Requirements for Undergraduate Admission

Requirements for admission vary among the 16 constituent institutions. All require high school graduation or a high school equivalency certificate, a transcript showing all courses taken and grades received, SAT (or ACT) scores, and an application fee. Most require a list of high school extracurricular activities and a recommendation from a counselor or teacher.

High school students should take the SAT (or ACT) either in their junior year or in the fall of their senior year. Scores are forwarded directly to the admissions officer of the campus applied to by the agency which administers the test. Students unable to pay the fee for the test may request through their high school counselor a waiver.

At its April 2000 meeting, the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina acted to phase in two increases in its minimum course requirements for undergraduate admission. The current requirements continue until fall 2004, when the first increase is phased in: 2 course units of a second language. Then, in fall 2006, the second increase goes into effect: a 4th unit of mathematics. In addition to an institution's own requirements, the University-wide requirements are as follows:

Minimum Course Requirements UNTIL Fall 2004

The following courses will be required for admission until 2004, in addition to an institution's own specific requirements:

-- In English, four course units emphasizing grammar, composition,  and literature;

-- In mathematics, three course units including algebra I, algebra II,  and geometry, or a higher level mathematics course for which  
algebra II is a prerequisite;

-- In science, three course units including -- at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology) -- at least one unit in a  physical science (for example, physical science, chemistry, physics),  and -- at least one laboratory course; and

-- In social studies, two course units including one unit in U.S. history,  but an applicant who does not have the unit in U.S. history may be  admitted on the condition that at least three semester hours in that  subject will be passed by the end of the sophomore year.

-- In addition, it is recommended that prospective students complete at  least two course units in one foreign language, and take one foreign  language course unit and one mathematics course unit in the twelfth  grade.

Minimum Course Requirements for Implementation in 2004

The following courses will be required for admission in 2004 and 2005, in addition to an institution's own specific requirements:

Six course units in language, including
-- four units* in English emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature,     and
-- two units of a language other than English.

Three course units of mathematics, in any of the following combinations:
-- algebra I and II, and geometry,
-- algebra I and II, and one unit beyond algebra II, or
-- integrated math I, II, and III.

It is recommended that prospective students take a mathematics course unit in the twelfth grade.

Three course units in science, including
-- at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology),
-- at least one unit in physical science (for example, physical science,     chemistry, physics), and
-- at least one laboratory course.

Two course units in social studies, including one unit in U.S. history, but an applicant who does not have the unit in U.S. history may be admitted on the condition that at least three semester hours in that subject will be passed by the end of the sophomore year.

Minimum Course Requirements for Implementation in 2006

The following courses will be required for admission in and beyond 2006, in addition to an institution's own specific requirements:

Six course units in language, including
-- four units in English emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature, and
-- two units of a language other than English.

Four course units of mathematics, in any of the following combinations
-- algebra I and II, geometry, and one unit beyond algebra II,
-- algebra I and II, and two units beyond algebra II, or
-- integrated math I, II, and III, and one unit beyond integrated math III.

(The fourth unit of math affects applicants to all institutions except the North Carolina School of the Arts.) It is recommended that prospective students take a mathematics course unit in the twelfth grade.

Three course units in science, including
-- at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology),
-- at least one unit in physical science (for example, physical science,     chemistry, physics), and
-- at least one laboratory course.

Two course units in social studies, including one unit in U.S. history, but an applicant who does not have the unit in U.S. history may be admitted on the condition that at least three semester hours in that subject will be passed by the end of the sophomore year.
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*"Course units" as defined in these requirements may include those high school-level courses taken and passed by an applicant after graduating from high school, as well as those taken while enrolled as a high school student. For some transfer students and students who graduated from high school prior to 1990, special considerations have been made.