Should I take a world language in high school?
While the Georgia Department of Education no longer requires students to complete two units of a world (foreign) language for high school graduation, the University System of Georgia does require the completion of two units of the same world language, two units of American Sign Language, or two units of approved Computer Science courses with a coding/programming focus.
If I have taken a unit of world language in middle school, can it count towards satisfying the University System of Georgia’s Requirements for High School Curriculum (RHSC)?
Yes, world language units taken in middle school may count towards satisfying the USG’s RHSC. Students who have taken world language in middle school should ensure that their transcript reflects the credit earned in middle school. Current APS Board Policy for students beginning 9th grade in 2013-2014 and later, does allow the middle school world language credit to count toward the APS high requirement; however, the grades are not to be factored into the high school GPA. Students who began 9th grade before 2013-2014, APS Board Policy only permits those high school credits to count as elective credit in high school. (See IHF (6) - 2 R (1))
What does current APS Board Policy state regarding high school credit earned in middle school?
According to Board Policy IHF (6) - 2 R (1) for students entering 9th grade 2013-2014 and thereafter:
The unit(s) earned in middle school shall be posted on the high school transcript, but grades for these courses shall not be used to calculate grade-point averages for purposes of class rank or HOPE scholarship eligibility. Unit credits earned at the middle school may be used to exempt core course requirements, and students may take accelerated course work in those content areas as appropriate based upon the student’s graduation plan.
Transcripts shall reflect the middle school course work and grades of students who transfer from another state or country which allows 8th grade credits to count toward graduation. However, middle school grades shall not be used to calculate grade-point averages for purposes of class rank or HOPE scholarship eligibility.
Which computer science courses can count towards satisfying the world (foreign) language/American Sign Language/Computer Science requirement?
Only those computer science courses with an emphasis on coding and programming may satisfy this area of the RHSC. The list of approved courses is below:
If I take one unit of a world (foreign) language and one unit of computer science, will I have satisfied the requirement?
No, students must successfully complete two units of the same world language, or two units of American Sign Language, or two units of approved computer science courses.
If I take two approved computer science courses to satisfy the World (Foreign) Language/American Sign Language/Computer Science requirement, can I also use one of those computer science courses to satisfy the 4th science requirement?
No, an approved computer science course may only be used towards the science requirement or the Foreign Language/American Sign Language/Computer Science requirement. One course may not be used to satisfy two RHSC requirements.
If I have two units of a language for native speakers, will those units satisfy the USG’s RHSC world (foreign) language requirement?
Yes, two units of a language (not English) for native speakers may satisfy the USG’s RHSC world (foreign) language requirement provided those two units are in the same language.
For more information regarding USG's requirements, please go to http://www.usg.edu/assets/student_affairs/documents/Staying_on_Course.pdf