I have seen a similar reply in regards to a question for the Visual Performing Arts requirement.
Below is the requirement directly from the UC Website.
**Two units (equivalent to two years or four semesters) of history / social science required, including:
One year of world history, cultures and historical geography, and
One year of U.S. history, or one-half year of U.S history and one-half year of civics or American government.**
UCLA is the most applied UC school and according to this year’s acceptance rate, also the most competitive. What is stated above is the minimum and the majority of applicants will not only meet the minimum but exceed it for all of the a-g course requirements.
You want to present the best possible application, so it is to your benefit to try and fulfill at least the minimum by either taking a SAT subject test or taking the AP exam/IB exam.
Both of my son’s attended HS school in California and they took the following which exceeded the minimum as part of their curriculum:
1 year AP World History
1 year AP US History
1 year AP Psychology
1/2 semester of AP Government
1/2 Economics
As UCLA stated, they will not automatically deny you for not fulfilling the requirements, but it may put you at a disadvantage especially when other International applicants do meet the requirement.