Volunteer State agrees to accept the curriculum requirements as set by the Tennessee Department of Education with the implementation of the Tennessee Diploma Project of 2009. Admission will be granted to freshmen applicants who hold a recognized high school diploma that includes a distribution of college preparatory courses, such as those required in the core elements of the Tennessee High School Diploma. These courses include the following:
- 4 Credits of English
- 4 Credits of Math, including Algebra I and II, Geometry, and a fourth higher-level math class
- 3 Credits of Science, including Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, and a third Lab Course
- 3 Credits of Social Studies, including United States History* and Geography, World History and Geography, U.S. Government and Civics, and Economics
- 1.5 Credits of Physical Education and Wellness
- 2 Credits of a Single Foreign Language
- 0.5 Credits of Personal Finance
- 1 Credit of Fine Arts
- 3 Credits of Electives consisting of Math and Science, Career and Technical Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB)
*T.C.A § 49-7-110 requires the completion of six semester credit hours of American History by any individual in any non-exempted area of study to be granted a baccalaureate of any kind from any institution of higher learning or community college supported or maintained by the state. Persons in exempted fields of study need not fulfill this requirement if they successfully completed a course in American History in high school. Any student has the option, at the student's request, to substitute three semester hours of Tennessee History for the American History requirement.
Applicants who graduated prior to the adoption of the Tennessee Diploma Project curriculum and who hold a high school diploma are exempt from the diploma requirements with the exception of those in T.C.A. § 47-7-110 as described above.
Students earning a high school equivalency diploma via a State-approved exam will be recognized as high school graduates for admission purposes.
Out-of-State Applicants
Applicants who are residents of states other than Tennessee are subject to the same admission requirements as in-state applicants.
TBR Sources: 2:03:00:00: TBR Meeting, August 16, 1974; September 29, 1978; June 27, 1980, September 30, 1983; December 16, 1983; June 27, 1986; September 16, 1988; December 2, 1988; June 30, 1989; December 7, 1990; March 20, 1992; March 19, 1993; September 17, 1993; June 23, 1994; December 8, 1994; December 15, 1995; March 7, 1997; June 19, 1998; September 22, 2000; April 2, 2004; December 8, 2006; June 28, 2007; June 24, 2010; Revised December 11, 2014 A-015: Presidents Meeting of November 1990; Presidents Meeting, November 8, 2006; Presidents Meeting, May 16, 2007; Presidents meeting, August 19, 2008; Presidents Meeting February 2, 2016.
VSCC Source: Former II:09:13, July 23, 1997, President; December 16, 2008, President's Cabinet; January 28, 2019, President’s Cabinet
