• identify and analyze the philosophical roots, and constitutional structure, of U.S. democracy including individual rights. (12.1-12.5 & 12.9)

• analyze the essential framework and functions of government in the United States. (12.1, 12.4-12.7, 12.9-12.10)

• analyze forms of civil society that influence participation in U.S. political culture. (12.1-12.3, 12.5-12.6, 12.8 & 12.10)

 

Ethnic Studies is the interdisciplinary study of race and ethnicity, with an emphasis on the experiences and contributions of people of color (Asian Americans, Black and African Americans, Latina/Latino/Latinx, and Native Americans) in the United States.  Students develop a deeper understanding of their personal identity, their racial and cultural backgrounds, and the diverse cultures of their peers.  Students learn about the root causes and impact of racism and various forms of oppression.  Ethnic Studies teaches students about historical and contemporary movements for social change and ways to challenge racism and discrimination and positively transform their communities.  Students will strengthen their reading, writing, speaking, researching, and critical thinking skills. Ethnic Studies fosters empathy, community, and solidarity and helps students to develop knowledge and skills to become active participants in our democratic society.

• Europe’s interaction with the world
• Economic and commercial development
• Cultural and intellectual development
• States and other institutions of power
• Social organizations and development
• National and European identity
• Technological and scientific innovations

• Understand the brain and human/animal behavior. 
• Critically analyze psychological information, documents, case studies, and perspectives to identify positions that can be supported with evidence.  
• Explain the ideas, theories, and methods of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. 
• Analyze data from psychological research studies.

Skills You will learn:

• Connecting psychological concepts and theories to real-life scenarios
• Understanding and interpreting data
• Analyzing research studies in psychology
• Reading, research, writing, verbal and written evidentiary argument
• Critical thinking skills 

 

• A) deepen their knowledge about historical and contemporary movements for social change; B) analyze the social, economic, political, legal, and structural aspects of justice & injustice; C) become more aware of current social issues on the local, national, and international levels; D) prepare and empower students to become active members of our community and advocates for social change and  transformation; E) strengthen their critical thinking, research, analysis, reading, writing, and speaking skills as articulated by the Common Core  Social Studies standards.

This course explores the political theory and everyday practice that directs the daily operation of our government. The purpose of this course is to help students gain and display an understanding of American politics and the processes of government that help shape our public policies. Throughout the course, we will examine our institutions of government, the people who run those institutions, the public policies made by those institutions, and the influences of the electorate and other groups on policy. By the completion of the course, students will be able to understand and evaluate competing arguments and formulate and express opinions on political and policymaking processes.

• The purpose of this course is to understand concepts and events that fostered continuity and change in modern US history.
• In this course, students examine major developments and turning points in American history from the late nineteenth century to the present. 
• As a result of instruction, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and critical thinking around

• The expanding role of the federal government; the emergence of a modern corporate economy; the impact of technology on American society and culture; changes in racial, ethnic, and gender dynamics in American society; the movements toward equal rights for racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities and for women; and the rise of the United States as a major world power.

• Create active and informed citizens who understand and appreciate the complexities of the United States and its history.

• Content knowledge of United States history from approximately 1491 to the present and understanding of seven themes (American and national identity; migration and settlement; politics and power; work, exchange, and technology; America in the world; geography and the environment; and culture and society).

• Historical Thinking Skills, including but not limited to: compare/contrast, causation, contextualization, continuity and change over time, interpretation, analyzing evidence, argumentation, synthesis, and periodization. 

• College level writing skills through the use of analysis and evidence to support a thesis.

• To develop students’ understanding of United States history and founding ideals, with a focus on the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as listed in the California State Content Standards.
• To improve student’s proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English.

• The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies from 1200 to today.
• To improve students’ skills in the social sciences to college level performance.