After September 2004, all school aged students registering in Grade 10 will be in the GRADUATION PROGRAM 2004 (80 credits).
2004 Graduation Program (80 credits)
These students will be working towards the 80 credit graduation program.
Credit requirements:
A minimum of 80 credits in Grades 10, 11, and 12 are required for graduation.
48 credits are Required Ministry Authorized courses, including:
• English 10 (graduation program exam) (4 credits)
• English 11 or Communications 11 (4 credits)
• English 12 or Communications 12 (4 credits)
• Social Studies 10 (4 credits)
• A Social Studies from one of the following: Social Studies 11 (graduation program exam), Canadian Civics 11, BC First Nations Studies 12, (4 credits)
• Science 10 (graduation program exam) (4 credits)
• A Science 11 or 12 from one of the following: Agriculture 11, Agriculture 12, Biology 11, Biology 12, Chemistry 11, Chemistry 12, Earth Science 11, Physics 11, Physics 12, Science and Technology 11 (4 credits)
• A Mathematics 10 (graduation program exam) from one of the following: Applications of Mathematics 10, Essentials of Mathematics 10, Principles of Mathematics 10 (4 credits)
• A Mathematics 11 or 12 from one of the following: Principles of Mathematics 11, Applications of Mathematics 11, Essentials of Mathematics 11, Applications of Mathematics 12, Principles of Mathematics 12 (4 credits)
• Physical Education 10 (4 credits)
• A Fine Arts or Applied Skills 10, 11, or 12 (See below for more details.) (4 credits)
• Planning 10 (4 credits)
• Graduation Transitions (See the following information for more details.) (4 credits)
• 28 credits of Elective Courses: include all Grade 10, 11, and 12 courses offered at your DESK in addition to External, Board, and Ministry Authorized courses. Contact DESK for information about these Authorized External courses.
• Minimum of 16 credits at the Grade 12 level including Language Arts 12. All Ministry Authorized and Board/Authority approved courses count. (See the following information for more details.)
Graduation Transitions
Graduation Transitions is a requirement for all students registered in Grades 10, 11, or 12 as of September, 2007 and beyond. Graduation Transitions may begin in Grades 10, 11, or 12 and upon successful completion of the minimum requirements for the prescribed learning outcomes for each component, will be awarded four (4) credits towards graduation upon completion. For more details please see www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation
There are 3 components to the requirement:
Personal Health
Community Connections
Transition Planning
Students may satisfy these requirements in a number of ways, ranging from course work, independent self-directed learning opportunities outside the classroom, to a form of portfolio assessment. Students must consult with their school and/or district to determine what opportunities are available.
Graduation Program Exams
The new Graduation Program requires all students to write exams in Grade 10 English, Grade 10 Science, Grade 10 Mathematics. The students must also write the Social Studies Exam attached to the Grade 11 or 12 course taken by the student. The exams are worth 20% of the student’s final mark.
The student must write the Grade 12 Language Arts (English or Communications) Exam attached to the course taken by the student. This exam is worth 40% of the student’s final mark.
All other Grade 12 Graduation Exams are optional. Students need to be sure of post-secondary admission requirements and meet with their advisor before deciding whether or not to take an exam. (If you do not write the Grade 12 Exam, 100% of your final mark will come from your course mark.) All Grade 12 Exams are worth 40% of the student’s final mark.
Writing Grade 12 Exams gives you opportunities to win provincial scholarships.
1995 Graduation Program Students should contact DESK about program planning. Further information can be accessed at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation . At this time these students also have the option to graduate on the Adult Program.
1995 Graduation Program (52 credits)
If you entered Grade 11 or 12 in September 2004 or earlier, you will be required to complete 52 credits to meet graduation requirements. Students on this program have until 2011 to graduate. It then expires and you must graduate on the 2004 requirements or you may be eligible for the Adult Graduation Program.
Foundation Studies (minimum of 28 credits from these Ministry Authorized courses)
Students must take
English 11 or Communications 11 (4 credits)
English 12 or Communications 12(4 credits)
Social Studies 11 or First Nations Studies 12 (4 credits)
Career and Personal Planning 11 (2 credits)
Career and Personal Planning 12 (2 credits)
• A Mathematics chosen from: Applications of
Mathematics 11 or 12, Calculus 12, Essentials of Mathematics 11, Principles of Mathematics 11 or 12 (4 credits)
• A Science chosen from: Agriculture 11 or 12, Biology 11 or 12, Chemistry 11 or 12, Earth Science 11, Information Technology 12, Modular Survey 11 or 12, Physics 11 or 12, Science and Technology 11 (4 credits)
• *A Fine Arts: Art Foundations 11, Drama: Film & Television 11 or 12, Fine Arts 11 A or B, Studio Arts 11; Drawing and Painting 11, Visual Arts: Media Arts 11, Music Composition and Technology 11 (See Note #1.) (2 credits)
• *An Applied Skills: Accounting 11 or 12, Applied Computer Skills 11, Business Computer Applications 11, Carpentry and Joinery 11, Data Management 12, Drafting and Design 11, Drama: Film & Television 11 or 12, Entrepreneurship 12, Family Studies 11 or 12, Financial Accounting 12, Food Studies 11, Information Technology 12, Modular Survey 11 or 12, Management Innovation 12, Marketing 11 (See Note #2.) (2 credits)
*Other courses may be available through DESK Please contact us for more information.
Selected Studies (minimum of 24 credits) including:
• 10 credits must be Ministry Authorized Grade 12 level courses
• up to 8 credits can be locally developed
Notes re Grades 11 and 12 (Graduation Program 1995)
1. Students who complete any of the 4-credit Fine Arts courses will receive 2 credits in Fine Arts Foundation Studies and the other 2 credits are assigned as Selected Studies.
2. Students who complete any of the Applied Skills courses will receive 2 credits in Applied Skills Foundation Studies and additional credits are assigned as Selected Studies.
Provincial Government Exams (1995 Graduation Program)
In order to graduate on the 1995 Graduation Program, students must write an English12 or Communications 12 government exam. If a student wishes to receive four credits
for the following Academic Grade 12 courses they must write the Provincial Government Exam in these courses:
English Literature 12, German 12, Spanish 12, French 12, Principles of Math 12, Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12, Geography 12, History 12. All Grade 12 Exams are worth 40% of the student’s final
mark.
Writing Grade 12 Exams gives you opportunities to win
provincial scholarships.
Important Notes for Both Graduation Programs (1995 and the 2004)
Registration for Graduation Program Exams
Students can register for the Graduation Program Exams by contacting their DESK at least 8 weeks
prior to the exam session. Students will have to follow the same Registration Procedures for all Grade 12 Provincial Exams (including the Language Arts 12 Exam). Each student writing a Graduation Program Exam is required to produce photo Id and their Personal Education Number (PEN) at the time of the exam.
All students must remember that it is your responsibility to complete each DESK Course prior to writing the scheduled Graduation Program Exam.
The Provincial Exam website is http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams
Challenge and External Credits
In both graduation programs students may earn credits toward graduation in a variety of ways. In addition to earning credits by successfully completing courses delivered by a BC public or independent school, students will be awarded credits by using the policies that follow. For specific information, check with your local DE school and also the Ministry of Education website: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/policy/policies/earning_credit_through.htm
Equivalency (Documented Prior Learning)
Secondary schools may award credit to students who have successfully completed an equivalent Grade 10, 11 or 12 course from an educational jurisdiction or institution outside the BC school system. To be deemed equivalent, there should be a match of approximately 80% or more of the learning outcomes to either a Ministry-developed or board authorized course. In order to receive credits through Equivalency, students must provide the appropriate documentation as proof of successful completion of the course.
Challenge (Undocumented Demonstrated Prior Learning)
Secondary schools may award credit to students who can demonstrate prior learning. Students are entitled to undertake a Challenge process to assess their prior learning for any Ministry-authorized graduation program course offered by any school board in the Province that school year, as well as any Board Authorized (BAA) course taught in the enrolling district that school year, provided the student has not already completed the course through previous enrollment. Students should be able to demonstrate their readiness to Challenge a course based on factors such as a recommendation from a previous teacher, or from evidence that relevant learning has been acquired outside the regular classroom setting. Examples of assessment strategies that could be used in a Challenge process include such things as hands-on demonstrations, oral performances, interviews, written examinations, or presentations of a collection of work.
External Credentials (Ministry-approved Documented Prior Learning)
Students can earn credit towards graduation through certain
external credentials approved by the Ministry. In order to earn credit for an approved credential, students must provide the appropriate documentation proving successful completion of the external assessment, course, or program.
The Ministry has reviewed programs including:
• Royal Conservatory (or • Guides & Scouts equivalent) of Music, • Tourism, Lifesaving, First Dance, Theatre, Speech Aid, Pony Club • External Languages • Computer Certification • External Sport (Athlete, • Driver’s Education Coach, Official) • Pilot’s License • Cadets • Boating • 4-H
For a complete listing please see the Ministry website for the Handbook of Procedures: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/handbook
Credit from Post-secondary Courses
Students can earn credit towards graduation by earning credit for courses at specific post-secondary institutions. Students are entitled to earn “dual credit” if they earn credit that leads to a post-secondary credential from a post-secondary institution which is a member of the British Columbia Transfer System.
Independent Directed Study (IDS)
Students are able to initiate their own area of learning and to receive credit towards graduation. The policy also allows schools to recognize prior learning in a Ministry-developed or board-authorized course that a student may not have completed. This policy is not a student entitlement but an enabling policy intended to encourage schools to allow students to pursue further studies of interest. The learning outcomes of all Grade 10, 11, and 12 Ministry and board-authorized courses are eligible to be used in an IDS. A student may study one or more learning outcomes in depth, or study more broadly a wide variety of learning outcomes from a single course. IDS credits may only be used to satisfy elective requirements.
Adult Education Program - Graduation Requirements
Eligibility
To graduate, adult students must earn a minimum 20 credits from at least five courses, worth four credits each including:
Compulsory Courses
• an English (Language Arts) at the Grade 12* or Provincial* level;
• a Mathematics course at the Grade 11* or Advanced* or higher level;
• either: three other courses at the Grade 12* or Provincial* level or higher;
• or:
two other courses at the Grade 12*or Provincial* level or higher and Social Studies at the Grade 11* or Advanced* level.
*Grade 11 and Grade 12 refer to courses offered in the British Columbia School System while Advanced and Provincial Levels refer to courses offered in the College ABE System.
Total: 5 courses
Notes re Adult Graduation Program
1. To be eligible for the Adult Graduation Diploma, a person must be 19 years or older, or 18 years old and out of school for at least a year, with approval from the enrolling institution.
2. Three courses must be taken as an adult.
3. Prior Learning Assessment may be used to meet any of the requirements for the Adult Diploma. Prior Learning Assessment involves a variety of techniques including equivalency reviews, challenge processes, in-depth interviews, exemption processes, etc.
4. Students enrolled in the Adult Graduation Program are not required to write provincial exams. However, students in both the College ABE and Adult Graduation Program have the option of writing the provincial exams for all provincially examinable courses.
5. Approved courses in either the Ministry of Education or in the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology may be used towards the BC Adult Graduation Diploma.
