History & Social Science

COURSE NUMBER: SS840 (course video)   AP/Honors Commitment Pledge (Español)

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History

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. College Course Equivalent AP World History: Modern is designed to be the equivalent of an introductory college or university survey of modern world history.  Students should be able to read a college-level textbook and write grammatically correct, complete sentences.

Placement Criteria: Multiple Measures  

• Grade of B or better in H English 9
• Grade of A in P English 9
•  Proficient or Advanced on Most Recent RI
• Teacher Recommendation

COURSE NUMBER: SS836 (or Sheltered: SS876)

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History

Among the topics covered are political thought, democracy, industrialization, imperialism, World War I, totalitarianism, World War II, and the Cold War. Students will develop an understanding of and make considered judgments regarding the historical roots of contemporary world issues, especially as they relate to international relations.  Major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, are the focus of this year long course. 

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS842

UC/CSU CREDIT: None

Among the topics covered are political thought, democracy, industrialization, imperialism, World War I, totalitarianism, World War II, and the Cold War. Students will develop an understanding of and make considered judgments regarding the historical roots of contemporary world issues, especially as they relate to international relations.  Major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, are the focus of this year long course. 

This is for students with Individualized Educational Plans (IEP)

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS813 (course video)   AP/Honors Commitment Pledge (Español)

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History

AP United States History engages in a study of the origins of European exploration in the Americas and concludes with an inquiry into modern America and its development as the dominant world power. The program is designed to develop the analytical skills and factual knowledge that are necessary to critically examine the problems and challenges of American history. It prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by a full year introductory college course and draws upon the standards and requirements of this country’s major universities. Each student enrolled is expected to take the Advanced Placement U.S. History examination in May.  Only grades of “C” or better will be weighted.  

Placement Criteria: Multiple Measures  

• Grade of B or better in AP World History
• Grade of A in P World History
•  Proficient or Advanced on Most Recent RI
• Teacher Recommendation

COURSE NUMBER: SS801 (or Sheltered: SS873)

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History

This course is designed to introduce students to the major turning points in American history during the twentieth century. Major topics covered in the class include the development of the U.S. as a world power, World War I, the 1920’s, the Great Depression and New Deal, World War II, the 1950s, and the development of civil rights. The class emphasizes the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society, helping students understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS804

UC/CSU CREDIT: None

This course is designed to introduce students to the major turning points in American history during the twentieth century. Major topics covered in the class include the development of the U.S. as a world power, World War I, the 1920’s, the Great Depression and New Deal, World War II, the 1950s, and the development of civil rights. The class emphasizes the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society, helping students understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

This is for students with Individualized Educational Plans (IEP)

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS851 & SS816 (course videos)   AP/Honors Commitment Pledge (Español)

Grade Level: 12th grade

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History & (g) Elective

AP United States Government and Politics provides an analytical evaluation of the foundations and practices of governance as they have evolved over the last 200+ years in the United States. Students will evaluate those foundations and principles at the core of our government.  In addition, they will analyze the purpose of the Constitution and its changing interpretation, the role of amendments with regard to civil rights and liberties, the roles of each of the three branches, the role of an ever enlarging bureaucracy, the role and increasing importance of public opinion and interest groups in the election process, and the changing role of political parties and evolving process of making government policy. Students in this course are expected to take the Advanced Placement exam in May. Only grades of “C” or better will be weighted.  

Honors Economics provides students with information related to micro and macroeconomics. Students are exposed to the role of government in national economic policy as well as the interaction between government policy and personal finance. Honors Economics includes the study of the stock market and its relationship to economic expansion and contraction. Students will examine government monetary policy as it is affected by the operation of the Federal Reserve, federal budget/debt, as well as personal debt. Finally, students will study the increasing importance of the global economy and its interrelation with the U.S. economy. 

Placement Criteria: Multiple Measures  

• Grade of B or better in AP U.S. History
• Grade of A in P U.S. History
•  Proficient or Advanced on Most Recent RI
• Teacher Recommendation

COURSE NUMBER: SS802 (or Sheltered: SS867)

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History

Course Length: Semester

The successful completion of American Government is required for graduation.  This course studies American political institutions, political processes and key political documents.  It examines the values underlying our governmental system.  Included is a study of the conflicts and problems facing the American political system in the modern world. The structure and function of our federal government is of primary concern in this course; however, state and local government is also studied.  This course helps the student to understand the ways in which human begins govern themselves and helps cultivate habits of democratic citizenship.  

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS823 (or Sheltered: SS870)

UC/CSU CREDIT: (g) Elective

Length of Course: Semester

This one semester course will deepen students’ understanding of the economic issues and institutions of the nation and world in which we live. Students will first understand common economic terms and concepts and then compare and contrast economic systems with a focus on the market system. Students will then take an in-depth look at microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students will complete the semester concentrating on issues of international trade and will consider what factors, conditions, and policies help developing nations sustain economic growth. 

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS815

UC/CSU CREDIT: None

Course Length: Semester

The successful completion of American Government is required for graduation.  This course studies American political institutions, political processes and key political documents.  It examines the values underlying our governmental system.  Included is a study of the conflicts and problems facing the American political system in the modern world. The structure and function of our federal government is of primary concern in this course; however, state and local government is also studied.  This course helps the student to understand the ways in which human begins govern themselves and helps cultivate habits of democratic citizenship.  

This is for students with Individualized Educational Plans (IEP)

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS831

UC/CSU CREDIT: None

Length of Course: Semester

This one semester course will deepen students’ understanding of the economic issues and institutions of the nation and world in which we live. Students will first understand common economic terms and concepts and then compare and contrast economic systems with a focus on the market system. Students will then take an in-depth look at microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students will complete the semester concentrating on issues of international trade and will consider what factors, conditions, and policies help developing nations sustain economic growth. 

This is for students with Individualized Educational Plans (IEP)

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations  

COURSE NUMBER: SS866

Grade Level: 9th Grade

Graduation Credit: Elective Credit

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History

World Geography focuses on the study of the world’s peoples, places and environments, with an emphasis on world regions. Spatial concepts of geography will be used as a framework for studying interactions between humans and their environments. Using geographic resources, students will employ inquiry, research, and technology skills to ask and answer geographic questions. Particular emphasis is placed on student’s understanding and applying geographic concepts and skills to their daily lives.  

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations

COURSE NUMBER: SS835

Grade Level: 10th Grade

Graduation Credit: World History Credit

UC/CSU CREDIT: (a) History

Major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, are the focus of this year-long course. After tracing the development of Western political thought, students compare and contrast the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution and their worldwide effects. They study the effects of the Industrial Revolution and patterns of change in the era of New Imperialism, as well as the causes, course, and effects of the First World War. The rise of totalitarian governments after World War I is analyzed; so are the causes and consequences of World War II. An emphasis is placed on the international developments in the post-World War II world, including the consideration of nation-building in the contemporary world from a variety of perspectives. Students develop an understanding and make considered judgments regarding the historical roots of contemporary world issues, especially as they relate to international relations.  

This unique college prep level course will expose students to the studies of world history utilizing the Spanish language for all aspects of learning. The course is conducted fully in Spanish, including materials, lectures, exams, and projects.                      

Placement Criteria:  Multiple Measures  

• Most recent IEP recommendations

COURSE NUMBER: *1070

Grade Level: 9th Grade

Graduation Credit: Elective Credit

Ethnic Studies is the interdisciplinary study of communities of color, emphasizing their social and cultural histories and contemporary experiences. Students analyze systems of power and participate in civic engagement to address issues of race, privilege, and power. Histories of ethnic communities and their movements for change, historically, are often under-represented in school textbooks; exploring these histories will provide students with a powerful way to understand race, ethnicity, nationality, and culture, and how these concepts shaped the history of the United States and continue to inform contemporary policy.