INTRODUCTION, RULES AND CLAIRIFICATIONS
The purpose of the Regents’ Scholarship is to promote academic and financial preparation during grades 9-12 for post-secondary education. This is a voluntary statewide scholarship that is aligned with the Utah Scholars Core Course of Study. The Utah Scholars Core Course of Study is based on national recommendations as outlined by the State Scholars Initiative, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The courses required by the scholarship are proven to help students prepare for post-secondary education or the workforce. All of the requirements for the Regents’ Scholarship must be completed during grades 9-12, by the date of high school graduation. (Students no longer have until September 1 following graduation to complete requirements.) Courses taken before grade 9 or after grade 12 will not satisfy the scholarship requirements.

It is important to understand that although a course may meet State and individual district high school graduation requirements, these same courses may not meet the scholarship requirements. The Utah Scholars Core Course of Study is comprised of courses that in most cases are offered throughout the State, however; if the required course(s) are not taught at the school the student attends, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to complete the requirements by some other manner. Student may elect to enroll in an online course, an Ed-Net course, concurrent enrollment, or a course offered at another accredited local high school or college.

Students who desire to fulfill the scholarship requirements should thoroughly read the scholarship information contained on this page and the Regents’ Scholarship 2009-2010 Scholarship Information page. Be aware that there will be updates to the scholarship program on an annual basis. In order to qualify for the scholarship, students must meet all of the scholarship criteria and submit a completed application including transcript(s) and other documentation listed on the Regents’ Scholarship Checklist by the deadline. Students are encouraged to work closely with their school guidance counselor to determine which courses will satisfy the scholarship criteria. Customer Service agents from our office are also available to answer questions, (local) 801-321-7294 or (toll free) 877-336-7378.

CORE COURSE INFORMATION
        The Utah Scholars Core Course of Study is comprised of:

• 4 credits of English;
• 4 credits of progressive Math (at minimum through Algebra 2 and one class beyond);
• 3.5 credits of Social Science;
• 3 credits of lab-based Science courses to include one each of biology, chemistry and physics; and
• 2 years of the same Foreign Language, other than English, taken in a progressive manner during grades 9-12.

If a student completes a college course as part of the Core Course of Study, they must submit an official college transcript as part of their official Regents’ Scholarship application (due February 1) in order to have a complete application file and be considered for the scholarship. If a student is enrolled, but has not completed the college course at the time of application submission, the student must provide proof of enrollment in the course in order to have a complete application file and be considered for the scholarship. They will be required to submit the official college transcript once the course has been completed. The Regents’ Scholarship Review Committee may apply a 3:1 ratio in relation to college course work. If a student enrolls in and completes a college course that is part of the “core”, worth 3 or more college credits, this may be counted as 1 full credit towards the scholarship requirements, however; the student then is evaluated on the college grade earned.

The following information is provided as a guide as to which courses will fulfill the requirements of the scholarship. The course titles listed below are generic titles. We cannot offer a detailed list due to the variety and volume of courses offered, and the non-standardization of course listings by individual school districts throughout the state.

4 years (credits) of English taken in grades 9-12

In order to fulfill the English requirement of the Regents’ Scholarship, students are recommended to complete one credit of English during each grade. Please note:  This requirement differs from Utah High School graduation requirements of 4 credits of Language Arts.

To satisfy the Regents’ Scholarship requirements, students may select courses from the following list:  American Literature, British Literature, Creative Writing 1 and 2, Concurrent Enrollment English 1010, Concurrent Enrollment English 2010, English 9, English 10, English 11, English 12, pre-IB Language Arts 10, IB Language Arts 11, IB Language Arts 12 (HL) Humanities*, and Mythology*. Honors, advanced placement and International Baccalaureate versions of the previously mentioned courses will also satisfy the scholarship requirements. ESL course work that shows progression into standard core course work will be evaluate on an individual basis. In addition, in the case where a school does not offer English 9, 10, 11, 12, but offers another series of required course work, the Regents’ Scholarship Review Committee may accept alternative courses on an individual basis.

Courses that DO NOT satisfy the Regents’ Scholarship English requirement include, but are not limited to: Communications, Basic Reading Skills, Basic Writing Skills, Broadcasting, Debate, Drama, Film, Foreign Language courses, IB Theory of Knowledge, Journalism, Literary Magazine, Literature and Film, Romantic Literature, Shakespeare, Speech, Sports Literature, Theatre, World Literature, and Yearbook.

4 years (credits) of progressive mathematics taken in grades 9-12

In order to fulfill the math requirement of the Regents’ Scholarship, students are encouraged to complete one credit of math during each grade, selecting from the following courses that align with a traditional course sequence pattern that prepares a student for post-secondary education, at a minimum by completing Algebra 2 and at least one course beyond Algebra 2. Such course sequences may include, but are not limited to:

**If taken prior to 2009-2010 academic year, this course will not satisfy the math requirement. 

Honors, advanced placement, International Baccalaureate versions of the previously mentioned courses will also satisfy the scholarship requirements. ESL course work that shows progression into standard core course work will be evaluate individual basis.

Courses that DO NOT satisfy the Regents’ Scholarship math requirement include, but are not limited to: Accounting courses, ACT/SAT Math Prep, Computer Programming courses, Discrete Mathematics, Financial Literacy, Physics, Quantitative Analysis, UBSCT Prep Math.

3.5 years (credits) of Social Science taken in grades 9-12

In order to fulfill the social science requirement of the Regents’ Scholarship, students are recommended select courses from the following list: Anthropology, Current Events/Issues, Economics, European History, IB History of the Americas, IB 20th Century World History, Geography for Life, Sociology, U.S. History, U.S. Government & Civics, World Civilizations, World History, and Psychology*. Honors, advanced placement versions of the previously mentioned courses will also satisfy the scholarship requirements. ESL course work that shows progression into standard core course work will be evaluate individual basis.

Courses that DO NOT satisfy the Regents’ Scholarship social science requirement are but not limited to: Adult Roles, Child Care, Child Development, Debate, Financial Literacy, Marriage and Family Relations, Seminary, Student Government, and REAL BYU 41.

3 years (credits) of Laboratory Science, one each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics taken in grades 9-12.

In order to fulfill the laboratory science requirement, a student must complete one each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Honors, advanced placement, International Baccalaureate versions of the previously mentioned courses will also satisfy the scholarship requirements. ESL course work that shows progression into standard core course work will be evaluated on an individual basis.

NOTE: Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses must have a lab component in order to satisfy the Regents’ Scholarship science requirement. For example, if a student completes a concurrent enrollment science course, they must complete not only the “lecture” part of the course, but also the lab component. For example, if a student enrolls in Biology 1010, a student must also enroll in the corresponding lab component, Biology 1015.

Courses that DO NOT satisfy the Regents’ Scholarship science requirement include, but are not limited to: AP Environmental Science, Aeronautics, Aerospace, Anatomy and Physiology, Astronomy, Biology Agriculture Science and Technology, Bio-tech, Botany, Earth Systems, Electronics, Environmental Science, Genetics, Geology, Human Physiology, Investigation Science, Marine Biology, Medical Anatomy, Meteorology, Oceanography, Physics: Principles of Technology, Science Research, Wildlife Biology, and Zoology.

In order to satisfy the foreign language requirement students choose to complete the requirement by taking, among other languages, American Sign Language, Chinese, French, Italian, Latin, Russian, Spanish. Honors, advanced placement, International Baccalaureate versions of the previously mentioned courses will also satisfy the scholarship requirements.

Courses that DO NOT: English, courses completed in grades 7 and 8, courses not taken in a progressive manner.

*NOTE: There have been modifications to the courses that will satisfy the scholarship requirements. For the 2010-2011 academic year these courses will no longer satisfy the requirement. If a student took any of these courses during the 2006-2007 academic year through 2009-2010 academic year, when it was approved, the course will still be accepted as meeting the scholarship requirements. 

Updated December 1, 2009