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120 Wheeler Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
Mail Code #1050

(510) 642-2264
americancultures@
berkeley.edu

Student Information

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AC REQUIREMENT

ALL UC Berkeley undergraduates (admitted after fall 1991) must fulfill the AC requirement in order to graduate.

In order fulfill the AC requirement, courses must be at least 3 semester units (or 4 quarter units). Courses must also take substantial account of groups drawn from at least three of the following: African Americans, indigenous peoples of the United States, Asian Americans, Chicanos/Latinos, and European Americans.

Students must earn at least a C- or P in an approved AC course to receive AC credit.

Many approved AC courses are taught on the UC Berkeley campus every term – including the summer.

You can search the online course catalog for all approved AC courses, or search the online schedule of classes to find out what courses are being offered for the current and up-coming semesters.

The AC requirement can be fulfilled "off-campus" through transfer units from a Community College or other institution. (Pre-approved AC courses for Community Colleges can be found on www.assist.org.)

Students can petition to substitute a course for AC credit but they should always be aware that the Academic Senate might not approve their petitions.

Just because a course may "look like" or "feel like" an AC course does not mean that it will actually fulfill the AC requirement. AC courses and the AC requirement are governed by a very specific regulation that is interpreted and applied by the Academic Senate’s Subcommittee on the Breadth Requirement in American Cultures (a.k.a. "AC Subcommittee" or "AmCult").

Student petitions are rigorously reviewed and the Subcommittee applies the highest standards of college-level course material, course readings, and analytical skills required for course assignments. Serious consideration should be given to the strength of a substitution request before students submit petitions.

Berkeley and Community College Students:

FAQ
Petition Guidelines

Community College Students:

The fastest and most efficient way to find out whether a community college course meets the Berkeley AC requirement is to use ASSIST.org. (Please see our hints on how to find courses on assist.org)