Grade Level: 9 

Credit: 1.0

Through both a chronological and thematic approach, the World History course explores the connections among the political, social, and economic forces of the past and applies their understanding to contemporary global issues. The course will emphasize such themes as power and authority, religious and ethical systems, revolutions, interaction with the environment, economics, cultural interaction, empire building, science, and technology. 

Credit Status: Requirement; OPU/NCAA approved 

Grade Level: 11 

Credit: 1.0 

The focus of this course is the study of the historical development of American ideas and institutions from the colonial period to contemporary times. Students will obtain knowledge of America through a chronological study of major issues, movements, people, and events in its history. The goal of the course is for students to gain an understanding of the factors that lead to the development of the United States as a world leader and how America has both successfully and unsuccessfully lived up to its mission statement - the Declaration of Independence. 

Credit Status: Requirement; OPU/NCAA approved 

Grade Level: 11 

Credit: 1.0 

AP U.S. History is a college-level, intensive study of the United States from its colonial beginnings to the present. The student will be asked to think historically, that is; determine validity, point of view, and bias, weigh evidence, evaluate conflicting positions, and make inferences. The student will be asked to establish relationships and facts and be able to formulate concepts and generalizations about events, people, and ideas into the present American history. 

Credit Status: Selective; OPU/NCAA approved 

Prerequisite: Application and teacher recommendation. Dual Credit Option: 9 PCC Credits (HST 201,202,203)

Grade Level: 12 

Credit: 0.5 

This class focuses on the U.S. federal government, the constitutional basis of the three branches, the philosophy of government, and the role of citizens in a democracy. This is the first of two required semesters of government studies. Offered fall semester only. 

Credit Status: Requirement; OPU/NCAA approved 

Grade Level: 12 

Credit: 0.5 

This class builds on Government by relating the U.S. free market economic system and freedoms in the U.S. Bill of Rights to personal finance. Students will gain essential knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about real-world financial issues, enabling them to make wise spending, saving, and credit decisions and to make effective use of income to achieve personal financial success. This fulfills the second of two required semesters of government and finance. Offered spring semester only. 

Credit Status: Requirement; OPU/NCAA approved 

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS • 3225 

Grade Level: 12 

Credit: 0.5 

This class is the study of the U.S. Government including its Constitution, institutions, policies, political parties, interest groups, role of media and civil rights and liberties. Offered fall semester only. 

Credit Status: Selective; OPU/NCAA approved 

Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and/or teacher recommendation, application 

This is an intensive college-level study of government systems. The theory behind and the practice of these systems, political policies, and economics as they relate to systems of government; the relationship of government to citizens; and the history behind the development of various government systems will be the focus. 

AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS • 3226 

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 1.0 

This course will concentrate on the alternative government systems and politics utilized around the world, with a focus on the six core countries: Iran, Russia, China, The United Kingdom, Mexico and Nigeria. Offered spring semester only. 

Credit Status: Selective; OPU/NCAA approved

Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and/or teacher recommendation, application

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 0.5 

Psychology is a semester-long elective course that aims to give students an understanding of human behavior - why people think, feel, and act the way that they do. While topics vary every semester based on student input and interest, the major units covered are neuro/brain science, human development, stress and mental health, psychological disorders, sleep and dreams, and learning and memory. This class is lecture and project based. 

Credit Status: Elective; OPU/NCAA approved 

Grade Level: 11-12 

Credit: 1.0 AP 

Psychology is a course for advanced students who are interested in learning about human behavior from a scientific perspective. Like all AP courses, AP Psychology is a college-level class. As such, this is an academically rigorous course and students are expected to take a great deal of individual responsibility for their work. This survey-style course will cover a huge range of topics including neuro/brain science, learning and memory, human development, psychological disorders, sleep and dreams, and many more. Students will gain an understanding of the methods used in development and verification of these theories based on human and animal behavior. The course is designed to provide the student with an in-depth and fascinating learning experience and to prepare the student to take the Advanced Placement Examination in Psychology. 

Credit Status: Elective; OPU/NCAA approved 

Prerequisite: Student application

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 1 AP 

African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with varied sources. Students explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment. Themes covered in the class will be: Migration and the African Diaspora; Intersections of Identity, Creativity, Expression, and the Arts; and Resistance and Resilience. 

Credit Status: Elective, OPU/NCAA approved 

Prerequisite: Student application 

Grade Level: 11-12 

Credit: 1.0 

These two courses combine for a full year of Constitution Team in the first semester, and then the Citizen Action Project with finance curriculum the second semester. The courses offers an enjoyable and rigorous counterpart (or alternative) to traditional U.S. government classes. Constitution Team is an honors-level class that prepares students to participate in the We the People program, a national competition focused on public speaking and knowledge of government and the U.S. Constitution. Students work in small groups, with volunteer attorney coaches, to prepare written and oral responses to a set of detailed historical, philosophical, and practical governmental questions. Students are required to meet with their units and coaches outside of class 1-2 times per week, including mandatory Monday night team meetings. Class size is capped at 36 students; if the class has more than 36 signed up, seniors have top priority, followed by juniors who have participated in the Constitution Club program. May be taken in place of Government and Politics and Finance; may be taken at the same time as AP U.S. History or AP U.S. Government and Politics. 

Credit Status: Selective; OPU/NCAA approved 

Prerequisite: Preference to juniors currently enrolled in AP U.S. History and seniors enrolled in AP U.S. Government and Politics, application 

Grade Level: 9-12 

Credit: 0.5 (possible 1.0 credit) 

Meeting Times: Summer workshop, weekly lunch meetings, monthly dinner meetings, and periodic off-site guest speakers The Presidential Character in Leadership Academy is a four- year enrichment program that will develop integrity, courage, resilience, and faith in students who desire to impact the Central Catholic High School community and beyond. This class will focus on the personal development of each student. Scholars will focus on teamwork, public speaking skills, and time management. Core lessons will revolve around building values and character, ensuring personal health, and seeking social justice for all. Students will seek to improve the culture of Central Catholic through their willingness and desire to create and maintain a positive community. This class will meet primarily during scheduled lunch periods, but will also include hours outside of the regular school day and during the summer. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisites: Once accepted into the Academy, students will remain in the program all four years as long as they continue to meet the program criteria 

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 0.5 

This course is designed to introduce students to the theories, concepts and areas of inquiry that typically characterize sociological analyses. Specific areas to be covered may include: culture, socialization and social interaction, social groups, deviance, social class, race and ethnicity, sex and gender, and aging. Students will gain an understanding of what it takes to prepare for the future and the role of social problems in a changing society. 

Credit Status: Elective; OPU/NCAA approved 

Grade Level: 9-12 

Credit: 1.0 

Period: 0 Depending on group (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) or (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) Leadership is a course for students elected into class council, and is designed to explore a wide range of techniques and concepts to maximize student involvement in the Central Catholic community and beyond. Students will be expected to cover a wide range of material at a fast pace, to possess independent study skills, the ability to perform group work with multiple student sub-groups, and a strong work ethic. Students will focus on time management skills, motivational and marketing techniques, and basic business principles. The class will also focus on personal development of character virtues, engagement, teamwork, public speaking, time management, social justice, and personal health. Professional development of business and marketing concepts, photoshop skills, filmmaking techniques, and use of social media will also be covered. The course will include periodic self assessments, peer assessments, and group assessments. This class will meet primarily before school, but will also include hours outside of the regular school day and during the summer. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisites: Interested participants will submit applications, essays, teacher recommendations, and will go through an interview and selection process. Students can participate for multiple years, but must reapply each year.