The Advanced Studies Diploma requires twenty-six (26) credits for students entering ninth grade in 2018-2019 and beyond. Of the 26 credits, five (5) must be verified credits as follows: two (2) English, one (1) math, one (1) science, and one (1) social studies.
Advanced Studies Diploma Course Requirements for Students Entering the Ninth Grade in 2018-2019 and Beyond
|
Subject Area |
Standard Credits |
Verified Credits |
Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 2 | N/A |
| Mathematics | 4 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include at least three different course selections from among: algebra I, geometry, algebra II, or other mathematics courses above the level of algebra II. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a mathematics course credit. |
| Laboratory Science | 4 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least three different science disciplines from among: earth sciences, biology, chemistry, or physics or completion of the sequence of science courses required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma and shall include interdisciplinary courses that incorporate Standards of Learning content from multiple academic areas. The board shall approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a science course credit. |
| History and Social Sciences | 4 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include Virginia and U.S. history, Virginia and U.S. government, and two courses in either world history or geography or both. The board shall approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement. |
| World Language | 3 | 0 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include three years of one language or two years of two languages. |
| Health and Physical Education | 2 | 0 | N/A |
| Fine Arts or Career and Technical Ed | 1 | 0 | An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a career and technical credit. |
| Economics & Personal Finance | 1 | 0 | N/A |
| Electives | 3 | 0 | Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives. |
| Total Credits | 26 | 5 |
N/A |
Additional Requirements for Graduation
- AP, Honors, IB, Dual Enrollment, Work-Based Learning, or CTE Credential - Students shall (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course; or (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience, as established by Board guidance on work-based learning; or (iii) earn a career and technical education credential approved by the board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the advanced studies diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.
- Virtual Course - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a non-credit-bearing course or a required or elective credit-bearing course that is offered online.
- First Aid, CPR, and AED Training - Students shall be trained in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), including hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.