High School Course Guide

GEOGRAPHY COURSES

WORLD GEOGRAPHY STUDIES

GRADE LEVEL: 9-10                  CREDIT: 1

TX ID: 03320100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: This course will explore the connections between humans and their environment through the lens of various regional locations. It is the goal of this course that students develop a spatial awareness and understanding in order for them to recognize the influence of geography on the events of the past and present, as well as connect the patterns of humanity to their own understanding of contemporary issues in politics, economics, geography and society. 

AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

GRADE LEVEL: 9-10      CREDIT: 1

TX ID: A3360100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: The AP Human Geography course engages in college level preparation that focuses on cultural patterns, spatial organizations and the connections between people and places that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students enrolled in this course are required to take the AP Human Geography Exam.

WORLD HISTORY COURSES

WORLD HISTORY STUDIES

GRADE LEVEL: 9-11                CREDIT: 1

TX ID: 03340400

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: World History is a survey course of the history of humankind. The major emphasis is on the study of significant issues, events and people from various locations. Traditional historical points of reference in world history are analyzed using a variety of resources including primary documents to support critical thinking. 

PRE-AP WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

GRADE LEVEL: 9-10                  CREDIT: 1

TX ID: 03320100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Pre-AP World History and Geography focuses deeply on building the skills, knowledge and confidence that will propel students through high school coursework, college, careers, and civic life. Three enduring ideas this social studies course is built around make it engaging and relevant: History is an interrelated story of the world. History and geography are inherently dynamic. Historians and geographers are investigators. Learning in Pre-AP World History and Geography is designed to be a disciplinary apprenticeship where students participate in the process of discovery. Students will play the role of historian and geographer by practicing the detective skills and using the tools of each field of study. 

AP WORLD HISTORY

GRADE LEVEL: 10                CREDIT: 1

TX ID: A3370100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the world from c.1200 CE to the present. Students will analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing historical arguments.

U.S. HISTORY COURSES

U.S. HISTORY STUDIES SINCE 1877

GRADE LEVEL: 11             CREDIT: 1

TX ID: 03340100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: This course examines the eras of U.S History from the Gilded Age to present. The course explores themes based on political, economic, geographic, and social issues through the use of critical thinking skills. Students identify and analyze cause and effect relationships through the lens of change and continuity over time to better understand the United States today. 

UNITED STATES HISTORY ALTERNATE

GRADE LEVEL: 11         CREDIT: 1

TX ID: 03340107                  

PREREQUISITE(S): Placement by ARD; Students must have an IEP goal for any special education course.

Course Description: Students in this course focus on U.S. history from Reconstruction to the present. Students analyze major themes and events in U.S. history, which include: leaders, political institutions, technological innovations, economics and the philosophies that affect the United States today. 

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY

GRADE LEVEL: 11                CREDIT: 1

TX ID: A3340100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the United States from c. 1491 to the present. Students will  analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence while writing essays expressing historical arguments. College Board requires that students learn how to evaluate sources, analyze claims, evidence and reasoning, place historical developments in context with connections and create a thesis with the ability to explain and support it in writing. 

ON-RAMPS UNITED STATES HISTORY

GRADE LEVEL: 11                CREDIT: 1

TX ID: 03340100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: This course is a combined two semester course in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin. Semester 1: United States History from 1492-1865 and Semester 2: United States since Reconstruction. Students in this course study significant themes in U.S History through the use of lectures, primary and secondary readings, video, apps and other graphics. Critical thinking is used through collaborative work as a class and the independent tasks provided to each student, oftentimes in the form of written responses. Students enrolled in On-Ramps should be prepared for college level reading and writing assignments with an expectation of collaboration with peers. 

GOVERNMENT COURSES

U.S. GOVERNMENT

GRADE LEVEL: 12                CREDIT: .5

TX ID: 03330100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Students will examine governmental processes at national, state and local levels. The content of the course will include: governmental theories, concepts of democracy, the foundations of our national and state government, civil liberties, and personal political responsibilities.

AP UNITED STATES  GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

GRADE LEVEL: 12                CREDIT: .5

TX ID: A3330100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Students will examine topics in government and politics in the United States including: governmental theories, concepts of democracy, foundations of our national and state government, civil liberties, and personal political responsibilities. 

ECONOMICS COURSES

ECONOMICS WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AND ITS BENEFITS

GRADE LEVEL: 12                CREDIT: .5

TX ID: 03310300

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Students will focus is on the basic principles concerning production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services (the problem of scarcity) in the United States and a comparison with those in other countries around the world. Students analyze the interaction of supply, demand, and price. Students will investigate the concepts of specialization and international trade, economic growth, key economic measurements, and monetary and fiscal policy. Students will study the roles of the Federal Reserve System and other financial institutions, government, and businesses in a free enterprise system. Types of business ownership and market structures are discussed. The course also incorporates instruction in personal financial literacy. Students apply critical-thinking skills using economic concepts to evaluate the costs and benefits of economic issues.

PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ECONOMICS

GRADE LEVEL: 12                CREDIT: .5

TX ID: 03380083

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Students will survey the impact of demand, supply, various industry structures, and government policies on the market for goods, services, and wages for workers. Macroeconomic study involves economic systems with an emphasis on free enterprise market systems, goals of full employment, price stability, and growth while examining problems such as unemployment and inflation and the policies enacted to address them. It is an integrative course that applies the same economic way of thinking developed to making choices about how to allocate scarce resources in an economy to how to make them at the personal level. The course requires that students demonstrate critical thinking by exploring how to invest in themselves with education and skill development, earn income, and budget for spending, saving, investing, and protecting. Students will examine their individual responsibility for managing their personal finances and understand the impact on standard of living and long-term financial well-being. Further, students will connect how their financial decision making impacts the greater economy.

AP MICROECONOMICS 

GRADE LEVEL: 12                CREDIT: .5

TX ID: A3310100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Students will examine topics including: basic economic concepts, nature and functions of product markets, factor markets, market failure, and the role of government.

ETHNIC STUDIES COURSES

ETHNIC STUDIES: AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES 

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12         CREDIT: 1.0

TX ID: 03380085

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: An elective course that examines the history and culture of Africa and the African-American experience in an interdisciplinary format, including an analysis of the unique historical, cultural, and social developments from before colonialism to present day. The course will address the literary and artistic contributions of African-Americans to American culture. Critical thinking, reading, writing, and oral presentation skills are emphasized.

ETHNIC STUDIES: LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12          CREDIT: 1.0

TX ID: 03380001

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: An elective course that examines the history and culture of Latin America and the Latin(o/a/x) experience in an interdisciplinary format, including an analysis of the unique historical, cultural, and social developments from before colonialism to present day. The course will address the literary and artistic contributions of Latin(o/a/x) Americans to American culture. Critical thinking, reading, writing, and oral presentation skills are emphasized.

ADDITIONAL SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES

PSYCHOLOGY 

GRADE LEVEL: 11-12      CREDIT: .5

TX ID: 03350100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Students will examine the scientific study of human behavior through concepts, theories, practices, and investigations.  

SOCIOLOGY 

GRADE LEVEL: 11-12         CREDIT: .5

TX ID: 03370100

PREREQUISITE(S): none

Course Description: Students will examine the scientific study of human society through concepts, theories, social practices, and case studies.   

LIFE 101

GRADE LEVEL: 11-12           CREDIT: .5 

TX ID: 03380001

PREREQUISITE(S): none (topics most applicable to juniors and seniors)

Course Description: Students have identified certain topics that they would like to have experience with prior to graduation. Topics include self-awareness, self-care, time management, skills for living independently, planning for the future, and maintaining healthy relationships.