Course Information:

• Grade Level: 9

• Length: Each separate course is semester long. Freshmen take both courses their freshmen year.

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; 

In the first semester, students will learn both physical and human geography through the study of regions, conflict and cooperation, migration, trade, and population distribution, density, and change. Students will examine how physical geography can impact populations as well as how people can impact physical geography. In the second semester, students will examine world history through the study of world religions, revolutions, nationalism and imperialism, and genocide. Students will study these concepts through an economic, political, and social lens. Primary and secondary sources will be analyzed to gain insight into moments of history. Each course is a semester long. Freshmen take both courses their freshmen year.  

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 10

• Length: YEAR

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

This is a continuation of the 8th grade United States History course.  The class provides a short survey of United States history from 1770-1860 and a detailed analysis of United States history from 1865-2001.  The course will focus on economic, social, political, and geographical history. 

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 10-12

• Length: YEAR

• Class Fee: $96 (includes AP exam fee)

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

Following the College Board's suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level U.S. History courses, AP U.S. History courses provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to address critical problems and materials in U.S. history.  Students learn to assess historical materials and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship.  The course examines the discovery and settlement of the New World through the recent past.  Students may earn college credit based upon their performance on the AP Exam.  

Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week on work outside of this class.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

The opportunity for most United States citizens to acquire the knowledge and dispositions essential for the informed effective citizenship during their school years.  Therefore, the United States government is designed to enhance responsible and informed participants in civic life. This course will incorporate the Colorado Civic content standards, and key themes will include the purpose of government and heritage of the United States government, comparative government, the Constitution as a living document, political parties, citizenship rights and responsibilities, state and local governments and government relations to world affairs. 

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 9-12

• Length: YEAR

• Class Fee: $97 (includes AP exam fee)

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

The purpose of the AP Human Geography course is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface.  Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences.  They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice.  Students may receive college credit for this course depending upon their results on the AP Exam administered in May.  Freshmen who take this course will not take Geography/World history. 

Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week on work outside of this class.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: YEAR

• Class Fee: $96 (includes AP exam fee)

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

This college-level seminar course introduces students to key political ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles and behaviors that characterize the political culture of the United States.  This course examines politically significant concepts and themes, through which students learn to apply disciplinary reasoning, assess the causes and consequences of political events, and interpret data to develop evidence-based arguments. 

Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week on work outside of this class.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: YEAR

• Class Fee: $96 (includes AP exam fee)

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

AP Comparative Government and Politics is an introductory college-level course in comparative government and politics. The course uses a comparative approach to examine the political structures; policies; and political, economic, and social challenges of six selected countries: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Students cultivate their understanding of comparative government and politics through analysis of data and text-based sources as they explore topics like power and authority, legitimacy and stability, democratization, internal and external forces, and methods of political analysis.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: Year

• Class Fee: $96 (includes AP exam fee)

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

AP World History: Modern is an introductory college-level modern world history course. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from c. 1200 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: Algebra I

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

The study of economics in the US and around the world. This class focuses on micro and macro views of the economic spectrum while spending some time on supply, demand, and price variance.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

This course is recommended for students who are interested in improving their thinking skills and who wish to gain a better understanding of the ways in which people think and use fallacies of logic to influence peoples' opinions and perspectives of the world around them.  Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to enter the next phase of their lives with skills that will be forever useful in their everyday lives and certainly in their future endeavors.  The course provides intense reflection on pertinent current and past issues and challenges students to question their perceptions and open their minds to others' viewpoints in an appropriate and guided way.  This course will also provide students with an understanding of the art of arguing by learning many fallacies of logic commonly used to manipulate the way people think. 

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

This course focuses on individual behavior and why an individual thinks, feels, and reacts to certain stimuli. Major emphases will be placed on research methods, personality, how the brain works, altered states of consciousness, social relationships, brain development and psychological disorders. It is a discussion based course where you will learn how the brain works and why do you think and act the way you do. 

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11 & 12

• Length: Year

• Class Fee: $97

• Prerequisite: None

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

AP Psychology is an introductory college-level psychology course. Students cultivate their understanding of the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes through inquiry-based investigations as they explore concepts like the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. NCAA, HEAR, All AP Courses are one year long. Students taking an AP Course are expected to complete the entire year.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 11-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: None

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description; Click here to watch the course video

This course studies human society and social behavior.  Positive human relationships are an essential part of a civilized society and how we interact with each other is important so we can find answers to questions and solve problems in our world.  "Sociology teaches us to look at life in a scientific, systematic way."  The way we view the world comes from what we learn in our everyday activities.  "The values, beliefs, lifestyles of those around us, as well as historic events help to mold us into unique individuals who have varied outlooks on social reality."  This course deals with the social atmosphere helping to make us who we are and how we behave.  Sociology will cover topics such as culture, violence, deviance, social control, socialization and personality, group behavior, social class, and social institutions.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 9-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: None

Course Description:

This course focuses on speech and debate, applicable law, and life skills. Students will be provided with the opportunity to step into the shoes of a trial attorney, judge, and/or witness trying a case in front of a jury of their peers. Topics covered include an introduction to law and the legal system, criminal law and juvenile justice, torts, family law, and mock trial.

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 9-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: 

  • ENG 1021 or AP Language and Composition Exam Score of 3 or higher

  • Approved VRHS CE Application and Dean of CE Approval Application and details can be found at bit.ly/vrconcurrent.

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description:

Examines the study of human cultural patterns, including communication, economic systems, social and political organizations, religion, healing systems, and cultural change.

This class is available on the VRHS campus. Passing this class with a C or higher will give you 1 high school Social Studies credit that is weighted on a 5.0 scale and 3 college credits. This class is a Guaranteed Transfer GT-SS3 class in Colorado and may transfer to out-of-state schools. 

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 9-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: 

  • ENG 1021 or AP Language and Composition Exam Score of 3 or higher

  • Approved VRHS CE Application and Dean of CE Approval Application and details can be found at bit.ly/vrconcurrent.

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description:

Explores trends within events, peoples–including Native American–groups, ideas, and institutions in North America and the United States to Reconstruction. This class focuses on developing, practicing, and strengthening skills historians use while constructing knowledge and studying a diverse set of narratives through perspectives such gender, class, religion, and ethnicity.

This class is available on the VRHS campus. Passing this class with a C or higher will give you 1 high school Social Studies credit that is weighted on a 5.0 scale and 3 college credits. This class is a Guaranteed Transfer GT-HI1 class in Colorado and may transfer to out-of-state schools. 

Course Information:

• Grade Level: 9-12

• Length: Semester

• Class Fee: None

• Prerequisite: 

  • ENG 1021 or AP Language and Composition Exam Score of 3 or higher

  • Approved VRHS CE Application and Dean of CE Approval Application and details can be found at bit.ly/vrconcurrent.

• NCAA, HEAR

Course Description:

Includes the background of the U.S. Constitution; the philosophy of American government; general principles of the Constitution; federalism; and civil liberties. Examines public opinion and citizen participation; political parties, interest groups, and the electoral process; and the structure and functions of the national government.

This class is available on the VRHS campus. Passing this class with a C or higher will give you 1 high school Social Studies credit that is weighted on a 5.0 scale and 3 college credits. Passing this class completes a mastery demonstration for the civics requirement. This class is a Guaranteed Transfer GT-SS1 class in Colorado and may transfer to out-of-state schools.