High School Graduate Requirements
At Southern Oregon University, we are test-optional! Our admission decisions are based on a holistic review of all information, both academic and personal, presented in your application.
Applicants should have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and complete the following college preparatory subjects with a C- or better:
- English (4 years)
- All four years should be in preparatory composition and literature with emphasis on and frequent practice in writing expository prose.
- Mathematics (3 years)
- Students interested in attending a State of Oregon Public Higher Education Institution should take at least three years of high school math. The third year could be satisfied by any math course with a primary focus on concepts in algebra, calculus, data science, discrete mathematics, geometry, mathematical analysis, probability, or statistics.
- Prospective students are encouraged to take a fourth math course in their senior year of high school. Those intending to study a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) major or another field for which calculus is required are strongly encouraged to take pre-calculus and, if possible, calculus in high school.
- Science (3 years)
- Must include a year each in two fields of college-preparatory science such as biology, chemistry, physics, or earth and physical science.
- One year of laboratory science is recommended.
- Social Sciences (3 years)
- Complete three years of social studies from such areas as global studies, history, or social studies electives.
Applicants who may not meet minimum requirements are encouraged to submit any or all of the following with their application for admission:
- Letters of recommendation (from academic sources)
- Writing sample
- Resume
- Other supporting materials
Effective March 2020, we have adopted test-optional admissions.
GED Requirements
Students who have earned a GED are not required to submit SAT scores, ACT scores, or high school transcripts.
The date of your GED score makes a difference:
- After 2013: your standard score on each of the four exams must be at least 150, with a minimum total score of 680.
- January 2002 through December 2013: your standard score on each of the five exams must be 410, with an overall average score of at least 550.
- Before January 2002: your standard score on each of the five exams must be at least 40, with an overall average score of at least 58.
Homeschool Requirements
Applications from home-schooled students and students from non-accredited high schools are reviewed holistically. Please provide as many of the following as possible for us to consider:
- Completed SOU application
- Transcripts (high school and college)
- SAT/ACT or SAT II’s
- Essay
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Resume
Second Language Requirement
All B.S., B.F.A., B.A.S., and B.M. degrees require satisfaction of a second language requirement through one of the following paths. B.A. requirements for second language are enumerated separately:
- Complete the equivalent of at least two years of high school second language study
with a grade of C- or better in the final course, or - Complete, through at least the 102 level, a second language at the college level (at
either SOU or as transfer credit), with a grade of C- or better in 102, or - Demonstrate second language, heritage language, or Tribal language proficiency at the
Oregon Department of Education Benchmark 4 (equivalent to the ACTFL novice-high
level).
Contact SOU Admissions
SOU Office of Admissions
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6411 (local)
855.470.3377 (toll-free)
541.552.8403 (fax)
admissions@sou.edu
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