senior level classes

404410 US Government

Prerequisite: None. 

Credit: .5

US Government is a one-semester core course for 12th-grade students, covering the basic principles, concepts, and practices of the U.S. government. A major focus of the course deals with the foundation and structure of government as it relates to the U.S. Constitution (legislative, executive, and judicial branches). Other topics include relationships between state and federal governments, foreign affairs and policy, landmark cases of the Supreme Court, as well as participatory problem-solving, and writing and research skills.

404430 AP Government & Politics

Prerequisite: none 

Previous Honors/AP level class experience is highly recommended 

Credit: .5

AP Government & Politics is a one-semester core course for 12th-grade students. The course is a study of the required government course content in depth and is designed to give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. It involves the study of the Constitutional underpinnings of the U.S. government, political beliefs, political parties and pressure groups, civil rights and civil liberties, the institutions of government, and policy making. 

• Students who obtain a qualifying score on the AP exam may receive college/university credit, advanced placement, or both.

• Students who take this course are eligible for a 15-point “bump” in their GPA.

404440 ACC American Government

Prerequisite: Students must meet ACC enrollment requirements. 

Credit: .5

This course is an introduction to the United States national government. The course includes a framework for understanding the United States government and politics and the constitutional basis for the processes, institutions, and the policies of United States government and politics.

• ACC is not required to follow the DSISD grading policy, meaning students may not be able to relearn material or retake assessments. 

• Students who take this course are eligible for a 10-point “bump” in their GPA.

404640 ACC Texas Government

Prerequisite: Students must meet ACC enrollment requirements. 

Credit: 5

This course is an introduction to Texas state and local government. The course includes a framework for understanding the Texas government and politics and the constitutional basis for the processes, institutions, and policies of the Texas government and politics. 

• ACC is not required to follow the DSISD grading policy, meaning students may not be able to relearn material or retake assessments.

404511 Personal Financial Literacy & Economics

Prerequisite: None.

Credit: .5

Personal Financial Literacy is a one-semester course for 12th-grade students. The focus of PFLE is to develop students into citizens who have the knowledge and skills to make sound, informed financial decisions that will allow them to lead financially secure lives and understand personal financial responsibility. The knowledge gained in this course will have far-reaching effects on students personally as well as the economy as a whole. When citizens make wise financial decisions, they gain opportunities to invest in themselves, build businesses, responsibly consume goods and services, and secure a future without depending on outside assistance.

404530 AP Macroeconomics

Prerequisite: None 

Previous Honors/AP level class experience is highly recommended             

Credit: .5

Explore the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course investigates the effects of government spending and taxation and the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. Macroeconomics is concerned with unemployment, inflation, and the business cycle. 

• Students who obtain a qualifying score on the AP exam may receive college/university credit, advanced placement, or both.

• Students who take this course are eligible for a 15-point “bump” in their GPA.

404541 UT OnRamps Economics

Prerequisite: None.      

Credit: .5

UT OnRamps Economics introduces students to the principles, models, and conditions that influence how consumers, businesses, governments, and workers make and evaluate economic decisions. The course emphasizes microeconomics concepts and quantitative reasoning as students employ logic, mathematics, and technology to interpret basic statistics and apply economic analysis. It also features macroeconomics topics and personal financial literacy content in addition to core concepts including scarcity and opportunity costs, supply and demand, market structures, competition, and behavioral economics.  Designed by UT Austin faculty, OnRamps provides high school students the chance to experience innovative, college-level courses. They can earn both high school and college credit. High school teachers facilitate the course and help prepare work submitted to the University of Texas. Students receive college credit from UT Austin and also have the opportunity to drop the class without the grade affecting a college GPA if the grade is not what the student desires. Students receive 3 hours of college credit after this course. 

• UTOnRamps is not required to follow the DSISD grading policy, meaning students are not able to relearn material or retake assessments. Classwork is graded by UT graders and is not eligible for reassessment. 

• Students who take this course are eligible for a 10-point “bump” in their GPA.