What You Need to Know about UC
A-G Course Submission Process
Nina Costales
High School Articulation
University of California | Office of the President
4th Annual Career Technical Education Conference
Santa Clara County Office of Education, September 27, 2012
Overview
Part 1: The A-G Subject Requirements
 The “a-g” course pattern
 New English and math course criteria
Part 2: Updating Your A-G Course List
 Course submission timeline
 Changes for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 update cycles
 Annual course list update check-list
Part 3: Career Technical Education (CTE)
 UC and CTE: How far we have come
 CTE courses by subject area
Part 4: Online Learning
 New online course policy
 Online courses and the 2012-13 year
Part 5: Ongoing Initiatives and Projects in High School Articulation
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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 your course
list, Career Technical Education (CTE), and online learning.
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PART 1: The A-G Subject
Requirements
4th Annual Career Technical Education Conference
Santa Clara County Office of Education, September 27, 2012
Purpose of Articulation
 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.
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The A-G Course Pattern
Subject requirement
Required
# of years Criteria
2 years
1 year of world history AND 1 year of U.S. history, or ½
year of U.S. history and ½ year of government.
4 years
Includes regular writing, reading of classic and modern
literature, and practice with listening and speaking.
3 years
Including the topics covered in elementary and
advanced algebra and 2- and 3-dimensional geometry.
2 years
Courses in at least 2 of the 3 disciplines of biology,
chemistry, and physics.
History/social science (“a”)
English (“b”)
Mathematics (“c”)
Laboratory science (“d”)
Language other than English (“e”)
The same language other than English.
2 years
1 year
Chosen from dance, drama/theater, music, or the
visual arts.
1 year
An “a-f” course beyond those used to satisfy the
requirement OR course approved as “g” elective.
Visual and performing arts (“f”)
College-preparatory elective (“g”)
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New English (“b”) Course Criteria
 BOARS approved new English course criteria in Fall 2011.
 Changes in course criteria include:
– Incorporation of the California-adopted Common Core Standards.
 Address all Common Core College and Career Readiness
Anchor Standards in Reading, Writing, Listening and
Speaking.
– Addition of listening and speaking components.
 Practice speaking in large and small groups.
 Develops critical listening skills.
 Effective for new English courses submitted for the
2012-13 year.
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New Math (“c”) Course Criteria
 BOARS approved new math course criteria in Fall 2011.
 Changes in course criteria include:
– Incorporation of the California-adopted Common Core Standards.
 Address 8 Standards of Mathematical Practice.
 Incorporate into key assignments, instructional methods, and
assessments.
– Focus on learning to absorb major ideas and principles.
 Not treating math content as a check-list.
– Geometry requirement.
 Students applying during fall 2014 must complete a Geometry course or
an appropriate integrated sequence with a grade of C or better.
 Higher-level courses will no longer validate the omission of Geometry.
 Effective for new math courses submitted for the 2012-13 year.
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PART 2: Updating Your A-G
Course List
4th Annual Career Technical Education Conference
Santa Clara County Office of Education, September 27, 2012
Update Cycle at a Glance
2011-12 Update History
 23,436 = Total number of courses submitted.
– 9,390 = Total number of new courses submitted.
– 8,500 = Number of courses received during the last 2 weeks of cycle.
2012-13 Update Cycle Preliminary Numbers
 Over 20,000 = Total number of courses submitted.
– 8,000 = Number of courses received during the last 2 weeks of cycle
 6,996 received the last week of the official update cycle.
 Begin updating your course list early for the 2013-14 cycle!
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2012-13 Course Submission Timeline
New update
cycle opens on
February 1,
2012
Submit new
courses and
other course
list updates
New courses
are reviewed
within 4-6
weeks of
submission
Update cycle
closed on
Sunday,
September 16,
2012
Resubmissions
are accepted
through
January 15,
2013
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Changes during the 2012-13 Update Cycle
 New courses submitted within the last 2 weeks of the
update cycle:
– May not be approved in time for completing the UC and CSU
applications.
– Will only have TWO opportunities to resubmit prior to the January
15, 2013 resubmission deadline.
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Changes for the 2013-14 Update Cycle
 All new courses limited to TWO opportunities to resubmit
prior to the January resubmission deadline.
– Courses not approved after two resubmissions must be
resubmitted as a new course.
 New courses submitted within the last 2 weeks of the
update cycle may not be approved in time for completing
the UC and CSU applications.
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Annual Course List Update Check-list
1) Verify demographic information.
2) Submit new courses for “a-g” approval.
3) Revise existing courses.
4) Track un-submitted, submitted, and reviewed courses.
5) Check course list for accuracy.
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Step #1: Verifying Demographic Information
 This submission publishes
the current year’s list on the
“a-g” Course List website.
 Must be submitted prior to
other list updates.
 Once submitted, any
changes are immediately
updated on the list.
 Can be updated and
resubmitted throughout the
update cycle.
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Step #2: Submitting New Courses
 Use the “New Course” section when:
–
–
–
–
–
Adding a brand new course.
Adding courses previously approved by UC.
Changing the approved subject area of a course.
Adding the UC honors weight to an existing course.
Lengthening a course from a semester-long (0.5 units) to a
yearlong course (1.0 unit).
– Making significant content changes to a pre-existing, approved
course.
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Previously Approved Courses
 Courses defined as previously approved are:
– Courses granted program status, such as AP, IB, UCCI, CSU
EAP, and ROP courses.
– Courses approved at another school within the same district.
– Courses removed within the last 3 years that are being reinstated.
– UC-approved online courses from an online course publisher or
school.
– Courses modeled after others from a school outside the district.
 Subject-specific course content description is not required.
– Exception: courses modeled after others from outside the district.
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Required Information for New Courses














Teacher contact
Course title
Transcript abbreviations and/or course codes
Subject area and category
Grade level(s)
Unit value/length of course
Brief course or catalog description
Pre- and/or co-requisites
Textbooks and supplemental instructional materials
Course purpose*
Course outline*
Key assignments*
Instructional strategies*
Assessment methods*
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Tools for Course Development and Submission
 A-G subject area course criteria
– The goals, requirements, and guidelines of each requirement.
– Available on “a-g” Guide in “Subject Requirements” section.
 Course description templates
– Paper versions of the online new course submission form.
– Available on “a-g” Guide in “Updating Course List” section.
 Sample courses
– Examples of exceptional submissions.
– Use the search feature to locate these designated sample course
descriptions.
– Available on “a-g” Course List website.
 Course evaluation rubrics
– Provides the criteria and explanations for each component of the new
course template.
– Available on “a-g” Guide in “Updating Course List” section.
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Step #3: Revise Existing Courses
 Revisions are defined as changes in:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Course title
Transcript abbreviation
Course code
Schools associated with a course (districts only)
Category
Grade level
Shortening the length of a course from yearlong (1.0 unit) to
semester-long (0.5 units)
– Removing the UC honors status
– Deleting a course
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Step #4: Track Course Submissions
 “In Progress” section
– See which courses have not been submitted to UC.
 “In Review” section
– Submitted courses and those under review.
 “Results” section
– Courses that have been reviewed and include the analyst’s
comments.
 “Find Submission” section
– Search for past and current course submissions.
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Step #5: Course List Accuracy
 Errors in your course list can disadvantage prospective UC
and CSU applicants.
– Course lists are used to verify the accuracy of a student’s selfreported coursework.
 If a course is left off the list, students may not receive the “a-g”
subject credit they deserve.
– Course lists are used to evaluate how a student took advantage
of the academic opportunities available during a given year.
 All courses on a list for a given year are assumed to have been
offered and taught that year.
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PART 3: Career Technical
Education (CTE)
4th Annual Career Technical Education Conference
Santa Clara County Office of Education, September 27, 2012
Misconceptions of UC and CTE
 Some of the common misconceptions are:
– UC does not approve CTE courses at all.
– UC only approves CTE courses in the college-preparatory
elective (“g”) subject area.
– Identifying a course as CTE in a submission will decrease the
chance a course will be approved.
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UC and CTE: How Far We Have Come
 In 2001, UC had approved
258 CTE courses.
 By the end of 2011, UC had
approved 10,832 CTE
courses.
– 9,105 CTE courses offered at
public high schools.
– 1,727 CTE courses offered at
private high schools.
12000
10,832
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
258
0
2001
2011
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UC and CTE Milestones
 2003: ROPs granted program status and “a-g” course lists
established.
 2006: CIP Grants became available.
 2008: CTE course criteria developed by UC Faculty.
 2010: Inception of the UCCI Institutes.
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CTE Courses by A-G Subject Area
“a-g” Subject Area
# of UC-approved CTE
Courses
History/social science (“a”)
54
English (“b”)
19
Mathematics (“c”)
15
Laboratory science (“d”)
1469
Language other than English (“e”)
459
Visual and performing arts (“f”)
4612
College-preparatory elective (“g”)
3351
A-G Courses by CTE Industry
Sector
CTE Industry Sector
# of UC-approved CTE
Courses
Agriculture and Natural Resources
1389
Arts, Media and Entertainment
3775
Building Trades and Construction
Education, Child Development and Family Services
Energy and Utilities
7
169
4
Engineering and Design
520
Fashion and Interior Design
57
A-G Courses by CTE Industry
Sector
CTE Industry Sector
# of UC-approved CTE
Courses
Health Science and Medical Technology
866
Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation
58
Information Technology
508
Manufacturing and Product Development
83
Marketing, Sales and Services
296
Public Services
543
Transportation
7
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")
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A-G Subject Area and CTE Course Criteria
 Each subject area has its own specific criteria covering:
– The intent, goals and objectives of the requirement.
– Course requirements and guidelines.
 All CTE courses must meet general CTE and subjectspecific course criteria.
Available on the “a-g” Guide in the Subject Requirements
section at www.ucop.edu/agGuide.
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CTE Course Criteria
 Provides a high-quality, challenging curricula that uses and
advances concepts and skills in the “a-g” subject areas.
 Includes opportunities to develop knowledge of tools,
processes and materials; to engage in problem-solving
and decision-making; and to explain what one is doing and
why.
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CTE Course Criteria
 Integrates academic knowledge with technical and
occupational knowledge.
 Connects closely with the academic curriculum and reads
as both an academic and CTE course.
 Shows the integration of academic and technical concepts
and skills in all aspects of the course.
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Core Academic vs. Elective Subject Area
 Advantages of approval in the “a-f” subject areas:
– Stronger academics.
– Satisfies “a-f” subject requirement OR the elective (“g”) subject
requirement.
– Open to ninth and tenth graders.
 Advantages of approval in the “g” subject area:
– Credentialed or certified to teach only in this subject area.
Before submitting in a subject area, verify that your course
meets that subject area’s course criteria
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Sample Courses
 Examples of exceptional submissions to assist in the
development and submission process.
 Located at https://doorways.ucop.edu/list.
 Search for sample course descriptions by subject area or
CTE industry sectors.
 Developed UCCI courses are available on the UCCI
website (www.ucop.edu/ucci).
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How to Find a Sample Course
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How to Find a Sample Course
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How to Find a Sample Course
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How to Find a Sample Course
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How to Find a Sample Course
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Course Description Templates
 Helpful guides when preparing new courses for
submission to UC.
 Provides the type of course information required for all
new submissions.
 Two types of templates:
– General course information
– Subject-specific course content
Available on the “a-g” Guide in the New Course section at
www.ucop.edu/a-gGuide.
41
Course Evaluation Rubric
 Standardized rubric used during course evaluation.
 Provides the criteria and suggestions for each component
of the new course template.
 Subject-specific and CTE rubrics coming soon!
Available soon on the “a-g” Guide in New Course section
www.ucop.edu/agGuide
42
PART 4: Online Learning
4th Annual Career Technical Education Conference
Santa Clara County Office of Education, September 27, 2012
New Online Course Policy
 BOARS approved revised online policy in May 2012.
 Effective for online courses:
– Developed by an online course publisher and online school.
– Submitted during the 2013-14 course list update cycle.
– Completed during the 2013-14 academic year.
 Online courses are approved in 2 steps:
1. Certification by California Learning Resource Network (CLRN).


Use iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses.
Use California Content and Common Core Standards.
2. Review by UC for final “a-g” approval.

Use “a-g” and subject-specific course criteria.
44
Other New Policy Highlights
 Principal certification for non-UC-approved online courses.
– Not acceptable for online courses completed in 2013-14 year and beyond.
 Online courses approved for 3-year term.
– Responsibility of online course publisher and online school to resubmit
courses to CLRN and UC every 3 years.
 Expectations of institutions offering online courses.
– Schools offering online courses are required to meet institutional
requirements.
 Online course publisher vs. online school.
– Online course publishers develop their own curriculum and sell or license
their online courses for delivery by a teacher within the high school or district.
– Online school is a credit- or diploma-granting institution that offers courses
through Internet-based methods, with time and/or distance separating the
teacher and learner.
45
Online Courses and the 2012-13 Year
 Existing, UC-approved online courses approved through
the end of the 2013-14 year.
– Approval for 2014-15 year (and beyond) based on publisher or
online school receiving approval with new course review process.
 Continue to review new online courses from previously
approved online course providers.
– Not reviewing any new online provider applications.
 Principal certification process acceptable through the end
of the 2012-13 year.
– Cannot be used for online courses in the laboratory science and
visual and performing arts subject areas.
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PART 5: Initiatives and Projects in
High School Articulation
4th Annual Career Technical Education Conference
Santa Clara County Office of Education, September 27, 2012
UC Curriculum Integration (UCCI) Institutes
 UCCI Institutes expand UC’s CTE vision to encourage collaborative,
innovative course design.
 Main goals of the Institutes are to bring together educators from
across the state to:
– Create a culture of collaboration and community devoted to expanding the
opportunities for applied learning through the integration of academic and
career technical education content;
– Develop the frameworks for model integrated courses that have UC “a-g”
approval and that high schools throughout California can adopt; and
– Introduce teachers to the key concepts of integrated course design.
 17 UCCI courses have been developed and approved in one of the “af” subject areas.
– Ex: Business Algebra, Language Takes the Stage, Green Up and Go!
 For more information: www.ucop.edu/ucci
48
Community College A-G Course Lists
 Course lists available for the 112 California community
colleges.
– Accessible on the “a-g” Course List website:
https://doorways.ucop.edu/list
 Used to determine the college courses that satisfy each
subject requirement.
 These lists are a work in progress.
 This work was made possible with financial support from
the California Department of Education.
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New A-G Guide Website
 Restructured and rewritten to be more user friendly and
accessible.
 Tutorials to assist in the “a-g” course submission process.
 Online applications for new schools and programs.
 Course development tools for “a-g” and CTE courses.
 Comprehensive section on UC’s online course policy.
 New URL: www.ucop.edu/agGuide
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Contact Us
 High School Articulation Unit
hsupdate@ucop.edu
 UC Undergraduate Admissions
askuc@ucop.edu
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