In order to play college ball, row, wrestle, dive or whatever at a Division I or II school, teens must establish eligibility with the NCAA or National Collegiate Athletics Association. That includes maintaining a specific GPA, taking sufficient core courses, getting a minimum SAT or ACT score, and filing eligibility paperwork with the NCAA. It's all designed to foil that old stereotype of the dumb jock and support the idea of the student-athlete. Where teens sometimes run afoul of eligibility rules is in high school core courses. Division I athletes need 16 specific classes; Division II requires 14. That rule will change in the fall of 2013, when Division II applicants will need 16.
Sixteen courses spread over four years may not sound like much, when so many students take six per year, but the word "core" is critical. It's not just any classes. It's 16 fairly specific ones. And a teen who slacks off senior year and takes too light a load will sabotage his chances of playing college ball. Here are the basic requirements. For more information on eligibility and SAT scores, visit the NCAA eligibility website.
Division I Core Courses
- English: 4 years
- Math: 3 years
- Science: 2 years, including 1 lab science, if available
- Social science: 2 years of history, etc.
- Additional: 1 additional year of English, math or science; plus 4 years of any of the above and/or foreign languages
- Total: 16 core courses
Division II Core Courses
- English: 3 years
- Math: 2
- Science: 2, including 1 lab science, if available
- Social science: 2 of history, etc.
- Additional: 2 additional years of English, math or science; plus 3 years of any of the above and/or foreign languages
- Total: 14 core courses (this requirement will change in 2013).
