Social Science Department
GEOGRAPHY / CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL ISSUES
SGS120-SGS121
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
10 Credits
Grade Level: 9
Grade Restrictions: 9th – 12th Grades
Prerequisites: None
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
This is a one year long social science course designed for 9th
grade students. As an interdisciplinary introduction to social
science, the course provides the foundation for the later study
of World and United States History, Economics, and United States
Government. This course also blends in contemporary global issues
into every unit of study. This course will introduce and develop
skills that will be needed in subsequent social studies classes,
such as mapping, analyzing social change over time and comparing
and contrasting diverse cultures. Additionally, students will
receive a 6 week unit addressing the rigors of high school at the
beginning of the school year.
WORLD HISTORY
SJS100-SJS101
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
10 Credits
Grade Level: 10
Grade Level Restrictions: 10th – 12th Grades
Prerequisites: None
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
Emphasizing the study of European culture related to its
influence on the political, cultural, and intellectual
development of the United States. World History provides
sophomore students with a general understanding of civilizations
and cultures world-wide. Students are expected to read and
provide written response to text material at a level consistent
with students planning on attending four-year College or
University.
AP WORLD HISTORY
SJS140-SJS141
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
10 Credits
Grade Level: 10
Grade Level Restrictions: 10th grade only
Prerequisites: CST – Proficient / Pass English 9 & Geography with
“B” or better / summer reading and assignments completed /
Teacher Recommendation
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop greater
understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts,
in interactions with different types of human societies. This
understanding is advanced through a combination of selective
factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course
highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and
their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major
societies. The student must be able to handle a significant
amount of outside reading. Sophomores will be given priority,
open also to junior and senior students as Social Study Elective
for AP Test Credit.
U.S. HISTORY
SHS201-SHS202
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
10 Credits
Grade Level: 11
Grade Level Restrictions: 11th grade only
Prerequisites: None
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
This course will explore the major turning points of the
twentieth century will be the primary focus. But other content
will include a review of concepts explored in earlier social
studies courses. By analyzing the Enlightenment we will see what
sort of impact the philosophers of this era had on American
democratic ideals and begin exploring the contradictions within
our nation’s ideas of freedom in the new country. From there we
will connect your study of industrialization on a global scale,
subjects learned in your 10th grade class with the impact
industrialization had on the American landscape and culture.
America’s growth from a largely isolationist country to the
world’s sole superpower will also be explored alongside the
incredible costs our country sustained for holding this role.
Additionally, we will investigate how the government’s role in
supporting the poor and ensuring equality has changed over time.
HONORS U.S. HISTORY
SHS303/SHS304
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
10 Credits
Grade Level: 11
Grade Level Restrictions: 11th grade only
Prerequisites: CST – Proficient / Pass English 10 & World History
with “B” or better / Pass Advanced English 10 & AP World with “C”
or better / Teacher Recommendation
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
This course uses a thematic unit approach that attempts to
combine present and past. Supplemental readings are an integral
part of this course and are designed to enhance the historical
framework offered by the text. Each unit poses a major question
and several objectives for students to reach. Students are
introduced to the most recent books on the subjects at hand and
expected to analyze and synthesize multiple perspective on
historical events. In addition to primary sources, students will
use art, film and music to examine perceptions of American
history. This course will emphasize the writing process and
assist students in developing higher level written and verbal
discourse.
AP U.S. HISTORY
SHS400-SHS401
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
10 Credits
Grade Level: 11
Grade Level Restrictions: 11th grade only
Prerequisites: CST – Proficient / Pass English 10 & AP World
History with “B” or better / Teacher Recommendation
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
This course is designed as a survey of American history from the
era of exploration to the present day. It is a rigorous
two-semester course and is meant to fulfill the same requirement
as a year of United States History at the college level. The
amount of reading and writing in this class is intense, and
students must be prepared to spend five hours or more a week on
homework. Students will learn to balance a massive amount of
factual information with critical analysis of primary and
secondary sources. Using a variety of tools essential to
historians, the students will develop the essential skills of
interpretation and evaluation to view single events from multiple
perspectives, and present their own arguments based on their
interpretation.
U.S. GOVERNMENT
SGS210 (Take w/ SXF203 MODERN ECONOMICS)
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
5 Credits
Grade Level: 12
Grade Level Restrictions: 12th grade only
Prerequisites: None
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
This is a single semester course that provides students with a
general working knowledge of federal, state, and local
government. Students learn about our Constitution and Bill of
Rights as “living” documents and study/analyze changing
interpretations as they exist throughout our history. Course
includes current events in our three branches of government and
provides opportunity for students to compare and contrast systems
of government worldwide.
MODERN ECONOMICS
SXF203 – Take with U.S. Government
SXS203 Take with AP U.S. Government
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
5 Credits
Grade Level: 12
Grade Level Restrictions: 12th grade only
Prerequisites: None
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
This course provides a general introduction to the concepts of
individual/firm (micro) and concepts that relate to the economy
as a whole (macro) economics as well as international economic
issues. Students will learn basic terminology and analytical
tools relating to economy and will have an opportunity to conduct
case studies. Consumer and personal economic decisions are
covered as well. MODERN ECONOMICS may be paired with U.S.
GOVERNMENT.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT
SGF410 (Take w/ SXS203 MODERN ECONOMICS)
(a-g) / Graduation Requirement
5 Credits
Grade Level: 12
Grade Level Restrictions: 12th grade only
Prerequisites: CST – Proficient / Pass English II & US History
with “B” or better / Pass AP English Language and AP/Honors US
History with a “C” or better / Teacher Recommendation
(Satisfies the Social Science Graduation Requirement and the
UC/CSU Elective “a-g” requirements)
This semester course is a study of the basic beliefs and ideals
which underlie American democracy; the historical roots; and how
it’s legal, governmental, and economic institutions affect public
policy at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Special emphasis is given to preparing the student for the
College Board’s Advanced Placement Test in American Government.