free while in high school; combined with the school's Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, or AP Biology courses, it leads to the Biotechnology Certificate of Proficiency | — |
| Hn Anatomy & Physiology | Honors | 10-12 | An A in both semesters of Biology or B or higher in Honors Biology, and B or higher in Chemistry or C or higher in Honors Chemistry; students who have not taken Chemistry may apply with an A in both semesters of Honors Biology and Honors Algebra I; department chair approvalSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 543; students can earn Red Cross CPR certification; transcript abbreviation: Hn Anat & Phys | d |
| Hn Biology | Honors | 9-10 | Incoming freshmen need an entrance exam composite percentile of 85% and reading and language subscores of 10.0 or higher, plus concurrent enrollment in Algebra I or higher math; approval from the science department chairUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 520; includes animal dissection | d |
| Hn Chemistry | Honors | 10-12 | An A in both semesters of Biology or B or higher in both semesters of Honors Biology; an A in both semesters of Algebra I or B or higher in both semesters of Honors Algebra; B or higher in both semesters of Geometry or C or higher in Honors Geometry; concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2/Trigonometry or Algebra 2; department chair approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 531 | d |
| Hn Marine Biology | Honors | 11-12 | An A in both semesters of Biology or a B in Honors Biology; a B in both semesters of Chemistry or Physics, or a C in both semesters of Honors Chemistry or AP Physics 1UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 525; transcript abbreviation: Hn Marine Bio | d |
| Honors PLTW Principles of Engineering | Honors | 10-12 | —UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; listed on the school schedule as Hn Robotics & Engineering 2; uses the PLTW engineering curriculum; transcript abbreviations: HnRobot&Eng2/s1, HnRobot&Eng2/s2, HnRobotics&Eng2 | d |
| Honors Coding | Honors | 9-12 | Concurrent enrollment in Honors Algebra or higher mathUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 1028H; transcript abbreviation: Hn Coding | g |
| Anatomy & Physiology | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in both semesters of Biology and of Algebra I, with approval from the science department chairCourse number 542; includes animal dissection; transcript abbreviation: Anat/Physiology | d |
| Biology | CP | 9-10 | Incoming freshmen need an entrance exam composite percentile of 70% and reading and language subscores of 9.0 or higher, plus concurrent enrollment in Algebra I or higher math; approval from the science department chairCourse number 521; includes animal dissection | d |
| Chemistry | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of Biology and Algebra I, with Geometry completed or taken concurrentlyCourse number 532; Credit Advancement available in summer school | d |
| Earth and Space Science | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: Earth/Space Sci | d |
| Earth Science A | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: Earth Science | d |
| Earth Science B | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: Earth Science | d |
| Physics | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of Biology, C or higher in Algebra I and Geometry, and concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2/TrigonometryCourse number 544; Credit Advancement available in summer school | d |
| Robotics and Engineering | CP | 9-12 | Concurrent enrollment in Algebra I or higher math and in Biology or a higher science courseCourse number 501; no experience required; transcript abbreviation: Robotics & Eng | d |
| Sports Medicine | CP | 11-12 | C or higher in both semesters of BiologyCourse number 536; students can earn CPR and Stop the Bleed first aid certification; transcript abbreviations: Sports Med, Sports Med/S1, Sports Med/S2 | d |
| Zoology | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of BiologyCourse number 535 | d |
| Introduction to Coding | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1028; the school recommends it as a prerequisite for the AP computer science courses; transcript abbreviation: Intro to Coding | g |
| Science Lab Assistant | Other | 10-12 | B or higher in Biology and Chemistry, with recommendations from the science department chair and the instructorCourse number 939; not on the UC A-G list | — |
Social Studies
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Government and Politics Comparative | AP | 12 | —Listed on the school schedule as AP Comparative Government/MUN, the fourth year of the Model United Nations sequence; transcript abbreviation: AP CompGov MUN | a |
| AP Government and Politics United States | AP | 12 | Students with B or higher in both semesters of AP US History and a cumulative GPA of 3.6 may enroll directly; regular US History students need a cumulative GPA of 3.6, an A in both semesters of US History, and an A in both semesters of English IIICourse number 349; full year; transcript abbreviation: AP US Govt&Pol | a |
| AP Human Geography | AP | 9 | —Listed on the school schedule as AP Human Geography/MUN, the first year of the four-year Model United Nations sequence; transcript abbreviation: AP Hmn Geo MUN | a |
| AP United States History | AP | 11 | Cumulative GPA of 3.6; an A in both semesters of World History (or Honors World History MUN); an A in both semesters of English II or B or higher in both semesters of Honors English II; 70% on both parts of the AP qualifying examCourse number 333; all students must take the AP exam; transcript abbreviation: AP US History | a |
| AP World History | AP | 10 | Cumulative GPA of 3.6; an A in both semesters of regular English I or B or higher in both semesters of Honors English I | a |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | Students with B or higher in both semesters of AP US History may enroll directly; regular US History students need a cumulative GPA of 3.6 and an A in both semesters of US HistoryCourse number 344; full year; approved by UC as an area g elective; transcript abbreviation: AP Macroecon | g |
| Cultural Geography MUN I Honors | Honors | 9 | —School-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; the school states it is for academically strong grade 9 students and includes Model United Nations (MUN) training; transcript abbreviation: Cult Geo MUN H | a |
| Honors United States History Model United Nations | Honors | 11 | Overall GPA of 3.6; AP Human Geography/MUN or Honors World History MUN recommended beforehandUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 322; transcript abbreviation: Hn US Hist MUN | a |
| Honors World History/Model United Nations | Honors | 10 | Overall GPA of 3.6; AP Human Geography/MUN recommended beforehandUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 321; transcript abbreviation: HN Wrld His MUN | a |
| US Government | CP | 12 | —Course number 341; one semester; transcript abbreviations: U.S. Government, US Government | a |
| US History | CP | 11 | —Course number 332; catalog name: United States History and Geography | a |
| World History | CP | 10 | —Course number 331 | a |
| Economics | CP | 12 | —Course number 348; one semester; approved by UC as an area g elective | g |
| Psychology | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | g |
World Languages
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP French Language and Culture | AP | 10-12 | Overall GPA of 3.0 and an A in both semesters of French III, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors French IIICourse number 627; transcript abbreviation: AP Fr Lng&Cul | e |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 10-12 | An A in both semesters of Spanish III or IV, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors Spanish III, IV, or Bilingual SpanishCourse number 608; transcript abbreviation: AP Span Lang | e |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | AP | 10-12 | B or higher in both semesters of AP Spanish Language and CultureCourse number 607; transcript abbreviation: AP Span Lit&Cul | e |
| Hn American Sign Language III | Honors | 11-12 | An A in one semester and B or higher in the other semester of American Sign Language IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 642H; transcript abbreviation: Hn ASL III | e |
| Hn American Sign Language IV | Honors | 12 | C or higher in both semesters of American Sign Language IIIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 643H; transcript abbreviation: Hn ASL IV | e |
| Hn Bilingual Spanish | Honors | 9-12 | Must take the Bilingual Spanish placement test, which includes an oral componentSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 609H; for native Spanish speakers; transcript abbreviation: Hn BilingSpan | e |
| Hn Chinese I | Honors | — | —School-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: Hn Chinese 1 | e |
| Hn Chinese II | Honors | 10-12 | An A in one semester and B or higher in the other semester of Chinese I, or an average of B or higher across both semesters of Honors Chinese I; incoming freshmen need 80% or higher on the Chinese placement testSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 637 | e |
| Hn Chinese III | Honors | 10-12 | An A in one semester and B or higher in the other semester of Chinese II, or an average of B or higher across both semesters of Honors Chinese IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 638 | e |
| Hn Chinese IV | Honors | 10-12 | An A in one semester and B or higher in the other semester of Chinese III, or an average of B or higher across both semesters of Honors Chinese IIIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 639; the school does not offer AP Chinese | e |
| Hn French II | Honors | 10-12 | Overall GPA of 3.0 and an A in both semesters of French I; incoming freshmen need 80% or higher on the placement testSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 623 | e |
| Hn French III | Honors | 10-12 | Overall GPA of 3.0 and an A in both semesters of French II, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors French IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 625 | e |
| Hn French IV | Honors | 11-12 | Overall GPA of 3.0 and an A in both semesters of French III, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors French IIIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 628H | e |
| Hn Latin I | Honors | 9-12 | Placement by entrance exam scores, or eligibility for Honors English ISchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 620; the school offers Latin only at the honors level | e |
| Hn Latin II | Honors | 10-12 | An A in one semester and B or higher in the other semester of Latin I, or an average of B or higher across both semesters of Honors Latin I; incoming freshmen need 80% or higher on the placement testSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 617 | e |
| Hn Latin III | Honors | 10-12 | An A in one semester and B or higher in the other semester of Latin II, or an average of B or higher across both semesters of Honors Latin IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 618 | e |
| Hn Latin IV | Honors | 11-12 | An A in one semester and B or higher in the other semester of Latin III, or an average of B or higher across both semesters of Honors Latin IIIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 615 | e |
| Hn Spanish I | Honors | 9-12 | Incoming freshmen must take the Spanish qualifying exam and are placed by scoreSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 601 | e |
| Hn Spanish II | Honors | 9-12 | Overall GPA of 3.0 and an A in both semesters of Spanish I, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors Spanish I; incoming freshmen need 80% or higher on the placement testSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 603 | e |
| Hn Spanish III | Honors | 10-12 | Overall GPA of 3.0 and an A in both semesters of Spanish II, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors Spanish II or Bilingual SpanishUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 606 | e |
| Hn Spanish IV | Honors | 10-12 | Overall GPA of 3.0 and an A in both semesters of Spanish III, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors Spanish IIIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 610H | e |
| American Sign Language I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 640; transcript abbreviation: Am Sign Lang | e |
| American Sign Language II | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of American Sign Language ICourse number 641; transcript abbreviation: Am Sign Lang II | e |
| Chinese I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 630; introductory instruction uses pinyin; transcript abbreviation: Chinese 1 | e |
| Chinese II | CP | 10-12 | Average of C or higher across both semesters of Chinese I; incoming freshmen need 70% or higher on the Chinese placement testCourse number 631 | e |
| Chinese III | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | e |
| Chinese IV | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | e |
| French I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 621 | e |
| French II | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of French I; incoming freshmen need 70% or higher on the placement testCourse number 622 | e |
| French III | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of French IICourse number 624 | e |
| French IV | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of French IIICourse number 628 | e |
| Latin I | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | e |
| Latin II | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | e |
| Latin III | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | e |
| Spanish I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 600 | e |
| Spanish II | CP | 9-12 | C or higher in both semesters of Spanish I; incoming freshmen need 70% or higher on the placement testCourse number 602 | e |
| Spanish III | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of Spanish IICourse number 605; Credit Advancement available in summer school | e |
| Spanish IV | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in both semesters of Spanish IIICourse number 610; Credit Advancement available in summer school | e |
| TGS German Advance Intermediate B1 | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: German III | e |
| TGS German Intermediate A2 | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: German II | e |
Religious Studies
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparative Religion | CP | 12 | None; grade 12 students must choose two courses from the religion electivesCourse number 152; one of the options for the grade 12 religion requirement and also a UC-approved area g elective; transcript abbreviation: Compar Religion | g |
| Ethics | CP | — | —Registered on the UC list as area g (transcript name: Ethics); the school course catalog marks the required grade 11 Religious Studies III: Ethics as not A-G; whether the two are the same course should be confirmed with the school | g |
| Peace and Justice | CP | 12 | None; grade 12 students must choose two courses from the religion electivesCourse number 153; one of the options for the grade 12 religion requirement and also a UC-approved area g elective; transcript abbreviation: Peace & Justice | g |
| Philosophy | CP | 12 | None; grade 12 students must choose two courses from the religion electives; GPA of 3.0 recommendedCourse number 154; catalog name: Introduction to Philosophy: Great Thinkers of the Western World; one of the options for the grade 12 religion requirement | g |
| Religious Studies I: Apologetics, Scripture and Tradition | Other | 9 | None; required of all grade 9 studentsCourse number 114; full year; not on the UC A-G list | — |
| Religious Studies II: Paschal Mystery/The Church | Other | 10 | None; required of all grade 10 studentsCourse number 121; full year; not on the UC A-G list | — |
| Religious Studies III: Sacraments | Other | 11 | None; required of all grade 11 studentsCourse number 134; one semester; not on the UC A-G list | — |
| Religious Studies IV: Christian Lifestyles | Other | 12 | None; grade 12 students must choose two courses from the religion electivesCourse number 142; one semester; not on the UC A-G list | — |
| Religious Studies IV: Religious Studies Aide | Other | 12 | Cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a religion course GPA of 3.5, a religion teacher's recommendation, and an application and interview in the spring of grade 11Course number 155; one semester, taken together with another grade 12 religion elective; not on the UC A-G list | — |
Visual Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 2D Art and Design | AP | 12 | An A in a related visual arts course, a teacher's recommendation, and approval of a portfolio review by the AP art teacherCourse number 862; transcript abbreviation: AP Studio Art: 2D | f |
| AP 3D Art and Design | AP | 12 | An A in Ceramics I, II, or III, a teacher's recommendation, and approval of a portfolio reviewCourse number 821; transcript abbreviation: AP Studio Art: 3-D | f |
| AP Art History | AP | 11-12 | Cumulative GPA of 3.3 and an A in the first semester of EnglishCourse number 817 | f |
| AP Drawing | AP | 12 | An A in Art II or Art III, a teacher's recommendation, and approval of a portfolio reviewCourse number 819; transcript abbreviation: AP Studio Art D | f |
| Hn Art III | Honors | 11-12 | B or higher in Art II, with approval from the visual arts teacherUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 823H; transcript abbreviation: Hn Art III | f |
| Hn Animation 2 | Honors | 11-12 | B or higher in Animation 1, with the animation teacher's recommendationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 865H | f |
| Hn Ceramics III | Honors | 11-12 | An A in Ceramics II, with the teacher's approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 860H | f |
| Hn Digital Photography III | Honors | 11-12 | B or higher in Digital Photography 2, with a teacher's recommendationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 878; transcript abbreviation: Hn DigPhotoIII | f |
| Hn Graphic Design 3 | Honors | 9-12 | B or higher in Graphic Design 2 or Digital Photography 2, with a teacher's recommendationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 868H; transcript abbreviation: Hn Grphc Dsgn 3 | f |
| Animation 1 | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in Art I or Graphic Design 1, with a teacher's recommendationCourse number 863 | f |
| Art I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 820; online Credit Advancement available in summer school; transcript abbreviations: Art I, Art I ADV/S1 | f |
| Art II | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in Art I, with the instructor's approvalCourse number 822 | f |
| Ceramics I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 808 | f |
| Ceramics II | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in Ceramics I, with the teacher's approvalCourse number 809 | f |
| Digital Photography | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 829; transcript abbreviation: Digital Photo | f |
| Digital Photography 2 | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in Digital Photography, with a teacher's recommendationCourse number 833; transcript abbreviation: Digital Photo 2 | f |
| Graphic Design 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 866; transcript abbreviation: Graphic Desgn 1 | f |
| Graphic Design 2 | CP | 9-12 | B or higher in Graphic Design 1 or Digital Photography 1, with the teacher's approvalCourse number 867; transcript abbreviation: Graphic Desgn 2 | f |
Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Music Theory | AP | 11-12 | B or higher in all previous performing arts coursesCourse number 846; the school catalog marks it as area f, but it is not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list and is not weighted in the UC GPA | — |
| Hn A Capella Ensemble | Honors | 9-12 | Audition required, held in MayUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 881H; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Hn ACappella En | f |
| Hn Advanced Men's Ensemble | Honors | 11-12 | Cumulative GPA of 3.0, at least one year of Advanced Men's Ensemble, the teacher's approval, and a successful May auditionUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 859H; transcript abbreviation: HnAdvMensEnsmbl | f |
| Hn Advanced Women's Ensemble | Honors | 11-12 | Cumulative GPA of 3.0, at least one year of Advanced Women's Ensemble, the teacher's approval, and a successful May auditionUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 843H; transcript abbreviation: HnAdvWmnsEnsmbl | f |
| Hn Chambers Singers | Honors | 9-12 | Cumulative GPA of 3.0, at least one year in a school performing ensemble, the teacher's approval, and a successful May auditionUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 848; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Hn Chamber Sing | f |
| Hn Dance Company | Honors | 9-12 | Spring audition, GPA of 2.0 or higher, and the teacher's approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 837; choreography focus; transcript abbreviation: Hn DanceCompany | f |
| Hn Musical Theatre Bravo | Honors | 10-12 | C or higher in Theatre II or III, or equivalent experience, with the teacher's approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 858; transcript abbreviation: Hn MusicalBravo | f |
| Hn Musical Theatre Encore | Honors | 11-12 | C or higher in Honors Musical Theatre Bravo, or equivalent experience, with the teacher's approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 870; transcript abbreviation: HnMusicalEncore | f |
| Hn Musical Theatre Ovation | Honors | 11-12 | C or higher in Honors Musical Theatre Bravo, or equivalent experience, with the teacher's approval or an auditionUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 891; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: HnMusicOvation | f |
| Hn Technical Theatre II | Honors | 10-12 | C or higher in Theatre I, B or higher in Theatre III, or equivalent experience, with the teacher's approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 877H; transcript abbreviation: HnTechTheatreII | f |
| Hn Theatre III | Honors | 11-12 | C or higher in Theatre II or Honors Musical Theatre, the teacher's approval, and participation in the drama clubUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 873H | f |
| Hn Theatre IV | Honors | 12 | C or higher in Honors Theatre III, the teacher's approval, and participation in the drama clubUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 874H | f |
| Hn Wind Ensemble | Honors | 9-12 | Audition required; participation in Marching Band requiredSchool-designated honors course, weighted in the school GPA but not in the UC GPA; Course number 805; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Hn Wind Ensembl | f |
| Honors Orchestra | Honors | 9-12 | Audition or the director's approvalCourse number 872H; the school catalog states that UC approval is under review; not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list | — |
| Advanced Dance IV | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Dance II or the teacher's approvalCourse number 831; listed in the course catalog as Dance III/IV; transcript abbreviation: Adv Dance IV | f |
| Advanced Guitar - Media Production | CP | 9-12 | Audition or the director's approval; students must provide their own guitarCourse number 857; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Adv Guitar MP | f |
| Advanced Men's Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | Audition required, held in MayCourse number 859; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: AdvMen's Ensmbl | f |
| Advanced Women's Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | Audition required, held in MayCourse number 843; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Adv Wmns Ensmb | f |
| Concert Band | CP | 9-12 | Participation in Marching Band requiredCourse number 803; additional fee | f |
| Concert Choir | CP | 9-12 | Audition required, held in MayCourse number 851; additional fee | f |
| Dance Company | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | f |
| Dance I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 830 | f |
| Dance II | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Dance I or the teacher's approvalCourse number 832; transcript abbreviation: Dance II/Intrmd | f |
| Dance III | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Dance II or the teacher's approvalCourse number 831; listed in the course catalog as Dance III/IV; transcript abbreviation: Dance III/Chor | f |
| Guitar | CP | 9-12 | Students must provide their own guitarCourse number 854; additional fee | f |
| Intermediate Guitar | CP | 9-12 | Audition or the director's approval; students must provide their own guitarCourse number 871; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Interm Guitar | f |
| Intro to Orchestra | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 883; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Int toOrchestra | f |
| Intro to Piano | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 882; additional fee | f |
| Jazz Band | CP | 9-12 | Audition required; participation in Marching Band requiredCourse number 855; additional fee | f |
| Men's Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 841; men's choir; additional fee | f |
| Musical Theatre I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 892; transcript abbreviation: Music Theatre I | f |
| Orchestra | CP | 9-12 | Audition or the director's approvalCourse number 872; additional fee | f |
| Percussion | CP | 9-12 | Participation in Marching Band and Winter Percussion requiredCourse number 802; additional fee | f |
| Piano Studies | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs | f |
| Symphonic Band | CP | 9-12 | Audition requiredCourse number 804; additional fee | f |
| Theatre I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 875 | f |
| Theatre II | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in Theatre I, or equivalent experience, with the teacher's approvalCourse number 876 | f |
| Women's Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 840; women's choir; additional fee; transcript abbreviation: Women's Ensmble | f |
| Technical Theatre I | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in Theatre I, or equivalent experience, with the teacher's approvalCourse number 877; the school catalog marks it as area f, but it is not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list | — |
| Handbell Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | Teacher's approvalCourse number 844; the school catalog marks it as area f, but it is not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list | — |
| Dance Conservatory | CP | 9-12 | Spring audition, GPA of 2.0 or higher, and the teacher's approvalCourse number 886; the school catalog marks it as area f, but it is not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list | — |
Film & Media Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hn Advanced Television Production III | Honors | 10-12 | C or higher in Advanced Television Production IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 1068; transcript abbreviation: Hn AdTVProd III | f |
| Hn Filmmaking III | Honors | 10-12 | C or higher in Filmmaking IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 1058; transcript abbreviation: Hn Flmmking III | f |
| Honors Filmmaking IV | Honors | 11-12 | A score of 75 or higher in Honors Filmmaking IIIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course number 1069; transcript abbreviation: Hn FilmmakingIV | f |
| Newspaper III-IV Hn: Advanced Media Leadership | Honors | 11-12 | B or higher in English, an application, an interview, the adviser's approval, and completion of the previous newspaper courseUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course numbers 1075 / 1081; transcript abbreviations: News III Hn, News IV Hn | f |
| Yearbook III-IV Hn: Advanced Media Leadership | Honors | 11-12 | B or higher in English, an application, an interview, the adviser's approval, and completion of the previous yearbook courseUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; Course numbers 1080 / 949H; transcript abbreviations: Yrbk III Hn, Yrbk IV Hn | f |
| Acting for Television II | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: Acting for TV II | f |
| Advanced Television Production I | CP | 9-12 | C or higher in Studio ProductionCourse number 1066; transcript abbreviation: Adv TV Prod I | f |
| Advanced Television Production II | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in Advanced Television Production ICourse number 1067; transcript abbreviation: Adv TV Prod II | f |
| Filmmaking I | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1046 | f |
| Newspaper I-II: Media Production | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in English, an application, and approval from the newspaper adviserCourse numbers 1071 / 1072; listed in the course catalog as Newspaper I and Newspaper II; transcript abbreviations: News 1:Media Pr, News 2:Media Pr | f |
| Studio Production 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1040; catalog name: Studio Production; transcript abbreviation: Studio Prod 1 | f |
| Yearbook I-II: Media Production | CP | 10-12 | B or higher in English, an application, and approval from the yearbook adviserCourse numbers 1076 / 1077; listed in the course catalog as Yearbook I and Yearbook II; transcript abbreviations: Yrbk 1:Media Pr, Yrbk 2:Media Pr | f |
| Filmmaking II | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Filmmaking ICourse number 1056; approved by UC as an area g elective | g |
| Introduction to Media | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1070; transcript abbreviation: Intro to Media | g |
| Sports Broadcasting | CP | 9-12 | A passing grade in a video, media, or filmmaking course, or the teacher's approvalCourse number 1055; transcript abbreviation: Sports Brdcstng | g |
Other Electives
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Business | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: Intro to Business | g |
| Leadership Studies I | CP | 9-12 | Approval from the director of student activitiesAssociated Student Body (ASB) leadership course; catalog name: Advanced Leadership; transcript abbreviation: LdrshpStudies 1 | g |
| Sports Marketing Internship | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog; confirm with the school whether the course runs; transcript abbreviation: SptMrktIntern | g |
| Monarch Academic Program for Success (MAPS) | Other | 9-12 | Enrollment in the MAPS program, with approval from the executive director of learning servicesCourse number 1025; for students with diagnosed learning or attention differences; additional fee; not on the UC A-G list | — |
| Bridge | Other | 9-12 | —Course number 1101; grade monitoring and executive function training; not on the UC A-G list | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine families often ask: do religion courses at Mater Dei High School count as UC A-G courses?
Only some do. According to the UC A-G list for the 2026-27 school year, four Mater Dei High School courses, Comparative Religion, Peace and Justice, Philosophy and Ethics, are registered as g-category electives, and none is a UC-approved honors course. Religious Studies I in grade 9, Religious Studies II in grade 10, Religious Studies III: Sacraments in grade 11, Christian Lifestyles in grade 12 and the Religious Studies Aide position are not on the list. The school course catalog marks the required grade 11 course Religious Studies III: Ethics as not A-G; whether it is the same course as Ethics on the UC list should be confirmed with the school.
How do the graduation requirements at Mater Dei High School differ from UC A-G requirements, and which should Irvine families follow?
Mater Dei High School requires 260 credits to graduate: Religious Studies 40, English 40, mathematics 30, social studies 30, science 20, the same world language 20, fine arts 10 and electives 70. UC A-G requires 15 year-long courses, all with grades of C or higher, and recommends 4 years of math and 3 years each of science and a language other than English. The school requires only 2 years of science, 3 years of math and 2 years of a world language, so scheduling to the graduation requirements may not meet the UC recommended standard. EDUBUS recommends scheduling to the UC A-G recommended standard and using religion courses and electives to complete the school's credit requirements.
Irvine families want to know: when does course selection take place at Mater Dei High School, and can schedules change after school starts?
Course selection at Mater Dei High School takes place each year from February to March. For the 2026-27 school year, course requests opened in the Aeries system on February 23, 2026; the school automatically places students in core subjects based on prerequisites, and families and students must confirm or submit a change form by 11:59 p.m. on March 6. After the selection period, a course change requires all four of the following: an open seat, completion of prerequisites, department approval and parent approval; students may not request specific teachers or periods. Grade 12 religion courses cannot be changed after the first two weeks of school.
Can Irvine students take courses outside school and have them recorded on the Mater Dei High School transcript?
In principle, no. Mater Dei High School states that only its own summer school courses appear on the school transcript, and that once enrolled, students must complete all graduation requirements at the school. To take an outside course (in summer or during the school year), a student must first submit the Application to Take a Non-MD Course for Credit Recovery/Advancement and consult a counselor, and the school does not guarantee that an outside course will satisfy its requirements. For students who want to take math or science early, the more reliable option is the school's own summer school courses for credit advancement.
Can Chinese-speaking Irvine students skip levels in Chinese at Mater Dei High School?
They can do so through a placement exam. On the Mater Dei High School Chinese placement exam for incoming freshmen, a score of 70% qualifies for Chinese II and a score of 80% qualifies for Honors Chinese II. Chinese courses run through Honors Chinese IV, the introductory levels are taught with pinyin, and the school does not offer AP Chinese. Note that on the UC list, Honors Chinese III and IV are UC-approved honors courses, while Honors Chinese I and II count as regular courses in the UC GPA.
How are incoming Irvine freshmen placed in science at Mater Dei High School?
Placement depends on the HSPT. The Mater Dei High School course catalog states that incoming freshmen taking Biology need an HSPT composite percentile of 70% and scores of 9.0 or higher in both reading and language; Honors Biology requires a composite percentile of 85% and scores of 10.0 or higher in both reading and language. Both require concurrent enrollment in Algebra I or higher math and approval from the science department chair. Honors Biology is a UC-approved honors course.
