The Basics of UC’s A-G
Nina Costales
High School Articulation Coordinator
&
Hannah Frankel
High School Articulation Analyst
University of California | Office of the President
Educating for Careers Conference
March 2, 2014
Overview
 Part I: Overview & Background
– High School Articulation overview
– UC and CTE
 Part II: A-G Course List Update & Review Process
– Course submission timeline
– A-G course evaluation
– NEW A-G Course Management Portal
 Part III: Tools & Resources
Part I: Overview & Background
Educating for Careers Conference
March 2, 2014
Purpose of Articulation
 Align curriculum across educational segments to support
students.
 UC admissions based on a minimum of 15 academic
courses known as the “a-g” subject requirements.
 Pattern of “a-g” courses aims to:
– Prepare students to participate fully in their first-year program at
the University.
– Provide students with a general knowledge foundation for new
and advanced study.
– Help students develop critical thinking and analytical skills.
4
UC and CTE
 UC joined the state’s reform movement through the “a-g”
course approval process.
 UC’s role: encourage the development of courses that
integrate academic and CTE content/skills.
 UC’s aim: broaden student preparation, access and
success.
 About 12,000* CTE courses are “a-g” approved.
*Data based on the California Department of Education’s annual report
– Approved in all “a-g” subject areas!
– Representing all industry sectors!
CTE Courses by A-G Subject Area
History/Social
Science ("a")
English ("b")
CollegePreparatory
Elective ("g")
Laboratory
Science
("d")
Mathematics
("c")
Language
Other Than
English ("e")
Visual and
Performing
Arts ("f")
Data based on the California Department of Education’s annual report
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UC’s CTE Goals for the Future
 Continue to support the development of integrated CTE
courses for “a-g” approval.
– Provide professional development opportunities.
– Create more tools and resources for teachers.
 Balance the “unbalanced” distribution of “a-g” approved
integrated CTE courses.
– Allow students to pursue academic study, preparation for college
AND explore potential career paths through CTE coursework.
7
Part II: A-G Course Submission &
Review Process
Educating for Careers Conference
March 2, 2014
Doorways Websites
 Online Update website
https://doorways.ucop.edu/update
– Manage and update course list and school’s information.
 “a-g” Course List website
https://doorways.ucop.edu/list
– View any school’s or program’s course list.
 “a-g” Guide website
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide
– Informational website for everything “a-g,” updating the course list,
Career Technical Education (CTE), and online learning.
A-G Course Submission Timeline
New submission
cycle opens on
February 1
PHASE 1
February 1May 31
New courses
submitted have
up to 2*
resubmission
opportunities
PHASE 2
June 1July 31
New courses
submitted have
1 resubmission
opportunity
PHASE 3
August 1September 15
New courses
submitted have
no
resubmission
opportunity
Submission
cycle closes on
September 15
*Phase 1:
1st resubmission due by July 31
2nd resubmission due by September 15
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A-G Course Submission Process
 New courses submitted for “a-g” review using the Online
Update website.
 Begin submitting new courses early!
 Tips and tools  A-G Guide
 2013-14 submission cycle at a glance:
– 23,150 = Total number of course submissions.
– 11,618 = Total number of new courses submitted.
– 5,509 = Number of courses received during phases 1 and 2.
 2012-13: 3,425 = Number of courses received during phases 1 and 2.
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New Course Evaluation
 Course approval is based on:
1) A-G subject area course criteria
 Honors course criteria – HONORS COURSES ONLY
 CTE course criteria – CTE COURSES ONLY
2) A-G course evaluation guidelines
 New courses are reviewed within 4-6 weeks of
submission.
– Depending on the subject area, time of year, and volume of
submissions received, it may take longer.
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Big Changes for 2015-16!
 NEW A-G Course Management System or A-G CMP.
– Replace the Online Update website.
 Part of UC’s initiative to improve overall “a-g” course
submission and review process.
 Major highlights:
– Aligning the course submission form with the “a-g” course criteria.
– Providing access to view all approved “a-g” course content
descriptions.
– Allowing individual account registration.
– Increasing the availability of “a-g” resources.
Part III: Tools & Resources
Educating for Careers Conference
March 2, 2014
Tools for Writing A-G Courses
 A-G subject area course criteria
 CTE course criteria
 Course description templates
 A-G course evaluation guidelines
 Sample courses
 Webinars
 UC Curriculum Integration (UCCI) program
 A-G Guide
A-G Subject Area Course Criteria
 WHAT IS IT?
– Course goals, requirements and guidelines for each subject area.
– Written by UC Faculty.
 HOW IT CAN HELP?
– Courses must meet subject-specific criteria to earn “a-g” approval.
– Course submission demonstrates how the course’s content meets
the criteria.
– Read the criteria first!
 WHERE?
– A-G Guide in “Subject Requirements” section:
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/a-g-requirements/index.html.
CTE Course Criteria
 WHAT IS IT?
– Course goals, requirements and guidelines for CTE courses.
– Written by UC Faculty.
 HOW IT CAN HELP?
– CTE courses must meet subject-specific criteria AND CTE criteria to
earn “a-g” approval.
– Course submission demonstrates how course’s content meets the
subject area criteria AND the CTE criteria.
– Read the criteria first!
 WHERE?
– A-G Guide in “Career Technical Education” section:
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/career-technical-education/coursecriteria/index.html
Course Description Templates
 WHAT ARE THEY?
– Paper versions of the online new course submission form.
 HOW IT CAN HELP?
– Learn what subject-specific content information is required for
“a-g” review.
– Prepare new course submissions offline.
 WHERE?
– A-G Guide in “Updating your Course List” section:
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/updating-your-courselist/submitting-courses/course-templates/index.html.
A-G Course Evaluation Guidelines
 WHAT ARE THEY?
– Guidelines and expectations for each component of the new
course submission form.
 HOW IT CAN HELP?
– Assist in preparing curriculum for “a-g” course submission.
– Describes the type of information that is expected to be included
in each section of the submission form.
– Writing guide to completing the new course submission form.
 WHERE?
– A-G Guide in “Updating your Course List” section:
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/updating-your-courselist/submitting-courses/course-evaluation/index.html.
Sample Courses
 WHAT ARE THEY?
– Examples of high-quality and well-written course submissions.
 HOW IT CAN HELP?
– Provides the type and depth of information UC is looking for in
“a-g” course submissions.
– Search by subject area and/or CTE industry sector.
– Should not be duplicated word-for-word in your submission!
 WHERE?
– A-G Course List website: https://doorways.ucop.edu/list.
Webinars
 WHAT ARE THEY?
– The High School Articulation unit hosts free webinars year round
on a variety of topics.
 HOW IT CAN HELP?
– Topics of webinars included:
 Writing A-G Courses for Success
 New Online Course Policy
 New User Training - Updating the A-G Course List
– All webinars are archived.
 WHERE?
– A-G Guide in “Get Help” section:
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/get-help/trainings/index.html.
UC Curriculum Integration (UCCI)
 UC facilitates the development of integrated courses.
– UCCI Institutes focus on specific subject areas and industry sectors.
– Institutes are designed by request. Contact ucci@ucop.edu for more info.
 UC encourages the offering of UCCI courses.
– 30 integrated CTE courses developed at UCCI Institutes.
– Approved in all “a-g” subject areas.
– 82 schools already offering UCCI courses.
 UC supports the teaching of UCCI courses.
– UCCI Teacher Exchange Program (TEP)
 Teachers work with UCCI Teacher Exchange Leaders to tailor curriculum to meet
their needs.
 Fully customized to meet participant needs.
– UCCI Conference – June 14 in Oakland, CA
 For more information: www.ucci.ucop.edu.
A-G Guide
 WHAT IS IT?
– Informational website for everything “a-g”!
 HOW IT CAN HELP?
– Provides information, FAQs, tools and resources on:





A-G subject requirements and course criteria
A-G course list, course submissions and course review
Navigating the Online Update website
Career technical education and integrated CTE courses
Online learning
– Houses many of the tools and resources from this presentation.
 WHERE?
– A-G Guide: http://www.ucop.edu/agguide.
Questions?
 Contact us!
– E-mail: hsupdate@ucop.edu
– Phone: (510) 987-9570