Except as provided in section 15.1-21-02.3 or as otherwise agreed to in the compact on educational opportunity for military children, before a school district, a nonpublic high school, or the center for distance education issues a high school diploma to a student, the student must have successfully completed:

1.    The twenty-two units of high school coursework set forth in section 15.1-21-02.2; and

2.    Any additional units of high school coursework required by the issuing entity, two of which may be theological studies if taught in a nonpublic school by an approved theological studies instructor.