College Corner » UC Honors Policy

UC Honors Policy

Understanding the Capped UC GPA
The UC schools only use grades from 10th and 11th grade when calculating the UC GPA. The UC official GPA will only give up to 8 semesters (4 years) of Honors credit, even if a student has taken more than 8 semesters of UC approved Honors classes. In some cases, the most selective UC campuses may calculate an uncapped (unlimited Honors credit) GPA and use it in the selection process and/or for scholarships.

The university limits the amount of UC certified Honors credit students may receive for work completed in grade 10, to no more than 2 units (4 semesters). This means that only 4 semesters of Honors or AP courses will be given the extra point for the UC GPA for courses taken in the sophomore year. If a student does not take 4 semesters of Honors level courses in 10th grade, they can receive the Honors points for those courses in 11th grade.

UC Approved Honors Level Courses
Taft offers the following AP courses:
  • AP Government and Politics: US
  • AP European History
  • AP US History
  • AP World History
  • AP Psychology
  • AP English Language
  • AP English Literature
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Physics
  • AP Spanish Language
  • AP French Language
  • AP Studio Art: 3D (Ceramics)

All AP courses are UC approved Honors level courses.

Taft offers the following UC approved Honors level courses:
  • Honors World History
  • Honors US History
  • Honors American Literature
  • Honors Contemporary Composition
  • Honors Math Analysis
  • Honors Biology
  • Honors Chemistry
  • Honors Spanish 3
  • Honors French 3

For more information on Taft’s UC approved courses, go to: doorways.ucop.edu/list

Factors to Consider when Choosing Honors/AP Level Course
  • Is the course a UC approved Honors level course?
  • Will the course be given an extra grade point in the UC GPA?
  • Is the course in your area of academic strength?
  • Are you prepared academically for the rigor and pace of the course?
  • Are you ready for the experience of more rigorous courses that will prepare you for success in college courses?


Reasons Students May Decide to Take an Honors Course not UC Approved
  • The Taft Honors course is preparation for a higher‐level course in the same discipline. For example, Honors Algebra 2 (not a UC approved Honors level course) is preparation for Honors Math Analysis (a UC approved Honors level course).
  • The course will be recognized as Honors level (more rigorous) by most private universities, including many selective universities. Many selective universities will also award an extra Honors point in the GPA for these courses.
  • Taking the course will show that you took the opportunity to participate in the most rigorous courses. This will help with selectivity at competitive, private universities.

For information about how specific private universities will use Honors level courses in admission selectivity, refer to the admissions section of the school’s website.

How UC Schools Give Credit for College Level Courses
The UC schools will give Honors credit for any college course taken during high school, as long as the course is UC transferable. One semester of a college course is equal to one year of a high school course. Thus, students who have taken one semester of a college course will be given one year of credit in that subject in the admissions process. College courses taken in 10th and 11th grade will be included in the UC GPA calculation and will be subject to the same Honors level course cap as Honors and AP courses.
 
Example: Art 201 (Drawing) at Pierce College will be counted as one year of Visual Performing Art credit for UC schools.

In order to be sure a college class is UC transferable, check that the course has “(UC)” listed next to its name in the course catalog. Check www.assist.org or www.ucop.edu for more information on transferable courses.