Social Studies Deprtment
Joe Banfield, Chair
Social Studies
SOC 202 World History A, B
Grade: 9, 10 One year; meets CSU/UC “a” requirement
This course offers an overview of human history. The major emphasis is on the study of significant people, events, and issues from the earliest times to the present. Traditional historical points of reference in world history are identified as students analyze important events and issues. Students examine the impact of geographic factors on major historic events and identify the historic origins of contemporary economic systems.
SOC 203 Honors World History A, B
Grade: 9, 10 One year; meets CSU/UC “a” requirement
The honors course is a rigorous course in world history, with emphasis on using scientific method to explore historical questions. Students use the process of historical inquiry to research, interpret, and use multiple sources of evidence. Development of critical thinking and writing skills is an integral component of the class, preparing students for the academic demands of Advanced Placement courses in social studies. This a pre-AP course.
SOC 302 United States History A, B
Grade: 10, 11 One year; meets CSU/UC “a” requirement
This course demands the academic rigor equivalent to introductory college courses. Students will learn to assess historical materials, their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance; and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. Topics to be discussed will be: the political and social history of the United States, the development of American ideals, traditions, and institutions.
SOC 303 Advanced Placement United States History A, B
Grade: 10, 11 One year; meets CSU/UC “a” requirement
The AP program in US History provides students skills and knowledge necessary to deal critically with the issues in United States history. The course demands the academic rigor equivalent to introductory college courses. Students will learn to assess historical materials, their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance; and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. The AP United States History course develops the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment, and to present evidence clearly and persuasively. Students are required to take the AP exam.
SOC 402 United States Government
Grade: 12 One semester; meets CSU/UC “a” requirement
In Government, the focus is on the principles and beliefs upon which the United
States was founded, and on the structure, function, and powers of government at national, state, and local levels. This course is the culmination of the civic and governmental content and concepts studies from Kindergarten through required secondary courses. This course provides an opportunity to study in depth the foundation of the United States political system; to analyze the political institutions, processes, and values of the system; to analyze the structure and functions of the government on local, state, and federal levels; and to study the major documents which will include the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers. Students put into practice the content and concepts they have learned about responsibilities on the civic level.
SOC 403 Advanced Placement Government
Grade: 12 One semester; meets CSU/UC “a” requirement
This is an accelerated course which focuses on the principles and beliefs upon which the United States was founded, and on the structure, function, and powers of government at national, state, and local levels. This course provides an opportunity to study in depth the foundation of the United States political system; to analyze the political institutions, processes, and values of the system; to analyze the structure and functions of the government on local, state, and federal levels; and to study the major documents which will include the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers. Students put into practice the content and concepts they have learned about responsibilities on the civic level. The AP Government course develops the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment, and to present evidence clearly and persuasively. Students are required to take the AP exam.
SOC 404 Economics
Grade: 12 One semester; meets CSU/UC “g” requirement
This course is designed to acquaint students with the ways in which macroeconomic variables such as national income, employment and the general level of prices are determined in an economic system. Students also study how the techniques of monetary and fiscal policy are used to achieve national economic stability.
SOC 405 Advanced Placement Economics
Grade: 12 One semester; meets CSU/UC “g” requirement
This is an accelerated course which is meant to sharpen the honors student’s skills in preparation for the Advanced Placement exam. Emphasis will be placed on the macroeconomic/microeconomic processes such as: GDP, unemployment, inflation, the money supply and banking system, monetary and fiscal policies, the world economy, supply and demand, organization of business firms and markets, and the market system.
Students are required to take the AP exam.