CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Find out all you need about core courses. When building this page, I built it by reprinting this material from the ncaa site so you can find it faster. If you want to know more just visit the ncaa website.

To meet the "core-course" requirement:

The core course must be defined as a recognized academic course and qualify for high-school graduation credit in one or a combination of the following areas: English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, computer science, or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy; The course must be considered college preparatory by the high school. College preparatory is defined for these purposes as any course that prepares a student academically to enter a four-year collegiate institution upon graduation from high school.

The course must be taught by a qualified instructor as defined by the appropriate academic authority (e.g., high school, school district or state agency with authority of such matters) and at or above the high school's regular academic level (i.e., remedial, special education or compensatory courses shall not be considered core courses).

Grade Values

The grade values listed below are used in determining your grade-point average in the core courses:

A = 4 quality points B = 3 quality points C = 2 quality points D = 1 quality point To determine the core-course grade-point average, convert each grade earned (including all numerical grades) to this 4.000 scale on an individual course basis. Pluses or minuses may not receive greater or lesser quality points. Your high school's normal practice of weighting honors or advanced courses may be used to compute the quality points awarded and the cumulative grade-point average, provided the quality points are added to each course before calculating the student's grade-point average and not added to a student's cumulative core-course grade-point average. In no event may a student earn more than one additional quality point for an honors or advanced course. Additionally, if a high school weights grades only for the purpose of determining class rank, these courses will not be weighted for NCAA initial-eligibility purposes.

List of Approved Core Courses by High-School

A list of approved core courses is available on the NCAA Clearinghouse Web site.

Questions & Answers About Core-Course Requirements

Q: Can courses taken after my senior year help satisfy core-course requirements?

In Division I, generally only courses completed in Grades 9 through 12 may be considered core courses. Courses taken in summer school after your eighth semester may not be used to satisfy core-course requirements.

A student diagnosed with a disability is permitted to use core courses that were completed before initial full-time enrollment at a collegiate institution. Please contact the NCAA national office for additional information regarding accommodations for students with disabilities.

In Division II, you're permitted to use all core courses completed before initial full-time collegiate enrollment.

Q: Is there a way for me to be immediately eligible in Division I if I didn't complete my core courses in the first eight semesters?

At Division I institutions, if you repeat an entire regular term or academic year of high school, you may use appropriate courses taken during that term or year to fulfill the core-course requirements. However, if the repeated term or year occurs after graduation, the core courses you use must be taken at the high school from which you graduated. If core courses are completed beyond the eighth semester, your initial full-time college enrollment cannot occur until the next academic year. It is permissible to substitute the grades earned in postgraduate high-school work in place of grades attained before graduation, provided the above-mentioned conditions are satisfied.

Q: Can courses taken in the eighth grade satisfy core-course requirements?

Courses taken in the eighth grade cannot satisfy core-course requirements.

Q: How is my core-course GPA calculated?

Your core-course grade-point average may be calculated using your 13 best grades from courses that meet the core-course distribution requirements. Additional core courses (beyond the 13 required) may be used to meet the core-course grade-point average if the distribution requirements are met.

Q: How many different courses must I take to satisfy core-course requirements?

You must present 13 different courses in meeting the core-course requirements. A course repeated in the first eight semesters may be used only once. Further, you may use your best grade in the repeated course in calculating the core-course grade-point average.

Q: What do I need to present if I am in a home-schooling program?

All prospective student-athletes who are home-schooled will need to have their core-course requirements analyzed by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Waiver Committee. Please contact membership services for information regarding home-schooling.

Q: Can I count independent-study and Internet courses in my core-course requirements?

Yes. Independent study, Internet or correspondence courses may be used to satisfy core-course requirements, provided the following conditions are met:

They meet all requirements for a core course;

The instructor and student have access to one another during the duration of the course for the purpose of teaching, evaluating and providing assistance to the student;

Evaluation of the student's work is conducted by the appropriate academic authorities in accordance with the high-school's established academic policies; and

The course is acceptable for any student and is placed on the high-school transcript.

Q: Do pass-fail grades count?

Yes, courses awarded pass-fail grades may be used to satisfy core-curricular requirements. For pass-fail classes the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse shall assign the course the lowest passing grade at the high school for pass-fail classes.

Q: Do I have to successfully complete the core courses used to satisfy the core-course GPA requirement?

Yes. Students entering a Division I college as freshmen in the fall of 1986 or a Division II college in the fall of 1988 and thereafter must have satisfactorily completed all courses used to satisfy core-curriculum requirements. Satisfactory completion is defined as a nonfailing grade (i.e., a grade of "D" or above).

Q: Can college courses count toward core-course requirements?

A college course can satisfy core-course requirements if it is accepted by your high school and the course

Would be accepted for any other student; Is placed on your high-school transcript (Division I only); and Meets all other requirements for a core course.

Q: How are courses taken over two years counted?

A one-year course that is spread over a longer period of time (i.e., two years, three semesters) is considered as one course (e.g., elementary algebra) and would receive a maximum of one core-course credit.

Q: Do preparatory classes count?

No. Effective with the 1993-94 academic year, a course taken to prepare for the first course normally taken to fulfill the progression of core-course requirements (i.e., prealgebra) may not be used as a core course regardless of the course content.

Q: How are core courses determined?

The NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse lists only those courses that qualify as a core course after receiving information provided by your high-school principal. All approved courses appear on the high school's list of approved core courses. You can view a list of approved core courses on the NCAA Clearinghouse Web site. Click on "List of Approved Core Courses" from the General Information page.

Q: How does the NCAA treat courses that are similar in course content?

Some approved core courses may be considered duplicative. That is, the course content of one course is essentially the same as another course, even though the classes have different course titles. If a student has taken two classes that are considered duplicative, he or she will only receive core course credit for one of the classes (typically the course with the higher grade). Students should consult their high school counselor if they have questions about duplicative courses.

Q: Do computer science classes satisfy core-course requirements?

Currently computer science classes may be considered in satisfying core-course requirements. For students first entering an NCAA institution on or after August 1, 2005, computer science courses cannot be used to meet initial-eligibility requirements.

Q: What if I leave high school after my junior year to enter an early admissions program?

You may receive a waiver of the initial-eligibility requirements if you enter an early admissions program (open to students solely on the basis of outstanding academic performance and promise), provided that for the last four semesters in high school, you maintained a cumulative minimum grade-point average of 3.500 (based on a maximum of 4.000), ranked in the top 20 percent of your class and met all other requirements for graduation from high school, and for Division I, the only remaining deficiency is in the core-course area of English (i.e., lacking one year of English).

Q: Can courses for the disabled or handicapped count?

Students with appropriately diagnosed disabilities may use courses for students with disabilities for the purpose of meeting NCAA core-course requirements. Courses for students with disabilities must appear on the high school's list of approved core courses (formerly 48-H) in order for a student to receive NCAA credit for the course. In order to use such courses toward a student's core-course requirements, students must document their disability with the NCAA by submitting documentation supporting the disability. However, no documentation needs to be sent to the NCAA if you have been approved by the ACT or SAT to take a nonstandard test.

Q: Can I count credit-by-exam courses in my core-course requirements?

No. Courses completed through credit-by-exam may not be used to satisfy core-course requirements.

Q: Are vocational courses acceptable?

Traditional vocational courses are not acceptable. These include courses such as agriculture, auto mechanics, accounting and health. However, courses taught using applied approaches to teaching may meet the NCAA standard for a core course.

Q: Does the prohibition against special education, remedial or compensatory courses apply to students with disabilities?

No. In order for courses offered for students with disabilities to be approved, the course must be substantially comparable, qualitatively and quantitatively, as a regular core course offered in that academic area.

Q: Can studies in a foreign country help satisfy core-course requirements?

If you attended a secondary school outside the United States for all or a portion of your ninth through 12th grades, different evaluation procedures must be applied to your international education documents. Write the clearinghouse to request additional application forms or information concerning evaluation of international credentials. Remember, all students with coursework completed outside the United States must have original language documents and certified translations submitted for examination by the clearinghouse.