New Directions Social Studies

WORLD HISTORY 1-2 (1301 – 1302)
Grade Level: 10
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
Students in World History study major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of both World Wars and the Cold War period. Students also develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and culture (art, music, literature) contents. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives. The standards for the year-long course are taught and learned through eight major themes sequenced chronologically. Competency-based educational objectives will be in compliance with California State Model Curriculum Standards.

U.S. HISTORY 1-2 (1376 – 1377)
Grade Level: 11
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
U.S. History 1-2 is a two-semester course in which students examine the economic, social, and political development of the United States, concentrating primarily on the twentieth century. During the year certain themes will be emphasized: the expanding role of the federal government and federal courts; the continuing tension between the individual and the state; the emergence of a modern corporate economy; the impact of technology on American society and culture; change in the ethnic composition of American society; the movements toward equal rights for racial minorities and women; and the role of the United States as a major world power. Throughout the course students will explore American culture, literature, the arts, and the mass media. Students will demonstrate competency in questioning, critical thinking, research, and writing as it applies to the discipline of history. Competency-based educational objectives will be in compliance with California State Model Curriculum Standards.

CIVICS (1393)
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
Civics surveys the origins of our federal, state and local governments and studies their structure, function, theory and process. It promotes citizenship skill building by serving the community in an “outside project” and prepares students for the political and social arenas of the future. This is a practical course applying knowledge toward voting, jury duty and rights and privileges of community participation. Must be taken in 12th grade only.

ECONOMICS (1398)
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: None
Meets the UC/CSU “a or g” requirement
Economics is a course in which students will deepen their understanding of the economic problems and institutions of the nation and world in which they live. They will learn to make reasoned decisions on economic issues as citizens, workers, consumers, business owners and managers. Primarily a course in social science, economics enriches students' understanding of the operations and institutions of economic systems, rather than a course in household or business management or budgeting. The course will deal with the following areas: 1) fundamental concept (e.g., scarcity); 2) comparative economic systems (Capitalism, Communism, Socialism, etc.); 3) macroeconomics (supply and demand, forms of competition, monetary policy, etc.) 4) international economic concepts (e.g., comparative and absolute advantage, international trade, etc.).