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The specific courses each RCHS student will take during their two years to earn a high school diploma while accumulating college credits ultimately depends on each individual student's academic skills and career goals. However, students will not be allowed to select their courses without academic advisement. Students must first follow the path that leads to high school diploma. A student must enroll each semester through an RCHS academic advisor. They will review the student's academic record to identify the courses the student should take the next semester and for the remainder of time at RCHS.

In addition to earning a high school diploma, RCHS students will work to complete the Dallas County Community College District core curriculum. This curriculum adheres to the state requirement for every higher education institution to offer a core curriculum of 42-48 credit hours that meets the goals outlined below. When a student successfully finishes a college's core curriculum, it is transferable to any other Texas state higher education institution. In other words, a student who completes the core curriculum at Richland College can transfer to any other Texas state college or university without being required to take any of that institution's core courses.

The following chart compares high school graduation requirements for the "Recommended" and "Distinguished Achievement" diplomas with Richland College 's core curriculum requirements:

High School Graduation RequirementsRLC Core Curriculum Requirements
English/Language Arts (4 credits)
  • English I (1)
  • English II (1)
  • English III (1)
  • English IV (1)
Communications (9 credits)
  • English (1301 & 1302)
  • English (2321 & 2311) or (2322 & 2323)

Mathematics (3* credits)
  • Algebra I (1)
  • Algebra II (1)
  • Geometry (1)
*4 credits for Distinguished Achievement 		Mathematics (3 credits) (DMAT 0098, 0099 = Alg. II)
  • Mathematics 1324, 1332, 1333, 1348, 1316, 1414, 2342, 2412, 2442, or higher level
Science (3* credits)
  • Biology (1)
  • Chemistry (1)
  • Physics (1)
*4 credits for Distinguished Achievement 		Lab Sciences (8 credits)
  • Biology (1406 & 1407), (1408 & 1409 )
  • Chemistry (1405 & 1407), (1411 & 1412)
  • Physics (1401 & 1402), (1405 & 1407), (1411 & 1412), (2425 & 2426)
Social Studies (3 1/2 credits)
  • World History (1)
  • World Geography (1)
  • US History (1)
  • US Government (1/2)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (12 credits)
  • History (1301 & 1302)
  • Government (2301 & 2302)
Economics (1/2 credit)
  • Economics (1/2)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
  • Economics 2301
Foreign Language (2* credits)
  • Level I (1)
  • Level II (same language) (1)
  • Level III (same language) (1)
*3 credits for Distinguished Achievement 		No foreign language requirement
Physical Education (1 1/2 credits)
  • Personal Fitness (1/2)
  • Physical Education (1)
  • or participation in approved physical/athletic activities (up to 1 1/2)
Physical Education (1 credit)
  • Physical Education 1164
Health Education (1/2 credit)
  • Health I (1/2)
No health education requirement
(PHED 1301)
Speech (1/2 credit)
  • Communication Applications (1/2)
Communications (3 credits)
  • Speech 1311 or 1315
    ** High School Credit
  • or 1315 (Public Speaking)
Technology Applications (1 credit)
  • Computer applications and related courses (1)
Technology Applications (3 credits)
  • Computer Science 1300 or higher
Fine Arts (1 credit)
  • Arts, Dance, Drama, or Music (1)
Visual and Performing Arts (3 credits)
  • Arts 1301, 1303, 1304
  • Dance 2303
  • Drama 1310
  • Humanities 1315
  • Music 1306
Humanities
No humanities requirement		Humanities (3 credits)
    2380, 2381
  • Philosophy 1301, 2306, 2307, 2316, 2317
Electives (2 1/2 credits)
Preferably courses in English, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (2 1/2)		Electives
Selected with advisor to include courses to complete high school graduation requirements
*State Recommended requires 24 credits
*Distinguished Achievement requires 26 credits in addition to Advanced Measures		*An Associates degree requires additional courses. Please refer to your specific degree plan for the required number of college hours for an Associates degree.
RHCS students will enter after completing the 9th and 10 grades and the high school graduation requirements taught in those grades. For their electives in the 11th and 12th grades, they will take the additional courses in areas such as English to complete their high school graduation requirements. As available, these students may also take electives in courses they need to help them prepare for their career goals or to meet curriculum requirements at their anticipated transfer university.