ABOR Course Competencies
All first-year and transfer applicants under age 22 must satisfactorily complete the Arizona Board of Regents’ course work competencies. *Refer to the table below for the course work competency requirements and for specific scores and/or courses needed. SAT/ACT scores are not required for general admission to the University, merit scholarship eligibility, or admission to our more selective programs such as the Honors College. If a student chooses to submit official SAT/ACT scores, they may be used to assist with class placement at orientation or to help fulfill Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) course competencies as shown below.
| High School Competency Requirements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject areas | Arizona Board of Regents' requirements | or ACT scores | or SAT score | or College course work to make up deficiencies |
| English Composition Literature 4 units/years composition or literature |
English I English II English III English IV |
English sub score of 21 or above |
SAT Reasoning Test: |
One 3-credit English course |
| Mathematics 4 units/years |
Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Advanced Math for which Algebra II is a prerequisite |
Math sub score of 24 or above | SAT Reasoning Test: Math score of 540 or above pre-March 2016; or 570 or above March 2016 or later |
One 3-credit course at the college algebra level or higher |
| Laboratory Science 3 units/years |
One unit from any three of the following: biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, integrated lab science (may include advanced study in one area) | Natural science sub score of 20 or above (Test scores may be used to demonstrate competency in one (1) science only) |
SAT Subject Test scores: chemistry—600 or above; biology—590 or above; physics—620 or above |
Three 4-credit lab science courses (only two may be in the same field) |
| Social Science 2 units/years |
One unit of American history; one additional unit from: (European/world history, economics, sociology, geography, government, psychology, anthropology) | Equivalent not available | SAT Subject Test scores: American history/social studies: 560 or above; European/world culture: 580 or above |
One 3-credit American history course and one 3-credit social science course |
| Second language 2 units/years |
Two units of the same language | Attain a minimum score on a national standardized language test, such as AP or CLEP Examination scores; or earn certified placement into third college-level semester of higher based on an exam given by an accredited institution of higher education; or other forms of verification are available, please call 520.621.3237 | One year of study in the same language; includes American Sign Language | |
| Fine Arts 1 unit/year or CTE Course |
One unit of fine arts or any combination of two semesters of high school fine arts | N/A | N/A | One 3-credit fine arts class |
| Career & Technical Education (CTE) Courses 1 unit/year or Fine Arts Course | Any unit of CTE or any combination of two semesters in the same CTE program (approved by the Arizona Dept. of Education) | N/A | N/A | one 3-credit CTE course (approved by the Arizona Dept. of Education) |
To make up any course work deficiencies with transferable college courses, see the right-hand column in the table. If you have met a subject area in high school, you do not need to satisfy college course work requirements in that area for admission purposes.
Applicants must have an un-weighted overall grade point average of 2.0 (A=4.0) in each subject area and may not have more than two deficiencies. Students may not have deficiencies in both math and laboratory science or in the same subject area.
*Academic aptitude as demonstrated by course work competency requirements is one of many factors considered in the review of an application.