Social Science

College Prep

UC approved list A

10 Credits

This course is designed to develop an awareness and basic understanding of Western Civilization. This course includes a review of unresolved problems of the modern world and the development of democratic ideas. Emphasis is given to the historical, cultural, economic and political events and issues of this historical period and selected regional case studies. The role of geography shaping world culture and events is integrated throughout the course.

College Prep - Weighted

UC approved list A

10 Credits

This course is a two-semester course that examines the processes and patterns of human development in relation to the resources of the earth. On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to understand and interpret maps, spatial data sets, the implications of associations among phenomena in places, the importance of scale as well as define and evaluate the process for determining various regions and analyze the changing interconnections among places. The major themes covered are: The Nature of Human Geography; Population; Cultural Patterns and Processes; Political Organization of Space; Agricultural and Rural Land Use; Industrialization and Development; and Urbanization.

College Prep - Weighted

UC approved list A

10 Credits

This course provides the academically motivated student with college level coursework which focuses on analytic skills and the factual knowledge to deal critically with the problems and issues in European History from 1450 to the present. This study incorporates the political, economic, diplomatic, geographic, social, and cultural forces and conditions that help shape modern Europe. Emphasis is placed on a critical examination of historical events using both primary and secondary sources as a basis for interpretation and analysis. Students completing the course are eligible to take the Advanced Placement Test in European History whereby college credit may be received with the attainment of a passing score. Subsequent to the AP exams, the curriculum focus will be on modern Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

College Prep 

UC approved list A

10 Credits

This course is designed to develop an awareness and understanding of United States History and geography in the twentieth century. This course includes a review of the political, social, and economic developments leading to the emergence of the United States as an industrial power in 1900. Emphasis is then given to an in-depth study of the political, economic, social, cultural, geographical, and diplomatic events and issues of twentieth-century America.

College Prep - Weighted

UC approved list A

10 Credits

This Advanced Placement course meets the U.S. History requirements and is designed to be both quantitatively and qualitatively different from college preparatory U.S. History. This course provides the academically motivated students with collegiate experience that focuses on analytic skills and factual knowledge to deal critically with the problems and issues in U.S. History from the pre-colonial period to the present. Political, economic, diplomatic, geographic, social and cultural forces and conditions that helped shape this great nation are studied. Emphasis is placed on a critical examination of historical events using both primary and secondary sources as a basis for interpretation and analysis. Students completing the course are eligible to take the Advanced Placement Test in U.S. History and may receive college credit.

College Prep 

UC approved list G

5 Credits

This required course is designed to deepen an understanding of the American economic system and fundamental economic principles. Emphasis is also placed on the economic institutions in the United States, preparing students to be informed and successful participants in the marketplace. international trade, and comparative economic systems.

College Prep 

UC approved list A

5 Credits

This course is designed to develop an understanding of the institutions of American government and how those institutions are influenced by the participation of the American people as voters, activists, and policymakers. This course marks the culmination of civic literacy that will prepare students to actively engage in their civic responsibilities, participating in democracy as informed and active voters, jurors, and community-minded citizens.

College Prep - Weighted

UC approved list G

10 Credits

This Advanced Placement course meets the economics requirement for graduation. It is designed to be qualitatively and quantitatively different from the college preparatory economics course. This course provides the academically motivated students with a collegiate experience that focuses on higher order thinking skills, writing skills and interpretation of pertinent data. This course develops the tools necessary for an analytical treatment of microeconomics. Emphasis is placed on historical economic thought, the forces of supply and demand, and competition.

College Prep 

UC approved list G

5 Credits

This elective course is designed to introduce 11th and 12th grade students to psychology, with a focus on the scientific study of human development, motivation, learning, and personality. Classroom instruction reflects a historical perspective on psychology as the study of individual behavior, while analyzing theories by scholars like Freud, Maslow, Pavlov, Rogers, Skinner, Erikson and Piaget.

College Prep 

UC approved list G

5 Credits

This elective course is designed to introduce 11th and 12th grade students to sociological concepts, theories, and procedures. Classroom instruction is designed to show how sociologists analyze the basic structures and functions of societies and the groups within societies. Students will discover how societies become organized, identify conditions under which social disorganization occurs, and develop strategies for their reorganization.