TOPS University Diploma

The TOPS University Diploma is intended for those students whose goal is to enter a 4-year university following graduation, such as UL Lafayette, LSU Baton Rouge, McNeese State University in Lake Charles, or another 4-year university. This pathway is academically rigorous and requires students to take 2 years of a foreign language and an Advanced Math course.

Twenty-four credits in the right courses are required for this diploma.

Students must choose from the following courses in the TOPS University Diploma, for a total of at least 24 Carnegie Unit credits. Students must also achieve at least a minimum GPA (Grade Point Average) calculated from core subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) and the Foreign Language subject. This GPA requirement varies depending on the university to which the student applies for admission.

ENGLISH	MATH	SCIENCE	SOCIAL STUDIES	PHYSICAL EDUCATION	FOREIGN LANGUAGE	ART	ELECTIVES
4 UNITS English I English II English III English IV	4 UNITS Algebra I Geometry Algebra II One unit from a selection of other, advanced math courses	4 UNITS Biology Chemistry 2 units from the following: Earth Science, Environmental Science, Agriscience I AND Agriscience II, Physical Science, one of Chemistry II, Physics II, one of Biology II	4 UNITS Civics US History Two from World Geography, World History, Western Civillization, European History, Human Geography	•One Unit PE ½ Unit Health (If a student takes ROTC I AND II this will meet the Health requirement.) ½ unit from the following: PE, Marching Band, Extracurricular Sports, Cheering, Dance Teams	2 UNITS Two units of the SAME foreign language Spanish French	1 UNIT One of the following: Visual Arts Courses Music Dance Theatre Speech III AND IV combined Fine Arts Survey Drafting	3 UNITS 3 units of elective classes chosen in consultation with counselor

GPA/ACT Scores Needed for Admission to Louisiana Public 4-Year Universities

Flagship University

LSU-Baton Rouge
3.0 GPA/25 ACT Composite
Higher ACT scores may allow for a lower GPA and vice versa. Higher ACT sub-scores may allow for a lower ACT Composite minimum.

Statewide Universities

UL-Lafayette, Louisiana Tech (Ruston), UNO (New Orleans)
2.5 GPA/23 ACT Composite
Higher ACT scores may allow for a lower GPA and vice versa. Higher ACT sub-scores may allow for a lower ACT Composite minimum.

Regional Universities

Southern University (Baton Rouge), Southern University (New Orleans), McNeese (Lake Charles), Nicholls State (Thibodaux), Northwestern (Natchitoches), UL-Monroe, Southeastern (Hammond), LSU-Alexandria, LSU-Shreveport
2.0 GPA/20 ACT Composite
Higher ACT scores may allow for a lower GPA and vice versa. Higher ACT sub-scores may allow for a lower ACT Composite minimum.