Social Science

Semester Course

Fulfills “A” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

Designed for general level and college-prep freshman, this course serves as an introduction to Modern World History. Students will study the history, physical geography, politics, culture, literature, religion, architecture, social structure, and economy of the seven world regions. This course will provide students with a global awareness and a multicultural perspective, ultimately preparing students for their role as a global citizen in today’s world.

Year Course

Fulfills “A” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

The Modern World History course examines major events from the 1700s to the present day that helped shape the modern world as we know it. This course will study the rise of democratic ideas, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, imperialism, WWI, WWII, and the Cold War, concluding with the study of contemporary issues and globalization. Included will be the analysis of historical themes present in different events as well as cause and effect relationships throughout time.

Year Course

Fulfills “A” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

AP World History is a college-level course focusing on developing students' understanding of world history from approximately 1200 CE to the present. The course has students investigate the content of world history for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in six historical periods, while developing and using the same thinking skills and methods employed by historians in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places encompassing the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

Year Course

Fulfills “A” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

This course examines the major turning points in American history and concentrates on the twentieth century. Topics reviewed include the Progressive Era, the Jazz Age, the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, Watergate, and the Reagan Years.

Year Course

Fulfills “A” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation

An advanced survey course geared towards developing an appreciation for and understanding of the process of historical inquiry; an understanding of the history of the U.S. in political, economic, social and cultural terms; and improvement of writing, research, and critical reading skills.

Semester Course

Fulfills “A” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

Students will gain a working understanding of the American government. The curriculum is tailored, so that it reflects the democracy in which we live by encouraging participation, interest, and representation. By the end of the semester the students will have gained an understanding of the Constitution, Civil Rights, the role of the media, political parties, the election process, local government, state government, the court system, and the federal government's three branches.

Semester Course (ECHS only)

Fulfills “A” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

This course provides an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. political reality. Major units include:

• Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government;
• Political Beliefs and Behaviors;
• Political Parties;
• Interest Groups;
• Mass Media;
• Institutions of National Government: The Congress; The Presidency; The Bureaucracy and The Federal Courts;
• Public Policy; and
• Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Students enrolled in AP Government are expected to take AP Macroeconomics.  

Semester Course

Fulfills “G” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

Economics is designed to expose the student to the operations of the free market and competitive economic systems. Emphasis will be placed on free market operation and theory, supply and demand, the price system, competition, and the many roles played by various government agencies. Students will be introduced to both micro and macroeconomic concepts. Students will be exposed to a financial planning unit in which each student will be expected to participate in a stock simulation.

Economics Honors (Grade 12)

Semester Course

Fulfills “G” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

AP Microeconomics is an introductory college-level microeconomics course. Students cultivate their understanding of the principles that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers by using principles and models to describe economic situations and predict and explain outcomes with graphs, charts, and data as they explore concepts like scarcity and markets; costs, benefits, and marginal analysis; production choices and behavior; and market inefficiency and public policy.

Year Course

Fulfills “G” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

Ethnic Studies Honors is designed to give 11th and 12th grade students an introduction to the experiences of ethnic communities that are rarely represented in textbooks. It is also a compelling way to examine race, ethnicity, nationality, and culture in the United States. The course equips students with a critical lens to see the world and their place in it by understanding systems and power at the root of American society and aims to motivate students to actively engage in our democracy.

Year Course

Fulfills “G” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements

Primarily a senior course, Psychology is also open to a limited number of juniors when space is available. This course offers the opportunity to develop a better understanding of why individuals behave as they do. Areas of study include the development of personality, emotional development, mental health, mental illness, psychoanalysis and behavior modification, learning and intelligence, family and social relationships, and communication. The content of the course relates to the problems that high school students may encounter. An elective course, it is not used to make up for other social studies classes.

Semester Course

Fulfills SSFUSD graduation requirement only

A course designed to cover areas required by the state of California in Health. The course deals with health-related subjects which include CPR, first aid, alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.