The Division I and Division II initial-eligibility requirements have changed.
WHAT IS THE NEW RULE?
The new requirements increase the number of required core courses from 13 to 14. The additional course may come from any of the following areas: English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy Computer science courses will no longer be able to be used for initial-eligibility purposes. This rule is effective August 1, 2005, for students first entering a collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2005. Computer science courses (such as programming) that are taught through the mathematics or natural/physical science departments and receive either math or science credit and are on the high school's list of approved core courses as math or science may be used after the August 1, 2005, date.
For the classes of 2006 and 2007: Division I and Division II
If you plan to enter college in 2005 or after, your eligibility will be determined under the new rule. That means that you must have 14 core courses to be eligible to practice, play and receive financial aid at a Division I or Division II school.
For the class of 2008: Division I only - 16 core courses
If you plan to enter college in 2008 or after, you will need to present 16 core courses in the following breakdown:
4 years of English
3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
2 years of natural/physical science (one must be a lab science)
1 year of additional English, math or science
2 years of social studies
4 years of additional core courses (from any area listed above, or from foreign language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy)
- The requirements for eligibility to participate at Division I differ from those required at Division II.
- If you have been "home-schooled" during all of Grades 9 through 12, you do not have to register with the clearinghouse. Your certification status will be determined through an initial-eligibility waiver. Please contact the college or university you plan to attend for more information about the waiver process.
- NCAA academic committees are vested with the authority to grant waivers of the initial-eligibility requirements based on objective evidence that demonstrates circumstances in which a student's overall academic record warrants the waiver of the normal application of the legislation.
- Initial-eligibility waivers must be filed by an NCAA institution on behalf of the student.
- Correspondence and independent study courses may be used to meet the core-course requirements provided the following conditions are met:
- The course meets all requirements for a core course
- The instructor and the student have access to one another during the duration of the course for purposes of teaching, evaluating and providing assistance to the student;
- Evaluation of the student's work is conducted by the appropriate academic authorities in accordance with the high school's established academic policies; and
- The course is acceptable for any student and is placed on the high-school transcript
- Courses taken in the eighth grade may not be used to satisfy the core-curriculum requirements, regardless of the course content or level.
- Students enrolling in a Division I institution generally may not use courses taken after high-school graduation to meet core-curriculum requirements. (Note: Students with NCAA-approved diagnosed disabilities may use courses taken after graduation but before full-time college enrollment.)
Common Questions & Answers for Eligibility
