Petaluma High School Social Sciences Catalog

P-AMERICAN GOVERNMENT - G312PS
Year: 12
Prerequisites: None
Students will examine traditional topics essential to a study of the United States Government, such as the Constitutional principles underlying Federalism, the role of political parties and interest groups, and the duties and powers of the Presidency and the Legislature. To ensure student comprehension of these topics, basic knowledge is reinforced through role playing, participation projects, case studies, and issue-oriented debates. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AP - G312AS
Year: 12
Prerequisites: Qualifying exam, teacher recommendation, GPA
This Advanced Placement course in United States government and politics is designed to give students a critical perspective on government and politics in the United States. The course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret United States politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the United States political reality. The aim of this Advanced Placement course is to provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory American Government and Politics classes. Students are required to take the College Board Advanced Placement exam in the spring. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-ECONOMICS - H112PS
Year: 12
Prerequisites: None
This is an introductory class which investigates micro and macro economics. It is an academically demanding course, which emphasizes comparative systems, supply, demand, government spending, inflation, and international trade. During the semester students set-up their own company and each take an active role one day a week. This company simulates a real business venture in its entirety. This course meets the subject area “g” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-HONORS WORLD HISTORY - E1NWHY
Year: 10
Prerequisites: Test, teacher recommendation, GPA
This course is a survey of World History stressing the period from 1790 to the present. This course will go into greater depth with more writing and reading required than in regular World History classes. A higher than average reading ability is required. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-MACROECONOMICS AP - H700AS
Year: 12
Prerequisites: Qualifying exam, teacher recommendation, GPA
The purpose of an Advanced Placement course in Macroeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. Macroeconomics is a sub-discipline of economics, which deals with economic aggregates. Whereas Microeconomics focuses on individual economic entities, Macroeconomics deals with the overall level of output; it's rate of growth, and the level of prices in general. Macroeconomics will give the student a basis for applying principles of economic aggregates (i.e., National income, output, consumption, investment, government spending, taxation, money, banking, monetary policy and international trade) to the real world. Students are required to take the College Board Advanced Placement exam in the spring. This course meets the subject area “g” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-PSYCHOLOGY AP - M600AY
Year: 11-12
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation
The Advanced Placement Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. This will include the study of normal and abnormal perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and actions. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with the major sub fields within psychology. This course meets the subject area “g” for the UC/CSU approved course list.
P-PSYCHOLOGY/SOCIOLOGY - M400PS/M500PS
Year: 11-12
Prerequisites: None
Through the study of scientific psychology, students gain an understanding of the complexities of human thought and behavior, as well as the factors related to the differences between people. Students also gain a basic understanding of the scientific methods that are at the core of the discipline. Students are able to directly apply knowledge gained from a psychology class to their daily lives. Topics that will be covered include the historical basis for modern psychology and research methods, the biological basis of behavior, personality and its assessment, psychological disorders and treatment, and the states of consciousness. Sociology is a one semester elective introduction to the discipline for juniors and seniors. It is designed to help students become acquainted with, develop an understanding of, and attain a rudimentary proficiency in using the basic vocabulary and concepts of the discipline. The students will become highly aware of the lifelong nature of the socialization process and understand that the fact that various people are raised in various cultures does indeed give them vastly different definitions of the social situations in which they find themselves. These courses meet the subject area “g” for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-SDAIE WORLD HISTORY / SDAIE U.S. HISTORY - E110EY / F911EY
Year: 9-11
Prerequisites: English is the student's second language
The purpose of ESL History is to offer a course of study reflective of the major goals of the History-Social Science Framework using the techniques of Sheltered English. There is emphasis on the knowledge that has had a profound effect on the formation of historical ideas and processes. The student will, upon completion of the two-year course, posses a well-ordered sense of events, including their proper sequence in history, and will demonstrate knowledge of those events. The student will study historical issues and events, and be able to analyze, identify and interpret the diverse perspectives presented. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-U.S. HISTORY - F911PY
Year: 11
Prerequisites: None
In this year-long course, students will study the history of the United States from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Students will begin the course by reviewing the early development of our country and its geography. The course is offered in two formats: chronological and thematic. The curriculum will concentrate on the events that have had the greatest impact on our lives today. All sections are taught at the college preparatory level. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-U.S. HISTORY AP - F500AY
Year: 11
Prerequisites: Exam taken in 10th grade, world history teacher recommendation, GPA
This course is a freshman college-level study of the United States from its colonial beginnings to the present time. The course is designed for the gifted and talented student who has a strong desire to learn. The course uses textbooks and supplemental readings of an advanced nature. Emphasis is upon enhancing intellectual talents such as analysis, interpretation, extrapolation, evaluation, and application. This course utilizes instructions, readings, textbooks, and materials of an advanced nature. Further, the historical period covered, from colonial times to the '80's, is viewed from the perspective of political development, economic exploitation of the natural resources as well as concepts of sociology, anthropology, and behavioral science. Students are strongly encouraged to take the College Board Advanced Placement exam in the spring. Students not achieving at least a grade of C at the semester will be evaluated for appropriate placement. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.
P-WORLD HISTORY - E110PY
Year: 10
Prerequisites: None
The goal of this course is to have the students critically analyze historical trends and how they connect with the students' values, interests and customs. This links the past to the modern world (1789 to the present). The emphasis is on world relationships with an effort to blend current events with all other topics. Students will be challenged to understand the nature of major events, places and people. Students will learn social science analytical methods. When appropriate and available, primary sources, documents, and contemporary commentaries will be used in the classroom and for research. An awareness of world geography will be enhanced and appreciation and understanding of the changing inter-relationships of nations and people will be developed. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-AMERICAN GOVERNMENT - G312PS

Year: 12

Prerequisites: None

Students will examine traditional topics essential to a study of the United States Government, such as the Constitutional principles underlying Federalism, the role of political parties and interest groups, and the duties and powers of the Presidency and the Legislature. To ensure student comprehension of these topics, basic knowledge is reinforced through role playing, participation projects, case studies, and issue-oriented debates. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AP - G312AS

Year: 12

Prerequisites: Qualifying exam, teacher recommendation, GPA

This Advanced Placement course in United States government and politics is designed to give students a critical perspective on government and politics in the United States. The course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret United States politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the United States political reality. The aim of this Advanced Placement course is to provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory American Government and Politics classes. Students are required to take the College Board Advanced Placement exam in the spring. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-ECONOMICS - H112PS

Year: 12

Prerequisites: None

This is an introductory class which investigates micro and macro economics. It is an academically demanding course, which emphasizes comparative systems, supply, demand, government spending, inflation, and international trade. During the semester students set-up their own company and each take an active role one day a week. This company simulates a real business venture in its entirety. This course meets the subject area “g” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-HONORS WORLD HISTORY - E1NWHY

Year: 10

Prerequisites: Test, teacher recommendation, GPA

This course is a survey of World History stressing the period from 1790 to the present. This course will go into greater depth with more writing and reading required than in regular World History classes. A higher than average reading ability is required. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-MACROECONOMICS AP - H700AS

Year: 12

Prerequisites: Qualifying exam, teacher recommendation, GPA

The purpose of an Advanced Placement course in Macroeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. Macroeconomics is a sub-discipline of economics, which deals with economic aggregates. Whereas Microeconomics focuses on individual economic entities, Macroeconomics deals with the overall level of output; it's rate of growth, and the level of prices in general. Macroeconomics will give the student a basis for applying principles of economic aggregates (i.e., National income, output, consumption, investment, government spending, taxation, money, banking, monetary policy and international trade) to the real world. Students are required to take the College Board Advanced Placement exam in the spring. This course meets the subject area “g” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-PSYCHOLOGY AP - M600AY

Year: 11-12

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

The Advanced Placement Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. This will include the study of normal and abnormal perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and actions. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with the major sub fields within psychology. This course meets the subject area “g” for the UC/CSU approved course list.

P-PSYCHOLOGY/SOCIOLOGY - M400PS/M500PS

Year: 11-12

Prerequisites: None

Through the study of scientific psychology, students gain an understanding of the complexities of human thought and behavior, as well as the factors related to the differences between people. Students also gain a basic understanding of the scientific methods that are at the core of the discipline. Students are able to directly apply knowledge gained from a psychology class to their daily lives. Topics that will be covered include the historical basis for modern psychology and research methods, the biological basis of behavior, personality and its assessment, psychological disorders and treatment, and the states of consciousness. Sociology is a one semester elective introduction to the discipline for juniors and seniors. It is designed to help students become acquainted with, develop an understanding of, and attain a rudimentary proficiency in using the basic vocabulary and concepts of the discipline. The students will become highly aware of the lifelong nature of the socialization process and understand that the fact that various people are raised in various cultures does indeed give them vastly different definitions of the social situations in which they find themselves. These courses meet the subject area “g” for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-SDAIE WORLD HISTORY / SDAIE U.S. HISTORY - E110EY / F911EY

Year: 9-11

Prerequisites: English is the student's second language

The purpose of ESL History is to offer a course of study reflective of the major goals of the History-Social Science Framework using the techniques of Sheltered English. There is emphasis on the knowledge that has had a profound effect on the formation of historical ideas and processes. The student will, upon completion of the two-year course, posses a well-ordered sense of events, including their proper sequence in history, and will demonstrate knowledge of those events. The student will study historical issues and events, and be able to analyze, identify and interpret the diverse perspectives presented. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-U.S. HISTORY - F911PY

Year: 11

Prerequisites: None

In this year-long course, students will study the history of the United States from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Students will begin the course by reviewing the early development of our country and its geography. The course is offered in two formats: chronological and thematic. The curriculum will concentrate on the events that have had the greatest impact on our lives today. All sections are taught at the college preparatory level. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-U.S. HISTORY AP - F500AY

Year: 11

Prerequisites: Exam taken in 10th grade, world history teacher recommendation, GPA

This course is a freshman college-level study of the United States from its colonial beginnings to the present time. The course is designed for the gifted and talented student who has a strong desire to learn. The course uses textbooks and supplemental readings of an advanced nature. Emphasis is upon enhancing intellectual talents such as analysis, interpretation, extrapolation, evaluation, and application. This course utilizes instructions, readings, textbooks, and materials of an advanced nature. Further, the historical period covered, from colonial times to the '80's, is viewed from the perspective of political development, economic exploitation of the natural resources as well as concepts of sociology, anthropology, and behavioral science. Students are strongly encouraged to take the College Board Advanced Placement exam in the spring. Students not achieving at least a grade of C at the semester will be evaluated for appropriate placement. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.

P-WORLD HISTORY - E110PY

Year: 10

Prerequisites: None

The goal of this course is to have the students critically analyze historical trends and how they connect with the students' values, interests and customs. This links the past to the modern world (1789 to the present). The emphasis is on world relationships with an effort to blend current events with all other topics. Students will be challenged to understand the nature of major events, places and people. Students will learn social science analytical methods. When appropriate and available, primary sources, documents, and contemporary commentaries will be used in the classroom and for research. An awareness of world geography will be enhanced and appreciation and understanding of the changing inter-relationships of nations and people will be developed. This course meets the subject area “a” requirement for the UC / CSU approved course list.