Grades Offered: 9 Prerequisites: None UC Approved: Yes

This course spans a time period from the Neolithic Revolution (B.C.E. period) up to the Columbian exchange (16th century). Major topics of exploration include: Cultural/technological contributions of the six ancient world civilizations, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance; human migration and cultural diffusion; development of political and social structures; and empire expansion and downfall.

Students will develop skills in the following areas:

Chronological and Spatial Thinking

• Create maps, timelines, and other graphics to trace human migration and environmental patterns through time, evolving political borders, and causation and correlation between historical events.
• Demonstrate the ability to narrate history in different ways (chronological, thematic) through writing and oral presentation.

Historical Research and Interpretation

• Study and analyze information from a variety of primary and secondary sources, taking into context the source’s genre, setting, and the background of the author/narrator.
• Evaluate the soundness of and identify potential fallacies or biases in the arguments.  
• Interpret correlation and causation between historical events and the modern day, ___ the impact of an event on a region’s (or the world’s) economy, politics, society, and technology.

Academic Literacy and Writing

• Construct well-organized arguments for essay types including Document-Based Questions (DBQ), compare and contrast, and research papers.
• Utilize a variety of qualitative and quantitative sources (statistics, graphs, surveys, etc) as well as firsthand research to support their claims.

Interdisciplinary Learning

Make connections to famous literary works including Animal Farm and All Quiet on the Western Front.

Grades Offered: 10 Prerequisites: None UC Approved: Yes

This course focuses on the impact and significance of historical events from the 16th century to the modern day. Topics of emphasis include: the Spanish Empire, Age of Enlightenment, the Napoleon Era, the Industrial Revolution, the Age of Imperialism, World War I and II, 20th century political movements, and the modern day. Students will build upon the skills obtained in 9th grade history class.

Grades Offered: 10,11 Prerequisites: One year of high school world history UC Approved: Yes

Grades Offered: 11 Prerequisites: None UC Approved: Yes

This course for high school juniors focuses on U.S. history from the Pre-Columbian period up to the current presidential administration.

In this course, students will be expected to analyze and interpret history through the following lenses: 1) American diversity, (2) American identity, (3) culture, (4) demographic changes, (5) economic transformations, (6) environment, (7) globalization, (8) politics & citizenship, (9) reform, (10) religion, (11) slavery & its legacies, and (12) war & diplomacy.

In addition to building upon skills practiced in their previous high school courses, students will:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of history through different perspectives by relating points of view from disenfranchised or marginalized groups.
• Explore controversy and failure on the American experiment with nationhood as well as much deserved feathers in the cap.
• Make connections to the American Literature class, especially authors such as Fuller, Thoreau, Douglass, and Emerson.

Students taking the AP course will prepare for the AP exam in May through mock exams and AP practice questions.

Grades Offered: 12 Prerequisites: None UC Approved: Yes

Workings of the American federal government and the meaning of democracy with focus on the three branches of government, civil rights and liberties, and modern-day issues.

Students will:

• Study and analyze increasingly challenging primary texts, including excerpts from the Federalist papers, court cases, and original legislative documents.
• Debate, challenge, and evaluate public policy, demonstrating comprehensive understanding of the complex and unique issues that pervade today’s society.
• Demonstrate active citizenship by writing a proposal addressed to a member or entity of the U.S. government.

Grades Offered: 12 Prerequisites: None UC Approved: Yes