Social Sciences

Course Code: 321110, 321120
Open to:  10
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: Two trimesters
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

This course is designed to examine major turning points in the shaping of the modern world from the Enlightenment to Post World War II.  Focus is made on democratic ideals, revolutions and the world wars as they shaped and fostered growing interdependence of peoples and cultures throughout the world.

Course Code: 321310, 321320
Open to: 10
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation
Length of Course: Two trimesters
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

This course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university European History course. Students will investigate significant events, individuals, developments and processes in four historical periods from approximately 1450 to the present.  It will develop and use the same skills, practices and methods employed by historians: analyzing historical evidence, contextualization, comparison, etc. Students explore six themes throughout the course that encourages them to make connections among historical developments in different times and places.  At the end of the course, students are strongly encouraged to take the AP Exam; this may result in the earning of college credits.

Course Code: 322110, 322120
Open to:  11
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: Two trimesters
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

This course is designed with a selective review of American history from the Founding of the Nation to 9/11.  First semester studies the larger themes of US Founding; Civil War and Reconstruction; Immigration, Industrialization and Progressivism; US Imperialism; the 1920’s and the Great Depression.  Second semester studies the larger themes of WWII; Cold War; Civil Rights Movement; Vietnam and Counterculture Movement; Modern Day Issues. Students focus on the social, political, and economic effects of these issues as well the effects on disadvantaged social groups.

Course Code: 322310, 322320
Open to:  11
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation
Length of Course: Two trimesters
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

This course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university U.S. History course.  Students will investigate significant events, individuals, developments and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present.  It will develop and use the same skills, practices and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparisons; utilizing reasoning about contextualization, causation, and continuity and change over time, etc. Students will explore seven themes throughout the course that encourages them to make connections among historical developments in different times and places.  At the end of the course, students are strongly encouraged to take the AP Exam; this may result in the earning of college credits.

Course Code: 323100
Open to:  12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: One trimester
College Entrance: Meets one semester of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

This course is designed to explore the origins, development, structure, and functions of the U.S. Federal Government. Topics include the constitutional framework; federalism; the three branches of government, including the bureaucracy; civil rights and liberties; political participation and behavior; and policy formation. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and participatory processes of the American political system. Basic concepts of state and local government and their relationships with the federal government are also examined.

Course Code: 323200
Open to:  12
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation
Length of Course: One trimester
College Entrance: Meets one semester of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behavior. They also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they complete a political science research or applied civics project. At the end of the course, students are strongly encouraged to take the AP Exam; this may result in the earning of college credits.

Course Code: 323300
Open to:  12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: One trimester
College Entrance: Meets one semester of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

Economics is the study of how people choose to use resources. Using that as a starting point, students will explore the operations and institutions of economic systems, as well as studying basic economic concepts, government involvement through taxes, individual and corporate economic behavior, global economic concepts, and personal finance.

Course Code: 323500
Open to:  12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: Two trimesters
College Entrance: Meets one semester of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

AP Macroeconomics is an introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination; it also develops students' familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts. At the end of the course, students are strongly encouraged to take the AP Exam; this may result in the earning of college credits.

Course Code: 323400
Open to:  12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: One trimester
College Entrance: Meets one semester of UC/CSU (a) History/Social Science requirement

This course gives students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system. The course will explore competition and its role in promoting greater free market efficiency as well as analyze free market failures and how to fix them. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product markets, factor markets, and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy.  At the end of the course, qualified students may take the Microeconomics AP test.

Course Code: 231300
Open to:  9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: One trimester
College Entrance: Pending approval of UC/CSU (g) Elective requirement

Practical experience is gained through management of student government and activities.  The course covers parliamentary procedures, state-school law, ASB finance, group discussion techniques, principles of leadership behavior, advance planning, and problem solving. This course will provide systematic training for students interested in developing skills and willing to help fellow students improve attendance, increase academic achievement, and improve attitudes about self and school.  It will also provide student leadership experience, involve students in extracurricular activities, and include students in the decision-making process.

Course Code: 321330
Open to:  10
Prerequisite: Completion of AP European History
Length of Course: One trimester

The European History AP Seminar will continue in a format similar to the prior two trimesters, focusing on analytical skills and factual knowledge.  This course will also focus on review of prior units, test preparation, and enrichment.  Before the AP exam is given in May, this course will prepare students through not just a review of the course materials, but through practice and timed essay writing and multiple choice question strategies.

Course Code: 322330
Open to:  11
Prerequisite: Prior two trimesters of AP US History
Length of Course: One trimester

The United States History Seminar AP course will provide students with both a comprehensive review of U.S. History, and a series of practice strategies in preparation for the Advanced Placement exam offered in May.  Students will practice multiple-choice questions, document-based essay questions (DBQ), and free-response essay questions (FRE) with a view to scoring high enough on the exam to earn advanced placement college credit.

Course Code: 323600
Open to:  12
Prerequisite: AP Government and Politics: US and AP Macroeconomics
Length of Course: One trimester

The Government and Politics: US/Economics AP Seminar will continue in a similar format to the prior courses in Economics AP and Government AP, focusing on analytical skills and factual knowledge.  This course will also focus on review of prior units, test preparation, and enrichment.  Before the AP exam is given in May, this course will prepare students through not just a review of the course material, but through practice and timed essay writing and multiple choice question strategies.

Course Code: 321200
Open to:  10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: One trimester
College Entrance: Meets one semester of UC/CSU (g) Elective requirement

Sociology is essentially the study of human behavior and social structures. In this one semester course, we will examine social phenomena from an academic perspective looking for patterns of social interaction and how those interactions influence human behavior. Topics include, but are not limited to, race and ethnicity, religion, family, deviance and crime, and culture.  Through a variety of methods, students will explore different sociological ideas from an educational perspective in order to develop their own social perspectives and critical thinking skills.

Course Code: 331100
Open to:  10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: One trimester
College Entrance: Meets one semester of UC/CSU (g) Elective requirement

Psychology P is the scientific study of the way the human mind works and how it influences behavior. This one semester course acts as an introduction to the field of psychology, and will include the study of topics such as: identity and personality, human development, learning, motivation, emotions, and altered states of consciousness. Students will have the opportunities to explore scientific perspectives on human behavior and learn about various careers associated with this field of study.