shsgplan

Texas State Graduation Requirements

3 Graduation Programs

Graduates 2001 and Thereafter

Category	Minimum High School Program	Recommended High School Program	Distinguished Achievement Program
English Language Arts	Four credits English I, II, III, IV 4th credit of English may be: English IV Research/Technical Writing Creative/Imaginative Writing Practical Writing Skills Literary Genres Business Communication Journalism or Concurrent enrollment in a college English course	Four credits English I, II, III, IV 4th credit of English may be: English IV Research/Technical Writing Creative/Imaginative Writing Practical Writing Skills Literary Genres Business Communication Journalism or Concurrent enrollment in a college English course	Four credits English I, II, III, IV 4th credit of English may be: English IV Research/Technical Writing Creative/Imaginative Writing Practical Writing Skills Literary Genres Business Communication Journalism or Concurrent enrollment in a college English course
Mathematics	Three credits To include Algebra I	Three credits Must include Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II	Three credits Must include Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II
Science	Two credits To include one credit of Biology 1, Chemistry 1 or Physics 1	Three credits No more than one from each of these four areas: Integrated Physics and Chemistry Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry Physics, Principles of Technology, AP Physics, or IB Physics	Three credits No more than one from each of these four areas: Integrated Physics and Chemistry Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry Physics, Principles of Technology, AP Physics, or IB Physics
Social Studies	Two and one-half credit Must consist of: World History or World Geography U.S. History U.S. Government (1/2 credit)	Three and one-half credit Must consist of: World History World Geography U.S. History U.S. Government(1/2 credit)	Three and one-half credit Must consist of: World History World Geography U.S. History U.S. Government(1/2 credit)
Academic Elective	One credit World History or World Geography, or Approved science course	none	none
Economics	One-half credit	One-half credit	One-half credit
Languages Other Than English	none	Two credits Must be in the same language	Three Credits Must be in the same language
Health Education	One-half credit Or Health Science Technology	One-half credit Or Health Science Technology	One-half credit Or Health Science Technology

	Minimum	Recommended	Distinguished
Physical Education	One and one-half credit Can substitute Drill team Marching band Cheerleading ROTC Athletics Dance Approved private programs Certain career and technology courses	One and one-half credit Can substitute Drill team Marching band Cheerleading ROTC Athletics Dance Approved private programs Certain career and technology courses	One and one-half credit Can substitute Drill team Marching band Cheerleading ROTC Athletics Dance Approved private programs Certain career and technology courses
Technology Applications	One credit Computer Science I or II Desktop Publishing Digital Graphics/Animation Multimedia Video Technology Web mastering Independent Study In Technology Applications Business Image Management And Multimedia Telecommunications and Networking Business Computer Information Systems I or II Business Computer Programming Computer Applications Technology Systems Communications Graphics Computer Multimedia and Animation Technology	One credit Computer Science I or II Desktop Publishing Digital Graphics/Animation Multimedia Video Technology Web mastering Independent Study In Technology Applications Business Image Management And Multimedia Telecommunications and Networking Business Computer Information Systems I or II Business Computer Programming Computer Applications Technology Systems Communications Graphics Computer Multimedia and Animation Technology	One credit Computer Science I or II Desktop Publishing Digital Graphics/Animation Multimedia Video Technology Web mastering Independent Study In Technology Applications Business Image Management And Multimedia Telecommunications and Networking Business Computer Information Systems I or II Business Computer Programming Computer Applications Technology Systems Communications Graphics Computer Multimedia and Animation Technology
Fine Arts	none	One credit	One credit
Speech	One-half credit Communication Applications Speech Communication Public Speaking Debate, or Oral Interpretation	One-half credit Communication Applications Speech Communication Public Speaking Debate, or Oral Interpretation	One-half credit Communication Applications Speech Communication Public Speaking Debate, or Oral Interpretation
Additional Components	none	Three and One-half credits See following chart for description	Two and One-half credits See following chart for description
Advanced Measures	none	none	Four Measures See following chart for description
Electives	Eight and one-half credits	One credit	One credit
Total Credits	25	25	25

College courses on the approved Dual Credit list will meet the requirement for the High School equivalent course. Some of the courses are offered at SHS others must be taken at the college.

Additional Components Recommended Program: Three and one-half credits Distinguished Achievement Program: Two and one-half credits
Option 1	Math, Science, Elective Math- must be Pre-calculus (Recommended or Distinguished: one credit) Science- one additional credit of science from the following selections: Integrated Physics and Chemistry Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology, Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry, Physics, Principles of Technology, AP Physics, or IB Physics, Environmental Systems, Aquatic Science, Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Scientific Research and Design, Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Microbiology, or Pathology (Recommended or Distinguished: one credit) Elective- (Recommended: one and one-half credit) (Distinguished : one-half credit)
Option 2	Career and Technology: Choose credits in one of the coherent sequence of courses for career and technology preparation. The coherent sequence of courses are listed by program. Drafting- Computer Applications, Engineering Graphics, Architectural Graphics, Research, Design and Development Health Science Technology- Introduction to Health Tech Science, Health Science Technology I, Health Science Technology II Animal Husbandry- Intro. To World of Agriculture Science & Tech./Applied agriculture Science & Technology, Wildlife Recreation & Management/Food Technology, Animal Science/Equine Science, Animal Pre-Lab Horticulture Science- Intro. To World of Agriculture Science & Tech./Applied Agriculture Science & Technology, Wildlife Recreation & Management/Food Technology, Intro. To Horticulture Science/ Landscape Design, Construction & Maintenance, Horticulture Pre-Lab Ag Mechanics- Intro. To World of Agriculture Science & Tech./Applied Agriculture Science & Technology, Introduction to Ag Mechanics/ Ag Metal Fabrication Technology, Ag Mechanics Pre-Lab, Diversified Career Preparation Home Economics- Comprehensive Home Economics, Preparing for Parenting/ Child Development, Food Science and Nutrition/ Food Science Tech., Child Care & Guidance, Management & Services I Administrative Support- Business Computer Information Systems I, Business Computer Information Systems II, Accounting, Administrative Procedures Education Assistant- Keyboarding, Business Computer Information Systems I, Preparing for Parenting/Child Development, Education Assistant Production- Manufacturing Systems, Construction Systems, Building Trades I & II, Home Maintenance and Improvement/ Ag. Structures Technology
Option 3	Academic Specialization- Credits in a specialization consisting of state-approved courses from: Language Arts (including speech, journalism, newspaper), science, social studies, mathematics, languages other than English, fine arts, or technology applications

Advanced Measures

Distinguished Achievement Program

Combination of Four Measures Required

Original Research Project:

Judged by a panel of professionals in the field that is the focus of the project, or conducted under the direction of mentors and reported to an appropriate audience, and must be related to the required curriculum. Can only be used for two of the four advanced measures.

Test Data:

Score of 3 or above on The College Board Advanced Placement Exam

Score of 4 or above on an International Baccalaureate Exam

Score on the PSAT that qualifies a student: as Commended Scholar or higher by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation; as part of the National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. PSAT score may count for only one of the four advanced measures.

College Courses:

A grade of 3.0 or higher on courses that count for college credit, including tech prep programs.

License:

A license awarded by a professional board or association. Can only count for one of the four advanced measures.

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