High School Social Studies Courses

In World Cultures, students will learn the six essentials of geography: spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and uses of geography. After a broad survey of Earth’s structure, hydrosphere and climates, the focus of each Unit narrows to a particular region of the world.

By examining the physical geography of each region, including water resources, climate, vegetation, and natural resources, students will understand the influence of geography on economic activities, human culture, and history. In addition, students will investigate the impact of human activity on the environment, including pollution and development, and consider the implications. Students will complete one research project (with multiple parts) each semester.

College Prep • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

In Honors World Cultures, students will learn the six essentials of geography: spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and uses of geography. After a broad survey of Earth’s structure, hydrosphere and climates, the focus of each Unit narrows to a particular region of the world. By examining the physical geography of each region, including water resources, climate, vegetation, and natural resources, students will understand the influence of geography on economic activities, human culture, and history.

In addition, students will investigate the impact of human activity on the environment, including pollution and development, and consider the implications. Students will complete one research project (with multiple parts) each unit. Honors level analysis, critical thinking, and writing assignments are added to the basics of this course utilizing a well-documented historical demonstration of the complex connection of varied civilizations.

Honors • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

World History is a survey of the development of civilizations from prehistoric times to the present. The journey begins with ancient civilizations including Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, and the foundations of western civilization: ancient Greece and Rome. Students will analyze developments in Africa, Asia, and Europe during the Middle Ages, including the Crusades. Students will understand how the Renaissance and Reformation provided a springboard for the Age of Reason and the Scientific Revolution.

An inquiry into events such as the American War of Independence and French Revolution will prepare students to consider the great advances and social upheaval sparked by the Industrial Revolution. Students will probe the causes, events, and consequences of the two world wars and the rise and fall of Communism. The course concludes with a look at developments shaping current events. Students will complete several essays and one research paper per semester.

College Prep • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

In Honors World History, students will study individual stories from specific societies to demonstrate how worlds that were separated by time and space converged, eventually resulting in today’s globalized world. Worlds apart, in other words, became worlds together. Societies with their own internal momentums were deeply influenced by other societies, states, and economies with which they interacted.

This course will help students to impose order on the ways in which social, political, economic, environmental, cultural, and technological developments caused worlds apart to become worlds together, from c. 9000 BCE to the present.

Honors • UC Honors Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

American History covers the discovery, development, and growth of the United States. Major topics include American Indian cultures, European colonization of the Americas, and the causes and effects of the American Revolution. Geographical, economic, and political factors are explored as the key factors in the growth of the United States of America. Part A is a survey of the struggle to build the United States of America from the colonial period to the beginning of the twentieth century.

By means of reading, analyzing, and applying historical data, students come to appreciate the forces that shaped our history and character as an American people. Not only are the topics of American history discussed, but students also explore research methods and determine accurate sources of data from the past. Knowing the facts and dates of history are just the beginning: each student must understand how history affects him or her. Part B begins with a study of American life before the 1929 Stock Market crash and how the Roaring Twenties influenced society in the late 19th through early 20th centuries. Students will examine the causes and consequences of the Great Depression and move on into a detailed study of World War II with an emphasis on America's role in the conflict.

The course continues with an analysis of the Cold War struggle and America's rise as a superpower. The Civil Rights and Women's rights movements, pollution and the environment, and American domestic and foreign policy will be examined. The course wraps up with a summary of current events and issues, including a study of the Middle East. Part B begins with an assessment of life in the United States pre‐World War I and ends with the conflicts of the new millennium. Students look at the nation in terms of economic, social, and political trends. The experiences of the last century are summarized, including a look into the civil rights issues that have embroiled the nation in conflict. The development of the United States of America into a superpower is explored within a global context.

College Prep • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

Honors American History is the study of the events, people, and culture of the United States over time. In Part A, you will learn about the history of the “New World” and review the events and principles behind the founding of the United States. Once founded, you will look at the initial growth and expansion of the United States up through the Civil War (The War of the Union) and the United States’ reconstruction after the war.

In Part B, you will learn about the railroads and industry after the war (focusing on the south and the west). That brings us to the twentieth century and all the exciting events that occurred including both World Wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, and the Korean War. Civil rights movements are also explored.

Honors • UC Honors Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

U.S. Government commences its examination of American democracy with a general overview of the purpose, types, origin, and formation of governments. Students will explore how colonial self-rule, English law, and weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation influenced the formation of the U.S. Constitution. Students will investigate the principles of the Constitution and the federal system. The purpose, powers, and relationships among the American institutions of self-government—Congress, Presidency, and the Judiciary—will be examined as well as federal, state, and local governments.

Students will become aware of their civic responsibility to vote and participate in the governmental process as they gain understanding of the functions and organization of political parties, the evolution of the two-party system, and the influence of public opinion and political ideology on government decisions.

College Prep • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

Honors U.S. Government commences its examination of the grand American experiment in democracy with a general overview of the purpose, types, origin, and formation of governments. Students will explore how colonial self-rule, English law, and weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation influenced the formation of the U.S. Constitution.

Students willinvestigate the principles of the Constitution and the federal system. The purpose, powers, and relationships among the American institutions of self-government—Congress, Presidency, and the Judiciary—will be examined as well as federal, state, and local governments. Students will become aware of their civic responsibility to vote and participate in the governmental process as they gain understanding of the functions and organization of political parties, the evolution of the two-party system, and the influence of public opinion and political ideology on government decisions. Students will complete several essays and contribute to a wiki during this course. Honors Projects are incorporated into every unit in the course

Honors • UC Honors Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

The Economics course begins with a survey of the basic principles concerning production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services within the free enterprise system. Students will examine the rights and responsibilities of consumers and businesses, analyze the interaction of supply, demand, and price, and study the role of financial institutions. Types of business ownership, market structures, and basic concepts of consumer economics will be surveyed.

The impact of a variety of factors including geography, government intervention, economic philosophies, historic documents, societal values, scientific discoveries, and technological innovations on the national economy, and economic policy will be an integral part of the course. Students will apply critical-thinking skills to create economic models and to evaluate economic activity patterns. Students will also examine the knowledge and skills necessary as self-supporting adults to make critical decisions relating to personal financial matters such as seeking college financial aid, using credit wisely, and balancing financial accounts. Students will complete a research project as part of their course.

College Prep • UC Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

The main goal of this course is to provide students with the tools needed to be able to make assessments about the economy. Topics include both macroeconomics and microeconomics. Students will be able to assess the news reports and make an individual analysis based on data and reports. It also covers topics on a larger scale such as market structures and international trade

Honors • UC Honors Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

How have African Americans shaped the culture of the United States throughout history? Tracing the accomplishments and obstacles of African Americans from the slave trade through emancipation, and to the modern African diaspora, you will learn about the political, economic, social, religious, and cultural factors that have influenced African American life. In African American History, you’ll come face to face with individuals who changed the course of history and learn more about slavery, racism, and the Civil Rights Movement. You will also explore how the history of African Americans influences current events today.

College Prep • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

Holocaust education requires a comprehensive study of not only times, dates, and places, but also the motivation and ideology that allowed these events. In this course, students will study the history of anti-Semitism; the rise of the Nazi party; and the Holocaust, from its beginnings through liberation and the aftermath of the tragedy. The study of the Holocaust is a multi-disciplinary one, integrating world history, geography, American history, and civics. Through this in-depth, semester-long study of the Holocaust, high school students will gain an understanding of the ramifications of prejudice and indifference, the potential for government-supported terror, and they will get glimpses of kindness and humanity in the worst of times.

College Prep • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

Philosophy and Ethics provides students an introduction to the field of philosophy and ethics and its great, timeless questions. This course will help students (1) see why ethics matters to society and to themselves, (2) understand core concepts (theories, principles, values, virtues, and the like), (3) be familiar with the background (scientific, legal, and otherwise) of contemporary moral problems, and (4) know how to apply critical reasoning to those problems—to assess moral judgements and principles, construct and evaluate moral arguments, and apply and critique moral theories

College Prep • UC Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

This Social Studies course provides students an introduction to the field of philosophy and ethics and its great, timeless questions. This course will help students (1) see why ethics matters to society and to themselves, (2) understand core concepts (theories, principles, values, virtues, and the like), (3) be familiar with the background (scientific, legal, and otherwise) of contemporary moral problems, and (4) know how to apply critical reasoning to those problems—to assess moral judgments and principles, construct and evaluate moral arguments, and apply and critique moral theories.

Honors • UC Honors Approved Elective • NCAA Additional Core Approved

Psychology is everywhere, affecting every second of life. Learning about psychology can positively affect life in three main ways. First, while studying psychology, the course will provide a solid foundation for success in later psychology courses. Second, this course can influence your personal life. The concepts discussed here will help you know yourself better; understand your family members, friends, and people you encounter; and improve your relationships. Third, taking this course will help you develop academic skills. Many topics in psychology directly translate into skills that you can use to improve your studying. Students will learn how psychologists develop and validate theories and will examine how hereditary, social, and cultural factors help form an individual’s behavior and attitudes. Students will also evaluate the effectiveness of different types of psychological counseling and therapy. Highly interactive content includes online discussions that help develop critical thinking skills.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology

College Prep • UC Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

The Sociology course takes a fresh and accessible theoretical approach appropriate to our contemporary world. While the course emphasizes the interactionist perspective, students learn a range of theoretical thought, including postmodernism. Students will put into practice what they are learning through innovative methodological exercises in each chapter. Material is presented that is familiar and relevant to the students in a way that allows them to make profound analytic connections between their individual lives and the structure of their society.

College Prep • UC Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

In AP^® European History, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from approximately 1450 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change over time. The course also provides seven themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: interaction of Europe and the world, economic and commercial development, cultural and intellectual development, states and other institutions of power, social organization and development, national and European identity, and technological and scientific innovations.

This course is taught at the college level. Major differences between a regular high school history course and a college-level history course is the greater amount of reading and the depth of focus that is found in the college-level course. Moreover, the AP^® curriculum demands higher-order thinking skills within a rigorous academic context. Thus, students are frequently required to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate primary and secondary historical sources, in addition to comprehending, memorizing, and applying facts.

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement^® examination.

AP AP^® United States History focuses on developing students’ abilities to think conceptually about U.S. history from approximately 1491 to the present and apply historical thinking skills as they learn about the past. Seven themes of equal importance —American and national identity; politics and power; work, exchange, and technology; culture and society; migration and settlement; geography and the environment; America in the World— provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation throughout the course. These require students to reason historically about continuity and change over time and make comparisons among various historical developments in different times and places.

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement AP^® examination.

Students investigate key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study the structure of the Constitution throughout the course, as well as its implications for the functioning of government today. Other foundational documents, landmark Supreme Court cases, and opportunities for research and civic action are key elements in this rich course that prepares students to be informed and active participants in U.S. society.

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Social Science • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement AP^® examination.

In this course, students explore the power of marginal thinking and apply it to common decisions that individuals and business firms encounter each day. Students examine, interpret, analyze, and model key microeconomics concepts and processes, from the shifting supply and demand for familiar products to the model of the labor market and how wages are determined. This rich course provides students with all the material and practice needed for success on the AP Exam. Yet, this is just the beginning—in the long run, taking AP^® Microeconomics will develop the critical thinking and analytical skills that empower students for a lifetime.

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement^® examination.

In this course, students establish the fundamentals of economics with a survey of scarcity, opportunity cost, supply, demand, and market equilibrium. They then zoom out to the largest scale of economic analysis, learning the indicators of whole countries’ economic health, specifically gross domestic product, unemployment, and price level. With that foundation, the rest of the course looks at fiscal and monetary policies, their consequences, and the basics of international trade and the foreign exchange market. Besides being intentionally prepared for the AP^® Exam, students will gain a much deeper understanding of the world around them, the roles that government and banks play in an economy, and the economic outcomes generated by their policy decisions.

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement^® examination.

AP^® Human Geography introduces high school students to college-level introductory human geography or cultural geography. The content is presented thematically rather than regionally and is organized around the discipline’s main subfields: economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, and urban geography. The approach is spatial and problem oriented. Case studies are drawn from all world regions, with an emphasis on understanding the world in which we live today. Historical information serves to enrich analysis of the impacts of phenomena such as globalization, colonialism, and human–environment relationships on places, regions, cultural landscapes, and patterns of interaction. Students also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. The curriculum reflects the goals of the National Geography Standards (2012).

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement^® examination.

Immerse yourself in the scientific study of human behavior and cognition. Learn about notable figures and psychological studies. Investigate scientific methods and ethical considerations related to human and animal research. In this college-level course, you will learn about and apply important terms, concepts, and phenomena associated with each major area of psychology and enhance your critical thinking skills. Topics include the biological bases of psychology, sensation and perception, learning, cognition, development, motivation, emotion, personality, psychological disorders, and social psychology.

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement^® examination.

In AP^® World History: Modern, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from 1200 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change over time. The course provides six themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation.

This course is taught at the college level. Major differences between a regular high school history course and a college-level history course is the greater amount of reading and the depth of focus that is found in the college-level course. Moreover, the AP curriculum demands higher-order thinking skills within a rigorous academic context. Thus, students are frequently required to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate primary and secondary historical sources, in addition to comprehending, memorizing, and applying facts.

Advanced Placement • UC Honors Approved Elective • NCAA Approved Social Science

The level of rigor in these AP^® Social Studies courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. These courses have been audited and approved by the College Board and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement^® examination.