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Geography/World History Course Requirements
for High School Graduation

August 2002

 


Introduction

To adequately prepare students for the 21st Century, in which communications across national boundaries will grow in both frequency and significance, leaders in education policy, business and other fields have called for states to require students to leave high school with a solid grounding in geography and world history. Listed below are states that include stand-alone courses in one or both of these fields as a requirement for high school graduation.

 

* = No explicit mention of “geography” or “world history”

 

State

Details
Citation

AL

Statute requires “four years of social studies with an emphasis on history, music history, fine arts history, geography, economics and political science.” State department Web site specifies that one year must be of “world history and geography.” Students entering grade 9 in or after the 1999-2000 school year are required to pass a subject-area test in social studies to graduate from high school.

ALA. CODE § 16-6B-2; ALA. ADMIN. CODE r. 290-4-2-.02

 

AK

* Districts set own graduation requirements, but must include three units of credit in social studies (geography or world history not specifically required.)

ALASKA ADMIN. CODE tit. 4, § 06.075

 

AZ

One credit of world history/geography.

ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE R7-2-302

AR

College Preparatory Core Curriculum: One unit of world history

Technical Preparation Core Curriculum: One unit of world history or global studies

Ark. Reg. 005 15 CARR 013

CA

Three courses in social studies, including U.S. history and geography, world history, culture and geography.

CAL. EDUCATION CODE § 51225.3

CO

* High school graduation requirements established by the local district.

CO CONST Art. 9, s 15

CT

* Three credits of social studies.

CONN. GEN. STAT. § 10-221a

DE

* Three credits in social studies. In addition, only those passing state assessments are eligible for high school graduation, beginning in specified future years. “Beginning in 2005 for the graduating class of 2006, the Department shall calculate a diploma index based upon the student's … grade 11 Delaware Student Testing Program performance levels in … social studies.”

DEL. AGENCIES REGS. 14-511, 14-100

DC

One unit world history; 0.5 unit world geography.

D.C MUN. REGS. tit. 5, § 2203

FL

One credit world history, “including a comparative study of the history, doctrines, and objectives of all major political systems;” 0.5 credit economics, which “course shall include a comparative study of the history, doctrines, and objectives of all major economic systems.”

FLA. STAT. ANN. § 1003.43

 

GA

Both diplomas: Three units of social studies required, of which one unit must be in world studies (i.e., world history or world geography). “Systems organized on the quarter system shall add one other one-quarter social studies course from the political science/government area or from the economics or from the international relations area to the Citizenship Education and Principles of Economics/Business/Free Enterprise courses to complete the Carnegie unit requirements.” College preparatory: For world studies requirement, one unit specifically of world history required. Vocational education: No additional coursetaking requirements in this subject area. In addition, the Georgia High School Graduation Tests, first administered in spring of the junior year, include social studies and must be passed to obtain a diploma in the state.

GA. COMP. R. & REGS. r. 160-4-2-.36

HI

* Four credits of social studies.

HI BOARD OF ED. POLICY 4540

ID

Five total credits required, of which two must be in government and one in economics. “Current world affairs and geography will be integrated into all social studies instruction. Courses such as geography, sociology, world affairs and world history may be offered as electives, not to be counted as a social studies requirement.”   

ID. ADMIN. CODE 08.02.03.107

 

IL

* Two years of social studies.

ILL. ADMIN. CODE tit. 23, § 1.440

IN

*Standard diploma: One credit in another social studies course (in addition to three credits in American history/government) or in global economics or consumer economics. Academic honors diploma: Requires one credit in another social studies course “with a major emphasis on economics and geography or world history.” Beginning with the class of 2004, the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) Program will include tests in social studies. Passing high school ISTEP scores are required for high school graduation.

IND. ADMIN. CODE tit. 511, r.  6-7-6.1 and -.5

IA

* Graduation requirements established by local board.

IOWA CODE § 280.14

KS

* Three units of social studies are required, but no explicit requirements for world history/geography.

KAN. ADMIN. REGS.  91-31-21

KY

Minimum diploma requirements: Three units of social studies, which must incorporate U.S. history, economics, government, world civilization and world geography. Commonwealth Diploma: Two units of social studies, including world civilization.

704 KY. ADMIN. REGS. 3:305, -:340

LA

Standard diploma: One unit world history, world geography, or western civilization. BESE Honors Curriculum: World history, world geography or western civilization. TOPS Core Curriculum (GPA of 2.5) and Regents Scholar Certificate of Recognition (GPA of 3.5): world history, western civilization or world geography or European history. All students must also pass the 11th-grade Graduation Exit Examination for the 21st Century (GEE 21) in social studies.

Source: Louisiana Department of Education Web site: http://www.doe.state.la.us/DOE/Assessment/comparison.pdf ; http://www.doe.state.la.us/DOE/Assessment/graduation%20req.pdf

ME

*Two units of social studies and history are required, but no explicit requirements for world history/geography. “One credit in social studies…, which may include instruction in economics, geography, political science, history, government, sociology, anthropology and psychology.”

ME. REV. STAT. ANN. Tit. 20, § 4722; CODE ME. R. § 05-071-127

MD

One credit in world history.

MD. REGS. CODE tit. 13A, § 13A.03.02.03

 

MI

* Graduation requirements established by local board. Starting with the class of 2000, 11th graders are required to take state assessments in social studies. However, passing the state subject-area assessments does not determine high school graduation, but results in subject-area endorsements for all subject-area tests passed.

MICH. COMP. LAWS § 380.1279, § 388.1704a

MN

Forty-eight high school content standards exist across 10 learning areas. Every student must complete 24 content standards to be eligible for high school graduation, including two content standards from “Learning Area Five, Inquiry” which includes cultural analysis components, and four content standards from “Learning Area Seven, People and Cultures,” which includes “diverse perspectives” and “human geography” components.

MINN. R. 3501.0330, 3501.0445, 3501.0447

MS

Starting with the Class of 2002, all students must take one unit of world history as part of the three-unit social studies requirement for high school graduation.

CODE OF MS. RULES 36-000-069

NV

*Standard diploma: No specific requirement. * Advanced diploma: One unit of social studies required in addition to two units in American government and history, but unit not specifically world history/geography oriented.

NEV. ADMIN. CODE ch. 389,  § 663 and § 664

 

NH

* One unit of a “social studies elective” is required in addition to a unit of United States/New Hampshire history and government, but elective not required to be world history/geography.

N.H. CODE ADMIN. R. ANN. Ed. 306.23

NM

Three units in social studies, which must include world geography and history. High school exit exam includes social studies subtest.

§ 22-2-8.4, N.M. ADMIN. CODE tit. 6, § 6.30.2.10

NY

Course requirements for Regents or local diploma for students first entering 9th grade prior to the 2001-02 school year as well as students first entering 9th grade in 2001: 4 units of social studies. Students who first enter 9th grade in September 2000 or later: any student who attains a score of at least 85 on the Regents exam in global history and geography and meets other requirements may receive one unit of credit.

Assessment requirements: “All students shall demonstrate attainment of the New York State learning standards.” For Regents or local diploma for students first entering 9th grade in September 1998 and prior to September 2000: passing the Regents examination in global studies. (A score of 65 is passing for Regents diploma; score of 55-64 may be determined by local school to be passing for local diploma.) For all students who first enter 9th grade in September 2000 or later: score of at least 65 on global history and geography Regents exam. “For students first entering grade 9 in the 2000-01 school year and before, the principal shall review the transcript of each student first entering a New York State school during grade 9 or 10 to determine whether or not the student has adequate preparation in social studies to take the Regents Competency Test in global studies. The principal may exempt from the Regents Competency Test in global studies set forth in clause (i)(e) of this paragraph any such student determined to lack adequate preparation in social studies. This provision shall not apply to students first entering grade 9 in the 2001-02 school year and thereafter” (Regs. 100.5). Students working toward a Regents diploma and entering 9th grade in the 2000-01 school year must pass Regents exam in global studies.

Course requirements for students for Regents diploma for students first entering 9th grade in the 2001-02 school year and subsequent years: 4 units of social studies.

Note: Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2001-02 academic year and thereafter, the local diploma is no longer available. The diplomas available in the state are the Regents diploma, the Regents diploma with an advanced designation, the state high school equivalency diploma, and the high school Individualized Education Program (IEP) diploma.

N.Y. COMP. CODES R. & REGS. tit.8, §  100.5

NC

* Three course units in social studies and passing score on competency tests. Effective with students entering 9th grade for the first time in the 2000-01 school year, North Carolina will offer four diplomas: career prep, college tech prep, and college/university prep and occupational prep. The first three diplomas all require three credits of social studies, of which one must be world studies. The exit exam which will be required for high school graduation starting with the class of 2005 has a social studies section that “[includes] U.S. history and economic, legal and political systems.”

N.C. ADMIN. CODE tit. 16, r.  6D.0503

ND

* Graduation requirements determined by local districts.

N.D. ADMIN. CODE § 67-06-03-01

OH

* Three units of social studies. High school exit exam includes grade 10 social studies section.

OHIO REV. CODE ANN. § 3313.603, 3301.0710

OK

Standard diploma: Three units of social studies, which must include one-half to one unit from the following: “World History, Geography, Economics, Anthropology, or other social studies courses with content and/or rigor equal to or above United States History, United States Government, and Oklahoma History.” Certificate of distinction: Four units in social studies. § 11-103.6b requires social studies curriculum and textbooks to reflect American diversity.

OKLA. STAT. tit. 70, § 11-103.6, § 11-103.6b, 11-103.6d

OR

Standard diploma: Three social sciences credits (must include geography.) Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM): Although first available in the 1998-99 school year, the state performance standards for performance on the state assessment in social science will not be implemented until the 2003-04 school year. The CIM is a series of content- and performance-based assessments “benchmarked to mastery levels at approximately grades… 10. The assessment methods shall include work samples and tests and may include portfolios.” Requirements are established by state and local standards, and must “ensure that student assessment is based on academic content standards in … geography….” The department was required to develop and implement a CIM assessment in “history, geography, economics and civics” by the 1998-99 school year. Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM): District boards will begin awarding the CAM in the 2006-07 school year. Among other requirements, students must “[m]eet the CIM [Certificate of Initial Mastery] work sample requirements or the CIM knowledge and skills test in … the social sciences.”

Alternative certificate: “Students who do not receive a Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) as defined in OAR 581-022-1110, Certificate of Initial Mastery Requirements, shall, upon graduation or upon request when exiting high school without a diploma, receive from the school district a Certificate of Achievement that represents the student's progress toward achieving CIM performance standards in each applicable content area.”

Note: The CAM will not be required to obtain a standard diploma. Definitions of the diploma, CIM and CAM are in Regs. 581-022-0102.

OR. REV. STAT. § 329.447, § 329.465, § 329.485;

OR. ADMIN. R.  581-022-1110, -1115, -1120, -1130.

 

PR

* Exit exams required for high school graduation. No specific mention of social studies.

P.R. LAWS ANN. tit. 18, § 44; § 392b

RI

* Two units of social science/history required.

R.I. CODE R. 08 050 001

SC

* One unit of “Other Social Studies” (in addition to credits in U.S. history and government, the Constitution and economics).

43 S.C. CODE ANN. REGS . 43-234, 43-259

SD

Three units of social studies, of which one-half unit must be geography.

S.D. ADMIN. R.  24:03:06:06.01

TN

Students must complete the core curriculum, as well as either the university preparation curriculum or the technical preparation curriculum. Three units of social studies required for core curriculum, and must include world history/world geography.

TENN. COMP. R. & REGS. tit. 0520-1-3-.06

TX

Minimum diploma: Of 2.5 credits of social studies required, one credit must be in world history or world geography. Students must also complete one credit of an academic elective, which must be from world history studies, world geography studies, or a state board-approved science course. Recommended high school program and Distinguished Achievement high school program: 3.5 credits of social studies required, including one credit of world history studies and one credit of world geography studies, as well as academic elective as defined above. Passage of exit exam in social studies required for high school graduation.

19 TEX. ADMIN. CODE § 74.11, § 74.42, § 74.43, § 74.44; TEX. EDUC. CODE ANN. § 39.025

UT

Three units required, of which there must be 0.5 unit Geography for Life, 0.5 unit World Civilizations, and 0.5 elective social studies class.

UTAH ADMIN. CODE 277-700-6

VT

* Standard diploma: Three years history and the social sciences. * Governor’s diploma: Students must earn at least 3 on Advanced Placement (AP) exam in U.S. and European history, comparative government and politics, or U.S. government and politics, or 560 on SAT II test in world or American history. *Governor’s diploma with distinction: Earn at least 4 on an AP social studies test or at least 610 on SAT II social studies test.

VT. CODE R. 22-000-003, -030

VA

Beginning with the 9th-grade class of 1998-99: Standard diploma: One world history/geography course. Advanced studies diploma: Two world history/geography courses. In addition, students must take the Standards of Learning (SOL) end-of-course test(s) that correspond to the content. Such tests are World History: 1000 A.D. to the Present and World Geography.

8 VA. ADMIN. CODE 20-131-50

WA

One credit of Contemporary World History, Geography and Problems. Students entering 9th grade after July 1, 2004, must complete 2.5 credits of social studies which must include study in contemporary world history, geography and problems, as well as demonstrate competence in this area through a locally determined assessment. The class of 2008 also will be required to earn a Certificate of Mastery. The state board may require a passing score on the state social studies assessment to earn the Certificate of Mastery or to obtain an endorsement on the high school transcript.

WASH. ADMIN. CODE § 180-51-060, -061, -063

WV

Three units of social studies, comprised of (1) The World: To the Age of Exploration (1500 A.D.); (2) The Emergence of the U.S. into the World (1500-1900 A.D.); and (3) The U.S. and the World: 20th Century.

W. VA. CODE ST. R. tit. 126,  § 126-30-2

WI

* Three credits of social studies are required, including state and local government. In addition, every local board was required to adopt academic standards in geography and history by August 1, 1998; every charter school was required to adopt academic standards in geography and history by January 1, 2000, or by January 1 of the first school year of operation, whichever is later. Every school board or charter school operator serving high school students is required to adopt a high school graduation examination to determine whether students have mastered the academic standards adopted by the board or charter school operator. If the board or charter school operator adopts the state student academic standards, the school board or charter school operator may use the department-developed high school exit exam. Statute requires every school board and charter school operator to approve a written policy by September 1, 2002, specifying criteria for high school graduation

WIS. STAT. § 118.30, § 118.33

WY

* Three years of social studies required, “including history, American government and economic systems and institutions” or “successful performance on competency-based equivalency examinations.” The class of 2005 will be required as a condition of high school graduation to demonstrate proficiency on the uniform student content and performance standards in social studies.

WYO. STAT. ANN. § 21-2-304, WY. RULES 005-000-031

 

The following states do not require a course in world history/geography, but implicitly require that social studies courses include instruction in these subjects:

 

State

Details
Citation

MA

* Graduation contingent upon meeting 10th-grade competencies in various subjects, including “history and social science,” as measured by state assessments. Section specifies that the standards, on which competency determinations must be based, must “be designed to inculcate respect for the cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of the commonwealth and for the contributions made by diverse cultural, ethnic and racial groups to the life of the commonwealth.” Adds that state board may include in the standards “an awareness of global education and geography.” Local boards determine all remaining requirements.

MASS ANN. LAWS ch. 69, § 1D.

 

MO

*Standard diploma: 2 units of social studies. * College Preparatory Studies Certificate (CPSC): 3 units of social studies. Local boards are required to adopt graduation requirements that at least meet the state minimum graduation requirements. According to “Graduation Requirements for Students in Missouri’s Public Schools,” posted to the Department of Education Web site, courses must “enable students to master important knowledge and skills in the areas of civic knowledge and responsibility; economic systems and functions; governmental functions; geography; world history; and American history.”

Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Web site: http://www.dese.state.mo.us/divimprove/sia/graduat.htm

MT

* Two units of social studies. However, courses must enable students to meet state content and performance standards, which address world political systems and societies.

MONT. ADMIN. R.  10.55.905

NE

Regulations state that 80 of the minimum of 200 credit hours required for graduation be from the core curriculum prescribed by the state board.  However, 12th-grade standards address world geography and history.

NEB. REV. STAT. ANN. § 79-729, NEB. ADMIN. R. & REGS.,  tit. 94, ch. 4

NJ

Graduation requirements are set by local boards, however, requirements must include any graduation standards established by the commissioner of education. The state board has established content-area standards in world history and geography for grades 11-12 that “define what all students should know and be able to do by the end of their public school education;” standards require students by end of grade 12 to have acquired knowledge and analytical skills in geography and world history.

N.J. STAT. ANN. § 18A:7C-2; N.J. ADMIN. CODE tit. 6A, § 6A:8-5.1

PA

Requirements are set by local boards, but must include culminating project and local assessments linked to the state academic standards, which for grades 1-12 include geography and world history. However, social studies is not an area required to be tested by state or local assessments.

22 PA. CODE §  4.24

 

 

Compiled by Jennifer Dounay, policy analyst, ECS Information Clearinghouse, phone: 303.299-3689, e-mail: jdounay@ecs.org

 

 

© Copyright 2002 by the Education Commission of the States (ECS). All rights reserved.

 

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