SOCIAL STUDIES
With the exception of the one elective, the courses listed are required. To graduate, a student completes six semesters of social studies courses:
Grade Requirement
9 Geography and World Cultures (year-long)
10 World History (year-long)
11 U.S. History (year long) or Advanced Placement U.S. History
12 American Government or Advanced Placement American Government (1 semester), and Economics or Advanced Placement Economics (1 semester)
SOQUEL HIGH SCHOOL HUMANITIES ACADEMY
The Soquel High School English and Social Studies Departments created the Soquel High School Humanities Academy, which began with the 2003-04 school year. Envisioned as a rigorous four-year course of study in English and Social Studies, the Humanities Academy prepares motivated freshmen and sophomore students for honors and Advanced Placement classes, and ultimately college. The Humanities Academy Parent Advisory and Support Committee provides additional program support.
The Humanities Academy includes 60 students each at the 9th and 10th grade levels. Ninth grade Academy students enroll in Intensive English 9 (year long), and Intensive World Cultures and Geography. Tenth grade students study Intensive English 10 (year long) and Intensive World History (year long). At the 11th grade level, students have the option to apply for AP US History and/or Honors American Literature. Students will also be prepared to apply for AP English, AP Ameican Government, and/or AP Economics in their senior year.
Prerequisites: The application process includes teacher recommendation, and a timed writing sample. All highly motivated students are encouraged to apply.
Course Description: Since the English and Social Studies classes already exist at Soquel High, Humanities Academy teachers integrate and enrich the curricula. Additional reading and writing requirements, shared English and Social Studies projects, guest speakers, field trips, the inclusion of art and music, and community development are the hallmarks of the Academy.
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
9 Semester 5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: World Civilizations for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This course is
required of all incoming freshmen. You will learn the factors
that have contributed to cultural differences in our world, including
the geographical and historical factors affecting the development of
various civilizations. Much emphasis will be placed on skill
development, including: map making, time lines, graphs, proper
organization of notebooks, and reading and writing for social studies.
INTENSIVE WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
9 Fall
5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: World Civilizations for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Recommendation of eighth grade teacher
Course Description: Intensive World
Civilization is a demanding, one-semester, freshman-level class.
It is highly recommended for students who are academically motivated
and seeking a challenging learning environment in which the great
issues of our world are studied in depth. Topics to be covered
include the industrial revolution, political and economic systems,
colonialism and independence movements, indigenous and non-indigenous
cultures from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia; and world
religions. Current events and geography will be taught in
conjunction with the above-mentioned topics.
GLOBAL ISSUES
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
10 Semester 5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: Global Issues for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Pass World Civilizations
Course Description: Students will
examine global interdependence as it relates to economic and social
issues. You will become more aware of global issues such as world
trade, the role of multinational corporations and the gap between rich
and poor nations. Other areas of concentration will be the
nuclear issue and environmental issues. You will be expected to
perform community service.
INTENSIVE GLOBAL ISSUES
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
10 Semester 5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: Global Issues for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Pass World Civilizations and recommendation of 9th grade social studies teacher
Course Description: Intensive Global
Issues is a demanding, one-semester, sophomore-level class. It is
highly recommended for students who are academically motivated and
seeking a challenging learning environment in which the great issues of
our world are studied in depth. It is the second class in the
Social Studies Honors program and is designed to prepare students for
the three Advanced Placement classes offered at the junior and senior
level. Topics to be covered include: The cold war and its
aftermath, nationalism, women's rights, the impact of technology on the
modern world, utopian and dystopian visions, the state of the
environment, population, world hunger and regional conflicts. In
addition, contemporary ethnic, religious, economic and social groups
and movements will be examined from the following regions: the
Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China, India and Russia.
SHELTERED WORLD CIVILIZATIONS & GLOBAL ISSUES
Grade
Duration
Credits Repeat
Status
9-10-11-12 Year
5/5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: World Civilizations & Global Issues for SHS
Prerequisite: ELL program participation
Course Description: This course is
designed for English language learners. During the World
Civilization semester, students will learn the factors that have
contributed to cultural differences in our world, including the
geographical and historical factors affecting the development of
various civilizations. Much emphasis will be placed on skill
development, including: map making, time lines, graphs, proper
organization of notebooks, and reading and writing for social studies.
During the Global Issues semester, students will examine global
interdependence as it relates to economic and social issues. You
will become more aware of global issues such as world trade, the role
of multinational corporations and the gap between rich and poor
nations. Other areas of concentration will be the nuclear issue
and environmental issues. You will be expected to perform
community service.
This course is offered every third year, in rotation with Sheltered US
History and Sheltered American Government & Economics.
U.S. HISTORY
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
11 Year 5/5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: U.S. History for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Pass Global Issues
Course Description: The first semester
will be a study of U.S. History from the late 19th century to
1940. The second semester will cover the period from World War II
to the present. The course will be an examination of the
political, economic, and social growth of the American way of life, and
the relationship of America to other nations in the world.
SHELTERED U.S. HISTORY
Grade
Duration
Credits Repeat
Status
9-10-11-12 Year
5/5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: U.S. History for SHS
Prerequisite: ELL program participation
Course Description: This course is
designed for English language learners. The first semester will
be a study of U.S. History from the late 19th century to 1940.
The second semester will cover the period from World War II to the
present. The course will be an examination of the political,
economic, and social growth of the American way of life, and the
relationship of America to other nations in the world. This
course is offered every third year, in rotation with Sheltered World
Civilization & Global Issues, and Sheltered American Government
& Economics.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. HISTORY
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
11-12 Year
5/5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: U.S. History for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: World Civilization, Global Issues, Proficient or higher on current STAR test, and teacher recommendation
Course Description: The Advanced
Placement Program in American History is designed to provide students
with the analytical skills, factual and theoretical knowledge and
writing skills necessary to deal with the problems and developments in
U.S. history from colonial times to the modern era. The program
prepares students for intermediate and advanced college-level courses
by making demands upon them equivalent to those of full-year
introductory college courses. Students should learn to assess
historical materials, describe and define their relevance to a given
problem, and judge their reliability and importance. In this
process, students should become familiar with the skills and pitfalls
in historical scholarship. The focus of this class will never be
the "correct" interpretation of U.S. history but rather the search for
the world view embedded within various interpretations.
ECONOMICS
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
12 Semester 5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: Economics for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Pass U.S. History
Course Description: Students will learn
about prices, money, jobs, and the workings of the American
economy. The course will provide both a basic understanding of
economic concepts (e.g. supply and demand, inflation) as well as an
understanding of the forces that operate in the U.S. and world
economics today.
INTENSIVE ECONOMICS
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
10 Semester 5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: Economics for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation,
grade point average and a writing sample. Students must have
scored Proficient on current STAR tests
Course Description: Intensive Economics is a demanding, one-semester,
sophomore-level class. It is highly recommended for students who
are academically motivated and seeking a challenging learning
environment in which the great issues of our world are studied in
depth. It is designed to prepare students for the three Advanced
Placement classes offered at the junior and senior level. Topics
to be covered include prices, money, jobs, and the workings of
the American economy. The course will provide both a basic
understanding of economic concepts (e.g. supply and demand, inflation)
as well as an understanding of the forces that operate in the U.S. and
world economics today.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
12 Semester 5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: Government for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Pass U.S. History
Course Description: This course is
designed to provide students with an understanding of the American
system of government at the federal, state and local levels.
Topics include public opinions, political parties, the American
presidency, congressional decision-making, civil rights, and ethics in
government. You will be expected to participate in three field
trips.
INTENSIVE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Grade Duration Credits Repeat Status
10 Semester 5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: Economics for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation,
grade point average and a writing sample. Students must have
scored Proficient on current STAR tests
Course Description: Intensive American
Government is a demanding, one-semester, sophomore-level class.
It is highly recommended for students who are academically motivated
and seeking a challenging learning environment in which the great
issues of our world are studied in depth. It is designed to
prepare students for the three Advanced Placement classes offered at
the junior and senior level. Topics include public opinions,
political parties, the American presidency, congressional
decision-making, civil rights, and ethics in government.
SHELTERD AMERICAN GOVERNMENT/ECONOMICS
Grade
Duration
Credits Repeat
Status
9-10-11-12 Year 5/5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Social Studies: Government & Economics for SHS
Prerequisite: ELL program participation
Course Description: This class is
designed for English language learners. During the semester of
Economics, students will learn about prices, money, jobs, and the
workings of the American economy. The course will provide both a
basic understanding of economic concepts (e.g. supply and demand,
inflation) as well as an understanding of the forces that operate in
the U.S. and world economics today.
During the semester of American Government, students will be provided
with an understanding of the American system of government at the
federal, state and local levels. Topics include public opinions,
political parties, the American presidency, congressional
decision-making, civil rights, and ethics in government. You will
be expected to participate in three field trips.
This course is offered every third year, in rotation with Sheltered US
History and Sheltered World Civilization & Global Issues.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY
Grade
Duration
Credits Repeat
Status
11-12 Year
5/5 No
Fulfills Requirements: Elective credit for SHS; for UC/CSU, see a-g list
Prerequisite: Completion of World Civilizations and Global Issues, Proficient or higher on current STAR test.
Course Description: This is a full-year
introductory college course in European history from c. 1450 to the
present. The use of historical evidence is presented.
Thematic essays are written on the intellectual, cultural, political,
diplomatic, social, and economic events of this time period.
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