Social Science
2170 American Government/Civics (P) - Grade 12 - UC, CSU Semester
This course enables students to pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American government. They compare systems of government in the world today and analyze the life and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government. An emphasis is placed on analyzing the relationship among federal, state and local governments, with particular attention paid to important historical documents such as The Federalist Papers. These standards represent the culmination of civic literacy as students prepare to vote, participate in community activities and assume the responsibilities of citizenship. Successful completion of this course is a graduation requirement.
2290 Economics (P) - Grade 12 - UC, CSU Semester
This course will emphasize the principles of economics and of our economic system. Information will be included which will assist students in making reasoned judgments about economic questions in matters of economic policy as well as narrower, but significant, personal economic questions. In order to achieve this basic understanding, students should master the fundamental economic concepts, learn how the principal concepts of economics relate to each other, and understand the structure of economic systems. Successful completion of this course is a graduation requirement.
2850 Study Skills Across the Curriculum 1 - Grade 9 Year
(May be repeated for credit)
2851 Study Skills Across the Curriculum 2 - Grades 10-12 (May be repeated for credit) Year
Prerequisite: Recommended minimum of a "C/D" average, current English teacher recommendation, counselor recommendation, and/or course teacher recommendation, and reveals the potential for increased academic success but may be currently struggling in academic courses.
In this course, students will examine, model, and practice, techniques which will enhance his/her self-confidence, note taking skills, writing skills, and home study skills across the curriculum, as well as investigate selection techniques for post-high school education choices.
2130 United States History/Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century (P) Grade 11 - UC, CSU Year
This course examines the major turning points in American history in the 20th century. Following a review of the nation's beginnings and the impact of the Enlightenment on U.S. democratic ideals, students build upon the tenth-grade study of global industrialization to understand the emergence and impact of new technology and a corporate economy, including the social and cultural effects. This course traces the change in the ethnic composition of American society; the movement towards equal rights for racial minorities and women; and the role of the United States as a major world power. An emphasis is placed on the expanding role of the federal government and federal courts as well as the continuing tension between the individual and the state. Students consider the major social problems of our time and trace their causes in historical events. They learn that the United States has served as a model for other nations and that the rights and freedoms we enjoy are not accidents, but the results of a defined set of political principles that are not always basic to citizens of other countries. Students understand that our rights under the U.S. constitution comprise a precious inheritance that depends on an educated citizenry for their preservation and protection. Where appropriate, students will refer to primary source documents. Successful completion of this course is a graduation requirement.
2090 World History/Cultures (P) - Grade 10—UC, CSU Year
Students in grade ten study major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late 18th century through the present, including the cause and course of two world wars. They trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. They extrapolate from the American experience that democratic ideals are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable and are not practiced everywhere in the world. Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives.
2115 Advanced Placement Human Geography (H) - Grade 10—UC, CSU Y ear
Prerequisite: Honors US History and Honors English in the 8th grade with a grade of A or B (9th grade Honors English taken concurrently will be accepted) or teacher and counselor approval.
Students in grade ten study major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late 18th century through the present, including the cause and course of two world wars. They trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. They extrapolate from the American experience that democratic ideals are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable and are not practiced everywhere in the world. Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives.
2287 Advanced Placement (AP) Macroeconomics (P) - Grade 12 - UC, CSU Semester
Prerequisite: Recommendation from honors teacher.
This course examines the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The following themes are
emphasized: national income, economic performance measures, economic growth, and international economics. The course will also include the following microeconomics themes: opportunity costs, supply and demand, and business organization.
2300 Advanced Placement (AP) United States History (H) - Grade 11 UC, CSU Year
Prerequisite: Instructor/counselor approval.
Advanced Placement American History is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States History. Students will learn to assess historical materials--their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance--and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. Students will develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. Students will be trained to analyze and interpret primary sources, including documentary material, maps, statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic evidence of historical events. They should be able to express themselves with clarity and precision and know how to cite sources and credit the phrases and ideas of others. This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement American History examination.
2055 Advanced Placement (AP) World History & Cultures (H)—Grade 9—UC, CSU Year
Prerequisite: Instructor/counselor approval.
The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop greater understanding of the evolution of the global process and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. AP World History offers an approach that lets students “do history” through the steps an historian would take in analyzing historical events and evidence worldwide. The course offers balanced global coverage with Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe represented. Specific themes and consistent attention to contacts among societies form the core of world history as a field of study.
2840 Psychology (P) - Grades 11, 12 - UC, CSU Semester
Prerequisite: College preparatory course of study.
This college preparatory elective course is designed to provide the student with a general survey of the broad field of psychology, a fundamental knowledge of basic terms used in the field, an opportunity to explore current therapeutic methods, and an opportunity to explore physiological states, perception, cognition, motivation, memory, learned behavior, growth and development, social groups, emotions, personality and disorders.
Sociology (P) Grades 11,12
2845 Advanced Psychology (P) - Grades 11, 12 - UC, CSU Year
Prerequisite: College preparatory course of study and a “C” or better in Psychology.
This course is, in part, an in-depth survey of the field of psychology that includes human growth and development, personality development and mental health. It is also an opportunity to analyze in writing and discussion student's own personality, talents and goals and introduce peer counseling.
The following courses are designed for students identified through the I.E.P. process:
2940 01 American Government -
2930 01 American History -
2295 01 Economics-
2185 American Government Essentials –
2190 Economics Essentials –
2085 World History Essentials -
2995 Applied History and Social Science - Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Year
(Core requirement for students enrolled in the Life management and Transition Program, semester/year course, may be repeated for credit.)
Prerequisite: Identified SDC students enrolled in the Life Management and Transition Program as per the recommendations of the IEP team.
This four-year course is designed to give a general overview of the growth of the United States as a free nation, the major events of historical importance, as well as the figures who were involved in them. Students will be exposed to curriculum dealing with basic laws, voting procedures and elements that make a good citizen.