Advanced Chemistry

Course Number(s): 9904469

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: Yes (must choose a minimum of 2 UC-approved sciences)

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong 

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject Science: Chemistry authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

Advanced Chemistry is a second-year chemistry course to be taken after previously completing a full-year chemistry course. Topics covered in the course include lab safety, a brief review of the first year of chemistry, aqueous solutions and stoichiometry, thermochemistry, electronic structure of the atom, chemical bonding, gases, intermolecular forces, solution chemistry, kinetics, equilibrium, acid and base theory, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Students will complete a variety of activities including discussion board posts, article reviews, wiki pages, jigsaw activities, laboratory activities, quizzes, and unit tests.

AP Psychology

Course Number(s): 9804060

• AP PSYCHOLOGY: 9904514

• AP PYSCHOLOGY (R): 9904610

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Social Science authorization required (Single subject: psychology authorizations are no longer issued, however, are still active and accepted when currently held by a teacher); Aspire requires teacher to have certificate of AP training from the College Board

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

AP Psychology is a two-semester high school equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college psychology course. The AP Psychology course introduces “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 each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.” (College Board AP Course Description)

ASB Leadership

Course Number(s): 9905965

Grade level: 9th – 12tha grades

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5 

Teacher Authorization: Any full teaching credential 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

ASB Leadership is a project-based course aimed at increasing students’ leadership capabilities. Through the planning and execution of numerous events for the school, students will discover how to best effect change in their communities. Students will read extensively about the nature of leadership and its different styles. Additionally, students write frequently – critically, reflectively, persuasively – and speak about the real world issues that arise from the planning of events. The course uses sections of The Student Leadership Guide by Brendon Burchard. 

Athletics Management (Athletic Department Assistant)

Course Number(s): 9904747 

NOTE: There is also a 2.5 credit version of this course (9905977) 

Grade level: 11th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Physical Education 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

In this course, students will gain valuable professional experience by working in a specialized position for the athletic department. Student tasks will include researching fundraising opportunities and networking with local donors and sponsors.  Students will manage social media and marketing through the athletic department's website, smartphone app and social media accounts. By the end of the course, students will have professional skills to apply to future careers in sports management and leadership. 

AVID 9 

Note: There is also a non-A-G version of AVID 9 (9803011; Repeat 9803091)

Course Number(s): 9906025 

Grade level: 9th grade

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5 

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English Authorization Required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 5/30/24)

Description

This course is designed to prepare students in an academic content for entrance into a four year college. This course strongly emphasizes analytical writing preparation for college entrance and placement exams, college study skills and test taking, oral language development, note taking and research. 

AVID 10 

Note: There is also a non-A-G version of AVID 10 (9803021 ; Repeat 9803054)

Course Number(s): 9803018

Grade level: 10th grade

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5 

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English Authorization Required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 5/30/24)

Description

This course is designed to prepare students in an academic content for entrance into a four year college. This course strongly emphasizes analytical writing preparation for college entrance and placement exams, college study skills and test taking, oral language development, note taking and research. 

AVID 11

Note: There is also a non-A-G version of AVID 11 (9803025; Repeat 9203049)

Course Number(s): 9803035 

Grade level: 11th grade

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5 

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English Authorization Required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 5/30/24)

Description

This course is designed to prepare students in an academic content for entrance into a four year college. This course strongly emphasizes analytical writing preparation for college entrance and placement exams, college study skills and test taking, oral language development, note taking and research. 

AVID 12 

AVID 12 is also approved for Aspire advisory credit if taught by an Aspire faculty member; if for UC credit, the course would  need to get a letter grade (C- or better required) 

Course Number(s): 9803045

Grade level: 12tha grades

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5 

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English Authorization Required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course is designed to prepare students in an academic content for entrance into a four year college. This course strongly emphasizes analytical writing preparation for college entrance and placement exams, college study skills and test taking, oral language development, note taking and research. Because AVID is a nationally-recognized program, please use this course only if your curriculum is aligned with AVID; otherwise, use College Readiness or College Success Seminar (for advisory credit, not UC credit) or another course.

BUILD Entrepreneurship 

BUILD is also approved for Aspire advisory credit; if used for UC credit, AVID 12 would  need to get a letter grade (C- or better required) 

Course Number(s): 9104334

Grade level: 9th – 10th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter Grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Business authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This experiential, entrepreneurship-based curriculum is designed to equip students with the skills needed to graduate high school, prepared to succeed in college.  The curriculum guides students through the design and launch of their own small business, and teaches the business planning process and business content such as marketing, manufacturing, and finance.  Each experience in the curriculum is designed to cultivate students’ abilities to communicate, collaborate, problem-solve, innovate, self-manage and demonstrate grit.  Along the way, students are taught to apply the skills they learn not only to the running of their businesses, but also to their academics, career and life goals to graduate high school, prepared to succeed in college.

Students must attend weekly after school “Mentor Sessions" where students engage with industry professionals, or “mentors,” who work with and help students all year long. (Required)

Composition 

NOTE: there is also a NON-UC-approved version of this course #9104001

Course Number(s): 9804103

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course is frequently taught as a companion course to English courses. This course is designed to give students additional practice in writing, largely in the form of expository writing. Literary analysis and creative writing are reserved for the English literature courses.    

Computer Literacy

Course Number(s): 9814000

• COMPUTER LITERACY: 9103062 

Grade level:  9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Waiting for info from Credentials

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course provides an understanding of how computers affect our daily lives and how we can use computer technologies to become more efficient and effective in our daily routines. The rapid pace of technology change creates a need for students to be taught the underlying principles and concepts upon which digital technology is built. Computer Literacy provides students with the skills and knowledge to understand the technology they use daily and input the data into the computer in the most efficient manner possible.

Students will use the computer as a tool to explore Microsoft Office:  Word, PowerPoint,and Excel.  The student will responsibly use the Internet and techniques learned in class and apply them and other computerized resources to research a variety of career options. This course also teaches students the proper format of various documents including MLA reports (required by other departments on campus and the most commonly used college report format), science lab reports and standard business forms like letters and memos. Emphasis is placed on uses of the computer in the real world and using the computer as a tool for life.

Creative Writing 

There is also a similar (but not identical) year-long course; please see below

Course Number(s): 9803005 (we can use the same number because both courses are in the same UC category)

Grade level: 12th grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course is for students wanting more intensive writing practice and skill building. Students will read and analyze a range of fiction and nonfiction works as models for technique, style, form and expression, and will practice writing a variety of pieces to demonstrate an understanding of these skills. Creative Writing focuses primarily on fiction and poetry writing, but students will have a few opportunities to craft creative nonfiction writings as well, especially in the area of sports writing. Underlying the course is the belief that writers are readers and thinkers – that is, we will aim to understand the connections between reading, writing and thinking using think-alouds as we read and write.

Creative Writing 

There is also a similar (but not identical) semester-long course; please see above

Course Number(s): 9803005 (we can use the same number because both courses are in the same UC category) 

Grade level: 11th – 12th grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This year-long course explores four different types of creative writing: memoir, creative nonfiction, short story, and poetry. The purpose of this course is to expose students to these four types of creative writing and provide them with the opportunities to create their own published pieces. Through the analysis of readings from each genre, as well as frequent in-class discussions with their peers, students will be able to identify the elements of each type of genre and evaluate the role setting, voice, vocabulary choices, and literary devices have in each piece of writing. In addition, students will learn the process of formal literary critique by submitting their work to the class for peer discussion and evaluation.

Design 1

Course Number(s): 9104343

Grade level: 9th grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single subject: industrial and technology education authorization alone, OR, single subject mathematics OR single subject English authorization required (paired with a local assignment option based upon Title 5 §8005(b)); Single Subject industrial and technology education authorization is most closely aligned and therefore preferred

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This Design 1 course utilizes a dynamic model of learning in which the classroom is a collaborative work environment, and students contribute to examining real-world problems applying the tenets of design thinking.  During the course, students use authentic engineer practices, integrating skills and content from ELA and Math courses, to support defining their focus problem, determine considerations and constraints, and ideating initial design solutions to their social action problem. Students will prototype their final design solution implementing the techniques of mechanical engineering.  During the second semester, students will explore applications of their design solution, iterating upon their solutions from the first semester, creating a publicly exhibited product that has net positive human impact.

Economics

Course Number(s): 9404001, Repeat 9404020

• ECONOMICS: 9103181, Repeat 9104216

Grade level: 10th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: Yes (one semester)

UC A-G approval; Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Social Science authorization OR Single Subject: Business authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course involves the study of economics in a changing American society. Problems of unemployment, inflation, automation, government spending, and international trade will be explored. Students will learn about capitalism, socialism and communism. The course will also cover poverty, monetary policy, amendments, fiscal policies and the balanced budget.

ELD 1

Course Number(s): 9905972

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Do not assign without consulting Credential Services -Educator eligibility check 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 11/1/24)

*Please note that the restricted English learner authorizations (ELAS, ELAM, or ELAE) do not authorize the holder to teach ELD in a departmentalized setting

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 4/7/24)

Description

This course provides a comprehensive curriculum for new arrivals who are new to English and/or new to schooling or have had extremely interrupted schooling. This course provides accelerated support in foundational literacy skills.  In addition to this course, they may be supported with the intervention model that specifically targets English Language Acquisition. Curriculum options for this course include English 3D (Course C), National Geographic EDGE/ Inside, Rosetta Stone (Newcomers), System 44, Read 180 (Supplemental only), or OTHER (Ss with Disabilities).

ELD 2

Course Number(s): 9905973

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Do not assign without consulting Credential Services -Educator eligibility check 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 11/1/24)

*Please note that the restricted English learner authorizations (ELAS, ELAM, or ELAE) do not authorize the holder to teach ELD in a departmentalized setting

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 4/7/24)

Description

This course is for students at the earlier stages of English proficiency Initial ELPAC novice or, intermediate and Summative ELPAC minimally developed, or somewhat developed.  Curriculum options for this course include English 3D (Course C), National Geographic EDGE/Inside or Read 180 (Supplemental only).

ELD 3

Course Number(s): 9905974

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Do not assign without consulting Credential Services -Educator eligibility check 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 11/1/24)

*Please note that the restricted English learner authorizations (ELAS, ELAM, or ELAE) do not authorize the holder to teach ELD in a departmentalized setting

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 4/7/24)

Description

This course is for students at later stages of English proficiency Initial ELPAC and/or Summative ELPAC moderately developed to well developed.  Curriculum options for this course include English 3D (Course C) or National Geographic EDGE/Inside.

Engineering Design Capstone

Course Number(s): 9904612

Grade level: 11th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Industrial and Technology Education 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course is the culminating experience or capstone course in the CTE Engineering pathway.  It is an open-ended engineering research course in which students work either independently or in teams to design and develop an original solution to a well-defined and justified open-ended problem by applying the engineering design process. Students will perform research to select, define, and justify a problem. After carefully defining the design requirements and creating multiple solution approaches, students select an approach, create, and test their solution prototype. While progressing through the engineering design process, students will work closely with experts and will continually hone their organizational, communication and interpersonal skills, their creative and problem solving abilities, and their understanding of the design process offering students the opportunity to fully understand how engineers accomplish their work.  As such, Engineering Principles will require students to exhibit independence, self-motivation, and maturity.  This course culminates when student teams present and defend their original solution to a panel of teachers, parents, peers and outside industry experts. 

Entrepreneurship 102: Financial and Technological Literacy

Course Number(s): 9104344

Grade level: 10th grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Business authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

Building on the entrepreneurial skills students learn in BUILD their 9th grade year, Entrepreneurship 102 is designed to expand students’ understanding of key entrepreneurial concepts and provide a wider skill set to allow access to more entrepreneurial opportunities. This course is aligned to the Merritt College Certificate of Proficiency in Entrepreneurship requirements that include Financial Literacy, Small Business Management, and Introduction to Computer Information Systems. This course will set students up for success in these college level courses their junior and senior year.

The course content will be split between financial literacy and an introduction to computing science that can be leveraged in future entrepreneurial ventures. In terms of financial literacy, Entrepreneurship 102 introduces students to conversations around credit, personal loans, and investment. Students will begin to develop the skills and strategies that promote personal and financial responsibility related to financial planning, savings, investment, and charitable giving in the global economy. It then expands on those ideas by diving into principals of retail: marketing, design, and inventory. Throughout the year, the students of Entrepreneurship 102 will be tasked with operating the school store. Additionally, students will be provided an introduction to computing science through interactive and easy to learn programming languages, HTML, CSS, & Javascript. Previous computing experience is not required. The course requires supervised work in the computer laboratory, in addition to lecture and guided practice. This course introduces concepts that are covered in more detail in AP Computer Science A. Students will begin the process of applying these coding skills to their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Environmental Chemistry

Prerequisite: Algebra 1

Course Number(s): 930313; Repeat 9303012

Grade level: 9th grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Science: Chemistry 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

The students will demonstrate proficiency in traditional Chemistry content and investigations within a context of Environmental issues.  The traditional labs will be associated with real environmental applications.  Using the knowledge gained and skills gleaned from the instruction and the lab investigations, the students will propose and evaluate solutions to environmental problems requiring a deep understanding of Chemistry.

Students will be evaluated through an embedded, authentic assessment system that will assess their mastery of concepts, abilities to design and analyze experimental investigations, abilities to use evidence to make environmental decisions, and communicate their ideas in an effective and meaningful manner.

Students investigate Environmental Chemistry in the context of sustainable development.  The course includes four thematic units:  Living on Earth, Feeding the World, Using Earth’s Resources, and Fueling the World. Through these units, the students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of chemistry related to environmental issues, such as:  the use
and disposal of resources, pollution,  & production and use of energy. The specific chemistry topics to be included are: Atomic and Molecular Structure,
States of Matter, Chemical Bonding, Stoichiometry, Chemical Reactions (including Catalysis and Redox Reactions), Qualitative Analysis, and an introduction to the principals of Organic Chemistry

Exploring Computer Science

Prerequisite: Algebra 1

Course Number(s): 9907163

Grade level: 10th - 11thgrade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Business; Mathematics; Industrial and Technology Education

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 6/14/25)

Description

Computing is situated within economic, social, and cultural contexts and, therefore, influences and is influenced by each of these. So, in order to fully prepare students for various academic and applied tracks, ethical and social issues in computing and careers in computing are incorporated into the five units:

• Emphasis is placed on how computing enables innovation in a variety of fields and the impacts that those innovations have on society.

• Students are introduced to the ethical issues raised by the proliferation of computers and networks, as well as the positive and negative impacts of new technologies on human culture.

• Students will be able to identify ethical behavior and articulate different sides of ethical topics.

• Students study the responsibilities of software users and software developers with respect to intellectual property rights, privacy and security, and digital media piracy.

• They are introduced to the concept of open-source software development and explore its implications.

• Students identify and describe careers in computing and careers that employ computing.

Gender Studies

Course Number(s): 9104335

Grade level: 9th  grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section.

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Social Science authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course serves as an introductory and interdisciplinary study of gender identity that will draw from history, current events, critical theory, sociology, art, literature, psychology, and personal experience– to examine the role that gender plays in society (the macro level) and in our everyday lives (the micro level).  Course content will reflect and make visible the transformation from Modern dualistic theoretical frameworks to Postmodern frameworks of multiplicity and ambiguity. Utilizing knowledge of this philosophical evolution, students will learn to read the social world that they inhabit, focusing on social institutions such as school, spaces of worship, local and federal laws, mass media and communication, and family and peer relationships.  They will learn to identify, describe, and interpret gendered patterns in physical cultural artifacts such as advertisements, art, spaces and symbols of worship, school and state laws and regulations, and forms of entertainment, as well as gendered patterns in behavioral and relational phenomenon in various communities.  They will learn to apply various theoretical frameworks that explain the social world to their own understanding of who they are as young people growing up the United States of America.

Honors Ethnic Studies

Course Number(s): 9907020

Grade level: 11th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: Yes

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Social Sciences 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

12th Grade Honors Ethnic Studies is the study of the hxstories, experiences, cultures, and issues of racial-ethnic groups in the United States and beyond. This course focuses on developing the critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills necessary to become a leader both inside and outside of the classroom. Students will actively read high-level texts, participate in structured class discussions, utilize the Camangian ‘5 Levels of Analysis’ model to compose research and analytical and research essays, while developing public speaking skills for academic presentations. To gain power and to effect positive change in our community and world, students must acquire the skills to read actively, think critically, research and write prolifically and speak eloquently. The Ethnic Studies course will focus on topical issues that directly impact the lives of the Seniors of Richmond Cal Prep. 

Integrated Science 1

Course Number(s): 9303007, Repeat 9303022

• INTEGRATED SCIENCE: 9904521, Repeat 9904574 

Grade level: 9th grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. Please note: this is not a UC Area D-Science course. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject Science: Biological Sciences authorization preferred, Single Subject: Science authorization (any concentration) required (cannot be foundational-level)

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

The purpose of this course is to introduce the basic principles of biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. This course will emphasize how Earth is a unique system that supports life. Students will investigate how Earth’s biotic and abiotic systems are defined by the interaction of matter and energy through dynamic processes and, thus, impacting the biosphere over time. The content in integrated science presents the foundations of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science. The course will be focused around student learning through discovery and laboratory learning.

Introduction to Animal Science

Course Number(s): 

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: PENDING as of 12/25

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 10

Teacher Authorization: TBD

(Last reviewed by Credentials on TBD)

Description

This course is a scientific approach to the livestock industry encompassing aspects of animal anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics and epidemiology. Emphasis on the origin, characteristics, adaptations and contributions of livestock to the modern agriculture industry. Field trips might be required to attend.

Introduction to Kinesiology

Course Number(s): 9904859

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Science: Biological Sciences 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

Students will learn the basic fundamentals and skills necessary for the field of Kinesiology (The study of human movement). Instruction includes basic anatomy and physiology, assessment, prevention and treatment of athletic injuries, sports nutrition, biomechanics, and performance enhancement philosophies. In addition, students will learn about the possible career pathways within the field of Kinesiology. 

Introduction to Psychology

Course Number(s): 

Grade level: 10th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: PENDING as of 12/2025

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 10

Teacher Authorization: TBD

(Last reviewed by Credentials on TBD)

Description

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The content will focus on the exploration of major psychological theories, concepts, methods, and research findings highlighted in the field. Topics will include biological influences of behavior, perception, cognition and consciousness, memory, motivation, lifespan development, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders, brief introduction of therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology (assessment and diagnosis).  

Journalism

Course Number(s): 9803006, Repeat 9906009

• JOURNALISM: 9904516 

• JOURNALISM 1A: 9104329

• JOURNALISM 1B: 9014300

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course offers an in-depth survey of journalism, including news writing, interviewing, and writing stories (news, features, sports, editorials, and columns). It also covers the history of journalism, newspaper terminology, headline writing, copy and proofreading, advertising, page layout, and photo journalism. By joining research about the history of journalism with practical experience in producing a student-run newspaper, this course challenges students to develop basic reading and writing skills which will prepare them for further academic and professional success.

Kinesiology

Course Number(s): 9905956

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Science: Biological Sciences 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

The need for young people to understand and engage in personal fitness, health education, and athletic training is necessary to develop healthy habits of mind and body. This course encompasses the field of athletic training and fitness instruction. It provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to establish a career path in Kinesiology in roles such as athletic trainer, physical therapist, physical education teacher, athletic coaches, or personal trainer. The Kinesiology course includes physical activity, medical & fitness terminology, ethics, treatment and prevention of injuries, nutrition and weight control, heathy habits learning, therapeutic modalities and physical rehabilitation, professionalism, communication and teamwork, and basic first-aid preparedness. The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of phyical fitness, healthy habits as it related to anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the human body.  

Link Crew

Course Number(s): 9905966

Grade level: 10th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Any full teaching credential 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

Link Crew is a two-semester course that combines high-level critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills with mentorship and entrepreneurial project experiences and implementation. Students will study team building, personal/institutional organization, leadership, communication, self-awareness, and personal development. Findings from these studies and experiences will lead students to become empathic and responsible citizens who can apply their knowledge to larger-scale future projects as their ages, resources and scopes increase. Students will implement these concepts as they craft and execute their events, projects and presentations. Students will work both individually and collaboratively to synthesize course material with knowledge from core classes.  The Link Crew course students will collaborate with approximately 30 "Link Crew Leaders" each academic year to develop team-building activities to be conducted in Link Crew teams with ninth grade students.   

Personal Finance 

Course Number(s): 9907095

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject Credential: Business

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/11/25)

Description

The Full-Year personal finance course covers all of the essential personal finance topics necessary to become a financially capable student.  Topics include banking, credit, budgeting, investing, career, and more.

Psychology (English)

Note: There is another Psychology (Area G: Interdisciplinary) course approved in UC CMP

Course Number(s): 9904528 

Grade level: 9-12th

Grad requirement: No 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading : Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English authorization required (Single Subject: Social Science authorization required for the Interdisciplinary version)

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

The Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatments of psychological disorders, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas

Public Policy, Argumentation, and Debate 

Course Number(s): 9085001 

Grade level: 10th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: English authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

The Public Policy, Argumentation, and Debate course helps students build skills of original research, argumentation, civic literacy, and public speaking, using the competitive team activity of debate as focus and motivation. Policy debate as taught in the course is positioned as a direct preparation for college studies in political science, public policy, sociology, communication studies, and history.

Robotics (Intro to Robotics)

Course Number(s): 9904468

• INTRO TO ROBOTICS: 9904701, Repeat: 9906013

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Computer Science OR Single Subject: Industrial Technology Education OR Single Subject: Math OR Single Subject: Physics. Please contact Credentials for the appropriate Teacher Authorization information.

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 6/20/24)

Description

The course will focus on aspects of engineering and robotics, particularly different types of engineering and encourage them to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or math. They will learn the basics of computer programming, manufacturing using the engineering design process, as well as principles of physics; ultimately the class will culminate with a robot build and competition. 

Senior Seminar: College and Career Readiness

Course Number(s): 9904602

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Any full teaching credential 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

College and Career Readiness a year-long course that offers insight that assists students in learning valuable skills and resources necessary to apply for college, choosing a career path, and creating a post secondary plan. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the self and available postsecondary options through a variety of assessments such as video projects, job speeches, research assignments, online portfolio, research papers, and group discussions. Specifically, students will use career panels and assessments to identify academic and career interests, skills, values, and careers for their individual personality types. Students will also research career fields and clusters, learn career research techniques, and demonstrate understanding of course materials through essay writing. Lastly, we will use career assessments from Naviance that lead to career pathways and clusters as a tool of research. 

Social Justice (Intro to Social Justice)

Course Number(s): 9804088

• SOCIAL JUSTICE: 9104164

• SOCIAL JUSTICE A: 9104393

• SOCIAL JUSTICE B: 9104394

Grade level: 10th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Social Science authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 6/20/24)

Description

This course will explore a historical and contemporary understanding of the ways in which social differences that include race, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, disability and sexuality, have shaped social, political and cross-cultural relationships in the United States.  Through a critical study of various genres of non-fiction and fiction prose, political speeches, poetry and informational texts, students will investigate issues of power and privilege beyond a superficial “celebration” of diversity. Students will analyze their own identities and the effects of interpersonal, structural and institutionalized oppression on their lives through extensive personal reflection, research, formal and informal writing and dialogic discourse.  With critical textual analysis and writing as a strong foundation, students will engage in design-thinking and community action projects to foster active social engagement.

Sociology

Course Number(s): 9907149

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Semester

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject – Social Sciences 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 6/5/2025)

Description

This course seeks to build research skills through the study of how humans organize themselves and form relationships in society and the effects of those organizations.  The study of this course will look to understand the role individuals play in society and how their actions/behaviors may or may not be predetermined by where they live.  The course will open with a theoretical study to grasp an understanding of how society is organized.  From here we will employ research methods to explore such subtopics that include culture, social norms, inequality, gender, family, education, sports, and individual and group behaviors. 

STEM 

Course Number(s): 9104252, Repeat 9904651

• STEM (Block):9303019, Repeat 9904802

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter Grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single subject: science (any field, not introductory or foundational-level), OR Single subject: Industrial and Technology Education authorization required. 

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course utilizes an inquiry approach to an experiential based curriculum to facilitate the understanding of the scientific process and engineering techniques. This course will provide students an opportunity for reading technical documents, problem solving, project management, reflection and critical analysis of other’s work. Through the process of investigation and experimentation students will learn how to write a lab report and practice the engineering and design techniques as laid out by NGSS.

Student Government

Course Number(s): 9904481

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Any full teaching credential plus a local assignment under Title 5 §80005(b) required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

Student Government is a group of students that are charged with managing a wide range of events, activities, programs, policies, and initiatives around school.  Some members are elected by the student body, and others are appointed by their advisors and advisories.  Student government represents the best interests of a school’s student body and helps shape the student experience on campus.

Although Student Government is responsible for planning events and fostering school spirit, the Student Government elective class is about fostering leadership. The class will be focused on developing a better understanding of themselves and their capacity for leadership; understanding the importance of leadership in a democratic society, and to prepare students to assume leadership roles in the school and community.

Transition to College Mathematics

Course Number(s): 9203037

Grade level: 12th grade

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: Mathematics authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course is for students who have completed Algebra 2 but did not place into Community College math courses for senior year. The Transition to College Mathematics curriculum has been created by the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin (which also provides training for the course) and is in use in multiple states. Originally designed as a one semester college course to prepare entering college students for success in college mathematics, the curriculum has been revised to create an equivalent high school course that spans two semesters. The goal of this course is to develop students’ quantitative and algebraic reasoning abilities, thus preparing them for college success in multiple mathematics pathways.

Yearbook Publication

Course Number(s): 9104239

Grade level: 9th – 12th grades

Grad requirement: See text explanation at the top of this section. 

UC A-G approval: Yes

Grading: Letter Grade

Semester or Yearlong: Yearlong

Credits per semester: 5

Teacher Authorization: Single Subject: art authorization required

(Last reviewed by Credentials on 2/7/24)

Description

This course is designed to provide practical, specific experiences with the goal being publication of the yearbook. Topics that will be covered include writing copy, captions and headlines, designing layouts, desktop publishing, photography, communication skills, interviewing, independent thinking skills, and responsibility. Members are expected to assume the responsibilities and self-discipline necessary to contribute to the success of such an organization. Yearbook teaches real-world skills such as, meeting deadlines, working with your peers, working with advanced and professional technology, communication and responsibility.