College Admissions Standards

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education has established a minimum recommended 16-unit core curriculum requirement for admission to all public four-year colleges and universities in Missouri.

These requirements are as follows:

English - Four units, one of which may be speech or debate.  Two units emphasizing composition or writing skills are required.

Mathematics - Three units, Algebra I and higher level course, i.e. Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Calculus, etc.

Social Studies - Three units are required.

Science - Two units are required (not including General Science), one of which must be a laboratory course.

Visual/Performing Arts - One unit (fine arts courses in art and music).

Electives  - Three units, selected from foreign language and/or combinations of the above course (two units of a single foreign language are strongly recommended).

The University of Missouri System approved raising admissions standards by increasing requirements in math, science, and foreign language for incoming freshmen.

The new admissions requirements are as follows:

English - Four units, one of which may be speech or debate.  Two units emphasizing composition or writing skills are required.

Mathematics - Four units are required, Algebra I or higher-level course.  At least one semester of Trigonometry is highly recommended for students who plan to major in engineering or science.

Science - Three units are required (not including General Science), one of which must be a laboratory course.  The three science units must include at least two of the following areas: physical science, biology, physics, chemistry, and earth sciences.

Social Studies - Three units are required.

Fine Arts - One unit, to be taken in art or music, is required.

Foreign Language - Two units of a single foreign language are required.


Note:  Private schools and out-of-state schools set their own admissions standards.  These standards may be different from those at state supported schools.  Consult the catalog of any private or out-of-state school to which you may wish to apply.  Many catalogs are available in the WHS guidance office, or the counselor will obtain the catalogs that are not available.