• Social Science


    African American History                                                          Course #5276
    Level:              10-12
    Length:            Year (10 Credits)
    Prerequisite:    US History
    Graduation:     Elective Credit
    In the first semester, the course studies the history of African Americans from the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade to the passage of the 13th Amendment. This history includes the experiences of free and enslaved African Americans, and the impact of race-based chattel slavery on African Americans and on African history. In the second semester, the course studies the history of African Americans from the period immediately following the abolition of slavery through the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, ending with the assassination of MLK. This history includes the social, economic, and political development of the African American identity, including the securing of equal rights and the emergence of black pride and black power in the 20th century.

    P-Ethnic Studies                                                                         Course #5230
    Level:              10-12
    Length:            Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:    None
    Graduation:     Elective credit
    College Prep:  History (a) requirement
    Ethnic Studies aims to empower all students to engage socially and politically and to think critically about the world around them. Students will learn about the experiences of people of color in the United States in order for students to construct counter-narratives and develop a more complex understanding of the human experience. This course will focus on the experiences of African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanas/os and Latinas/os, Native Americans, and other underrepresented demographics in the United States. We will analyze their contributions to the United States as well as their unique histories and quest for equality throughout our nation’s history. The major purpose of this course is to educate students to be politically, socially, and economically conscious about their personal connections to local and national history. Ethnic Studies focuses on themes of social justice, social responsibility, and social change. The course spans from past to present, from politics to social reform, allowing students to identify similar social patterns and universal qualities present in other societies, including their own. This course will focus on the experiences of African American, Asian Americans, Latinos American, and American Indians. (Adapted from LA Unified, Vacaville, and Berkeley Department of Ethnic Studies.)

    P-World Cultures and Geography                                             Course #5255
    Level:                 9
    Length:              Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:      None
    Graduation:       Elective credit
    College Prep:    History (a) requirement
    This course enhances student’s understanding of the global environment in which they live. During the year-long course, emphasis is placed on students acquiring knowledge of world cultures, world problems, basic geography, human migration, the humanities, critical thinking skills, reading strategies, study skills, vocabulary development, writing ability, and speaking for the purpose of debate and presentation. The program integrates a variety of teaching methods that requires students to engage in both group and individual learning.
     
    P-World History                                                                           Course #5240
    Level:                 10
    Length:               Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        World History requirement
    College Prep:     History (a) requirement
    Students have an opportunity to compare and contrast philosophies, languages, literature, religion and the arts of world cultures. The students become more knowledgeable about the effects of geography upon the political and economic development of cultures.
     
    P-U.S. History                                                                              Course #5280
    Level:                  11
    Length:                Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:        None
    Graduation:         U.S. History requirement
    College Prep:      History (a) requirement
    United States history is designed to help students examine major turning points in American history in the twentieth century. Throughout the year students will examine American culture including religion, literature, art, drama, architecture, education, and the mass media. The year begins with a selective review with an emphasis on the nation’s beginning including the main influences in the founding of the United States and the caused and consequences of the Civil War.
     
    P-American Government                                                          Course #5330
    Level:                 12
    Length:               Semester (5 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        American Government requirement
    College Prep:     History (a) requirement
    American Government is a semester course designed to help students develop an understanding of the institutions of American government. Students examine and compare and contrast the development and processes of governments in both the United States, and to a lesser extent, the world. Students also examine related major issues of the world today. Emphasis is placed on the development of social participation skills and civic responsibility.
     
    P-Economics                                                                               Course #5335
    Level:                  12
    Length:                Semester (5 credits)
    Prerequisite:        None
    Graduation:         Economics requirement
    College Prep:      Elective (g) requirement
    This semester course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the economic problems and institutions of the nation and world in which they live. It will provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to make reasonable decisions on economic issues as citizens, workers, consumers, business owners, managers, and members of civic groups. The course is primarily a course in social science enriching students’ understanding of the operations and institutions of economic systems rather than a course in household or business management.
     
    P-World Studies Program                                                         Course #1429
    Level:                 10
    Length:               Year (double-blocked class 20 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        English 10 and World Hist requirement
    College Prep:     English 10  (b)  and  World  Hist  (a)  requirement
    World Studies integrates English 2 and World History, and explores world culture and the major turning points in world history to make connections between real life history and American literature. The course will review the rise of democracy through nation building of modern day.
     
    P-American Studies Program                                                  Course #1439
    Level:                 11
    Length:              Year (double-blocked class 20 credits)
    Prerequisite:      None
    Graduation:        English 11 and US History requirement
    College Prep:    English 11 (b) and US History (a) requirement
    American Studies is an integrated English 3 and U.S. History course designed to explore American culture and the major turning points in U.S. history and to make connections the past, between real life and American literature. The course reviews the rise of democracy and the industrial and technological transformations.
     
    P-Advanced Placement (AP) World History                           Course #5270
    Level:                 10-12
    Length:               Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        World History requirement
    College Prep:     History (a) requirement
    World History is a college level course designed to sensitize students to the students to the contributions and growing interdependence of the various peoples and cultures of our world. The course covers time period from 1000 to present with review of 500-1000. A mandatory parent meeting is held in the Spring Semester.
     
    P-Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History                              Course #5290
    Level:                 11
    Length:               Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        U.S. History requirement
    College Prep:     History (a) requirement
    The study of U.S. History helps students learn about their American heritage and understand the role of their nation in the world. This course is the equivalent to college or university level U.S. History. The course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement examination. A mandatory parent meeting is held in the Spring Semester.
     
    P-Advanced Placement (AP) American Government            Course #5295
    Level:                12
    Length:              Semester (5 credits)
    Prerequisite:      None
    Graduation:       American Government requirement
    College Prep:    History (a) requirement
    This college level AP Government class will prepare students to take the AP Exam in May as well as meet the graduation requirement of 5 units in American Government. The course will emphasize reading of political philosophy as well as essay writing in specific content areas related to not only American governmental systems but also other governmental systems as necessitated by the College Board. Students successful in passing the AP Exam will receive advanced placement upon entering college. A mandatory parent meeting is held in the Spring Semester.
     
    P-Advanced Placement (AP) Economics: Macro                  Course #5365
    Level:                12
    Length:              Semester (5 credits)
    Prerequisite:      None
    Graduation:       Economics requirement
    College Prep:    Elective (g) requirement
    This class prepares students to take the AP Exam in May as well as meet the graduation requirement of 5 units in Economics. The course will emphasize reading of economic theory as well as essay writing in specific content areas related to not only the capitalist system but also other economic systems as necessitated by the College Board. Students passing the AP Exam will receive advanced placement upon entering college. A mandatory parent meeting is held Spring Semester.
     
    P-Psychology Within Society                                                  Course #5396
    Level:                 10-12
    Length:               Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        Elective credit
    College Prep:     Elective (g) requirement
    This entry-level course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of individuals and group behavior. Students will compare and contrast the major psychological paradigms, evaluate historical and sociological determinants, and know and perform various tests, measures, assessments. Recommended for Professional Human Development Academy participants, but open to all interested students.
     
    P-Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology                            Course #5397
    Level:                 11-12
    Length:               Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        Elective credit
    College Prep:     Elective (g) requirement
    AP Psychology covers the equivalent of a college freshman Psychology course and prepares students to take the Advanced Placement examination. The students investigate and acquire knowledge in the basic foundations of scientific psychology. Through varied modalities, students compare and contrast the major schools of thought from a historical and sociological perspective. The students examine different methods of test, measures, and assessment with emphasis on bias related issues: cultural, ethnic, genre, contemporary controversies are explored. The students analyze ethical concerns: objectively and subjectively. Particular emphasis is placed on proper APA writing format as well as extensive reading, both primary source and supplemental literature, essay writing, intense group interaction, and individual presentations involving critical reasoning skills. The students explore possible career choice within the psychological community and evaluate current trends, which may affect future occupations. A mandatory parent meeting is held in the Spring Semester.
     
    P-Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography               Course #5397
    Level:                 10-12
    Length:               Year (10 credits)
    Prerequisite:       None
    Graduation:        Elective credit
    College Prep:     History (g) requirement
    Human Geography is the study of how and why people move and how they use the earth. The purpose of the AP course in Human Geography is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice.