Social Studies

Graduation Requirements: 30 Credits

9th Grade: World History or Honors World History (10 Credits), 11th Grade: U.S. History or A.P. U.S. History (10 Credits), 12th Grade: Civics (5 Credits) and one Selective (5 or 10 Credits) or A.P. Government (10 Credits)

P = UC/CSU approved; H = Honors; AP = Advanced Placement, *Please note: The abbreviations P, H and AP are all UC/CSU approved courses

Social Studies Courses

World History - P

COURSE NUMBER: H202
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 9th grade

The course begins with an overview of unresolved problems in the modern world to help students formulate questions about the effects of the past on the present. The course proceeds with an introduction to civilization and explores the major themes which contributed to political and cultural development. It includes the expansion of the West and the growing interdependence of people and cultures throughout the world. Several new methodologies are introduced in this course based on a more global approach to history.

World History (H)

World History Honors

COURSE NUMBER: H203
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: Teacher recommendation and entrance examination scores.
LEVEL: 9th grade

The course begins with an overview of unresolved problems in the modern world to help students formulate questions about the effects of the past on the present. The course proceeds with an introduction to civilization and explores the major themes which contributed to political and cultural development. It includes the expansion of the West and the growing interdependence of people and cultures throughout the world. This course emphasizes critical thinking through reading, research and essay writing.

Notes: Challenge test will be given in May

United States History - P (DLS)

COURSE NUMBER: H301DLS
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 11th grade

United States History provides a one-year survey of American history from the colonial era to the present day, with an emphasis on the twentieth century. Using the textbook and primary documents, students learn about the various political, social, and economic developments that have shaped and continue to shape the United States. Reading, writing, and critical thinking skills are emphasized as integral ways of understanding how the past relates to the present.

Note: A major research paper is required in the spring semester.

US History: Civil War to Present - P (CHS)

COURSE NUMBER: H301CHS
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 11th grade

This survey course in U.S. History is presented in chronological order with an emphasis on historical themes. Varying methods of presenting historical material include lectures, discussions, films, reading, homework, and tests. Group activities such as debates, oral presentations, projects, and simulations allow students to work with important ideas in U.S. History. Skills such as critical thinking, discussion, essay writing, and collaborative activities are emphasized, including a culminating year-long research project.

AP United States History

COURSE NUMBER: H701DLS or H701CHS
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: A "B-" in Hon World History courses and/or an "A-" in regular World History/Social Studies courses, "B-" in (9th and 10th) Hon English courses or an "A-" in (9th and 10th) regular English courses, Department and Academic Advisor approval required
LEVEL: 11th grade

The course is a general survey of United States History. According to the College Board: The Advanced Placement Program in United States History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States History. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses. The materials, the pace of the course, and the teaching methodologies are designed to resemble as closely as possible a freshman history course offered at the college level. Students and parents should be aware of the additional work load that accompanies this class. At the end of the course, students will be expected to sit for the Advanced Placement Examination.

Note: DLS and CHS use different textbooks. Course content is the same.

Civics - P

COURSE NUMBER: H430
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 12th grade

This course is designed to introduce students to American government and politics, through examination of the nature of the American political system, its historical development, and its contemporary practice. The course examines the processes and institutions through which the political system functions and the public policies that these institutions initiate and develop.

American Studies: Criminal and Civil Justice

American Studies: Criminal and Civil Justice - P

COURSE NUMBER: H455
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 10th, 11th & 12th grade

This one-semester course introduces students to the criminal and civil justice systems in the United States. The teacher is an experienced trial lawyer. Subject matter includes: Introduction to the Law and the Legal System (including how to be a lawyer, how disputes are settled, and the court system), Criminal Law and Procedure (including serious crimes and their defenses, and the criminal justice process-- investigation, trial, sentencing, and corrections), and Civil Tort Law and Procedure (including responsibility for personal injuries and property damage from wrongful acts such as car accidents and defective products). The final examination is a Mock Trial which is a jury trial that will be conducted to test each student’s skill and knowledge of the law and the legal system. In the Mock Trial, students will act either as a witness, a lawyer, a member of the jury, the court clerk or the bailiff, with the teacher serving as the judge.

AP European History

COURSE NUMBER: H423
STATUS: Pending
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: Teacher recommendation and: A grade of "B-" or higher in Honors English & Honors History or A grade of "A-" or higher in both English & History.
LEVEL: 10th, 11th & 12th grade

AP European History is an introductory college-level European history course. Students cultivate their understanding of European history through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like interaction of Europe and the world; economic and commercial developments; cultural and intellectual developments; states and other institutions of power; social organization and development; national and European identity; and technological and scientific innovation.

AP Human Geography

COURSE NUMBER: H450
STATUS: Pending
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: CHS
PREREQUISITES: Teacher recommendation and: A grade of "B-" or higher in Honors English and Honors History or A grade of "A-" or higher in both English & History.
LEVEL: 10th, 11th & 12th grade

AP Human Geography is an introductory college-level human geography course. Students cultivate their understanding of human geography through data and geographic analyses as they explore topics like patterns and spatial organization, human impacts and interactions with their environment, and spatial processes and societal changes.

AP Macroeconomics

COURSE NUMBER: H435
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: A "B-" in Hon/AP Social Studies courses and/or an "A-" in regular Social Studies courses, "B-" in Hon/AP English courses and/or an "A-" in regular English courses, department Approval required
LEVEL: 12th grade

AP Macroeconomics is designed to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price determination, and also promotes an understanding of economic performance measure, economic growth, and international economics.

AP Psychology

COURSE NUMBER: H822
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: A "B-" in Hon/AP Social Studies courses and/or an "A-" in regular Social Studies courses, "B-" in Hon/AP English courses and/or an "A-" in regular English courses, department Approval required
LEVEL: 10th, 11th & 12th grade

The Advanced Placement course in Psychology introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals within a context. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major sub fields within Psychology. They also learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Students and parents should be aware of the additional workload that accompanies this class. At the end of the course, students are expected to sit for the Advanced Placement Examination.

AP US Government and Politics

AP U.S. Government and Politics

COURSE NUMBER: H831
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: Completion of US History with an "A-" or better each semester or completion of AP US History with a "B-" or better each semester, department and Academic Advisor approval required.
LEVEL: 12th grade

Advanced Placement 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 will 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 behaviors. They will 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 will complete a political science research or applied civics project. Students and parents should be aware of the additional workload that accompanies this course. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement Examination at the conclusion of the course.

Criminal Justice - P

COURSE NUMBER: V110
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 11th-12th grade

This course introduces students to the field of criminal justice and surveys its three component parts: law enforcement, criminal courts, and corrections. Students will become familiar with the structure and organization of the criminal justice system and look at today’s controversies and challenges. Students will examine the history of crime in America, the evolution of law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels, how the court system works, and the role of jails/prisons. Special units focus on crime scene investigation/forensics, police use of force, the role of the jury in adjudication, and current issues (police brutality, stop & frisk, active shooter, etc.). Field trips may include visits to local law enforcement agencies, the county courthouse and the Santa Rita jail. Emphasis is placed on citizens’ rights and responsibilities in police encounters and the positive relations of police and community.

Economics - P

COURSE NUMBER: H431
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 12th grade

Economics is designed to introduce students to the vocabulary, concepts, and problems of the United States economy. The course emphasizes not only a basic competence of the vocabulary, the understanding of supply and demand and international trade, but also an understanding of United States economic policies in relation to the global economy.

History of the Sixties - P

COURSE NUMBER: H404
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of US History

This course is designed to delve deeper into the turbulent history of the 1960s by focusing on the political, social and cultural changes that took place during this pivotal decade in American history. A thematic approach will be used in this course to address such issues as the Civil Rights movement, student and minority activism, the Vietnam War, popular culture, significant Supreme Court cases, popular politics and the counterculture. Primary sources will provide a basis for class discussion and an emphasis will be made on critical and analytical thinking. Students will be expected to write several personal response papers and one research paper.

Human Geography - P

COURSE NUMBER: H448
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 10th, 11th & 12th grade

The course is organized by world region; exploring location, environment, and culture. This semester-long course constructs a foundation for social science curricula through the study of culture in a geographical context. Cultural studies focus on understanding concepts that describe political, economic, religious, and social systems. Students will also learn about present-day ways of life around the world and their historical backgrounds. Students will compare and contrast diverse major cultures that arose in the world due to specific geographical forces, and also seek to discover the common elements found in all cultures; thereby, developing a multicultural perspective. In addition, students will engage with map work, globes, graphs, the internet, library resources, and class discussions to foster a deeper understanding of the world around them. The course culminates in a final project in which students analyze a current event through a historical-geographic lens of one of the regions studied in class.

Psychology - P

COURSE NUMBER: H422
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 10th - 12th grade

This introductory course acquaints students with the discipline of Psychology by emphasizing the various theoretical approaches that underlie explanations of behavior and thought processes. Subject matter includes the history of Psychology as a science, the biology of behavior, an examination of dreams and consciousness, human development, personality analysis and social psychology.