WORLD CULTURES & CURRENT EVENTS

Grade Level: 9-12

Prerequisite: None

Meets the UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement

World Cultures & Current Events is a content based course that is designed to help reinforce skills such as reading, writing, note taking, conducting research, and critical thinking. While investigating the physical and cultural geography of the earth, students will be expected to apply that information to current global developments. Throughout the course students will analyze the physical, political, and cultural geography of various regions of the world including the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the United States while strengthening those skills necessary for success in other content areas including social studies, language arts, science and other elective courses.

 

WORLD HISTORY 1-2

Grade Level: 10-12

Prerequisite: None

Meets the UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement

Students in World History study major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of both World Wars and the Cold War period. Students also develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and culture (art, music, literature) contents. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives. The standards for the year-long course are taught and learned through eight major themes sequenced chronologically. Competency-based educational objectives will be in compliance with California State Model Curriculum Standards.

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION 1-2

Grade Level: 10-12

Prerequisite: B or higher in H.S. English 1-2 Teacher recommendation

Meets the UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement

European Civilization 1-2 (Advanced Placement) is a two-semester course addressing the economic, political, and cultural forces in Western civilization from the mid-Fifteenth (Renaissance) to the Twentieth Century. This is considered a college level course. The rigorous course material is approached thematically. This course meets the World History requirement for high school graduation. Students taking this course may take the Advanced Placement exam in European Civilization.

 

U.S. HISTORY 1-2

Grade Level: 11-12

Prerequisite: None

Meets the UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement

U.S. History 1-2 is a two-semester course in which students examine the economic, social, and political development of the United States, concentrating primarily on the twentieth century. During the year certain themes will be emphasized: the expanding role of the federal government and federal courts; the continuing tension between the individual and the state; the emergence of a modern corporate economy; the impact of technology on American society and culture; change in the ethnic composition of American society; the movements toward equal rights for racial minorities and women; and the role of the United States as a major world power. Throughout the course students will explore American culture, literature, the arts, and the mass media. Students will demonstrate competency in questioning, critical thinking, research, and writing as it applies to the discipline of history. Competency-based educational objectives will be in compliance with California State Model Curriculum Standards.

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. HISTORY 1-2

Grade Level: 11-12

Prerequisite: B or better in H.S. English 3-4 B or better in World History 1-2 or AP European Civilization Teacher recommendation

Meets the UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement

U.S. History (Advanced Placement) 1-2 is an advanced course taught at the college level. It is designed for students who wish to take the Advanced Placement Examination, administered by Educational Testing Service, in the spring. Those passing the A.P. exam at a high level usually can receive college credit and a waiver of the college U.S. History requirement. The course emphasizes extensive reading, research and problem solving, writing, historiography, and historical knowledge.

 

CIVICS

Grade Level: 12

Prerequisite: None

Meets the UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement

Civics surveys the origins of our federal, state and local governments and studies their structure, function, theory and process. It promotes citizenship skill building by serving the community in an “outside project” and prepares students for the political and social arenas of the future. This is a practical course applying knowledge toward voting, jury duty and rights and privileges of community participation. Must be taken in 12th grade only.

 

ECONOMICS

Grade Level: 12

Prerequisite: None

Meets the UC/CSU “G” requirement

Economics is a course in which students will deepen their understanding of the economic problems and institutions of the nation and world in which they live. They will learn to make reasoned decisions on economic issues as citizens, workers, consumers, business owners and managers. Primarily a course in social science, economics enriches students' understanding of the operations and institutions of economic systems, rather than a course in household or business management or budgeting. The course will deal with the following areas: 1) fundamental concept (e.g., scarcity); 2) comparative economic systems (Capitalism, Communism, Socialism, etc.); 3) macroeconomics (supply and demand, forms of competition, monetary policy, etc.) 4) international economic concepts (e.g., comparative and absolute advantage, international trade, etc.).

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. GOVERNMENT & ECONOMICS 1-2

Grade Level: 12

Prerequisite: B or better in U.S. History or AP U.S. History Teacher recommendation.

Meets the UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement

U.S. Government & Economics (Advanced Placement) is designed to give students a critical perspective on government, politics, and economics in the United States. The class involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret American governmental, political, and economic systems and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political reality. This course is intended to prepare students who wish to take the Advanced Placement Examination in U.S. Government and Politics.

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY 1-2

Grade Level: 11-12

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation

Meets the UC/CSU “G” requirement

This course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with the major subfields within psychology. Students also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.