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WORLD STUDIES
Designed for general-level and college preparatory students. In this one-term course students will examine major turning points and the cause-and-effect flow of the forces that have shaped the modern world in order to engage in the process of improving their reading comprehension, academic vocabulary, document analysis (primary and secondary), and their ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Students will build on their skills in logic, analytical reading, critical thinking, and high-level expository writing as they study the Development of Modern Political Thought, the Age of Revolutions, Global events leading to World War I, Totalitarianism and World War II, the Cold War, and the era of terrorism. Current events will be interwoven into, and with, the historical content.
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UNITED STATES HISTORY
Designed for general-level and college preparatory students. In this one-term course students examine major turning points and the cause-and-effect flow of the forces that have shaped the United States in the 20th century. Students will engage in the process of sourcing, reading for comprehension, document analysis and organizing evidence in support of a written thesis. Primary and secondary sources of information will be examined and analyzed. Students will build their academic vocabulary, speaking, reading, writing, problem solving and study skills. Curricular units are chronologically based on state standards and include The Foundation of the American Nation (review of Colonial age, Revolution, Constitution, Civil War and Reconstruction), Industrialization and Immigration, Religion’s Role in America, America’s Rise to World Power, The 1920s, The Great Depression and New Deal, World War II, Domestic changes in Postwar America, Foreign Policy in the Cold War, The Civil Rights Movement, and Contemporary American Society.
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IB HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS HL-1, HL-2
This is a college level, two-year course, meeting every other day, through the junior and senior years and is blocked with the IB English class. The curriculum is internationally recognized as university level and students are expected to take an IB HOA test in May of their senior year. A passing score on this test will allow students to waive the required U.S. history course in most colleges. Focus of study is broken into two components, blended over the two year time period: 1) the Causes/Effects of War, Civil Rights, and the Cold War, 2) the comparative history of the Western Hemisphere in the last 100 years. Main goals of the course are preparing students for a rigorous university experience, fine tuning successful academic skills, and acquiring an analytical and international eye for understanding multiple perspectives on major historical events of the last century. IB requires an “Internal Assessment” (college type research paper) for each HOA student. International Baccalaureate courses are open to all Granite Bay High School students. Applicable IB exam and registration fees apply. ALL students enrolled in IB courses are required to complete the entire course and sit for the external exams in May.
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AP GOVERNMENT/ ECONOMICS
This course is designed for the advanced student who desires to continue studying at the college level. It provides students an opportunity to gain a critical perspective on government, politics, and economics in the United States. It involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret American politics and Economics, and the analysis of specific case studies. Students will strengthen their skills in logic, analytical reading, critical thinking, and high-level expository writing. AP students are expected to sign up for and take the AP exam. A successful performance on the Advanced Placement Exam will enable students to obtain college credit at selected colleges and universities. This course follows the national AP United States Government framework, the Economics curriculum is non-AP specific and follows state standards.
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AP GOVERNMENT
Students will gain a critical perspective on government and politics in the United States. It involves the study of general concepts used to interpret American politics and the analysis of specific case studies.
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AP MACROECONOMICS
Students will gain a thorough understanding of the principles of economics in examining aggregate economic behavior. Students taking the course can expect to learn how the measures of economic performance are constructed, using basic analytical tools, and how to apply them to evaluate the macroeconomic conditions of an economy. Students will also evaluate the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policy in promoting economic growth and stability, while examining the impact of international trade and finance.
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LEADERSHIP
Learn the skills needed to be an effective leader, such as understanding personality and leadership styles, time/stress management, conflict resolution, group dynamics, and public speaking. Skills learned will be useful in Student Government, Athletics, and other co-curricular activities as well as work experiences and career preparation outside of school.
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SPORT CULTURE
This interdisciplinary social science course will focus on the culture and socialization of sports, contemporary controversial issues in sports, overview of sports psychology, peak performance critical elements, and academic literacy. It is for college-bound students that have an interest in sports and sports related fields. Students will examine the social, historical, educational, political, and economic institutions of sport and current practices in the sports world. Students will develop academic and interpersonal skills, and also mental training methods for optimal performance in sports and in other performance areas. Sport Culture is both content and skills-based curriculum. Sport Culture will set a foundation for further study in psychology, sociology, organizational leadership, and also the sports related fields such as coaching, teaching, and athletic administration.
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BEGINNING PEER CONNECTIONS
This course is designed to train students in counseling and leadership skills and these trained Peer Connections Students will run the Peer Resource Center. Students will be taught active listening skills, how to develop supportive interactions with other students, and how to address interpersonal relationship problems. Students will also be trained to peer counsel, mediate disputes, and facilitate support groups on specific teen-related issues. Peer Connections Students will create and present Wellness Workshops at the PRC, work with other organizations on campus, and maintain an online presence for additional support and resources through the center’s website: www.gbpeer2peer.com.
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IB PSYCHOLOGY SL-2
This course is a continuation of IB Psychology SL-1.. Students will study at least one of the following options to be determined by the instructor: Abnormal psychology, Developmental psychology, Health psychology, Psychology of Human Relationships, and Sports psychology. Note: An internal assessment will be conducted in the fall/winter and will require the student to write a report over a simple psychological experiment they will design, conduct and analyze. This course will place heavy emphasis on writing as a way of thinking through the use of the internal assessment. International Baccalaureate courses are open to any Granite Bay High School student. Applicable IB exam and registration fees apply. ALL students enrolled in IB courses are required to complete the entire course and sit for the external exams in May.
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IB PSYCHOLOGY SL-1
Psychology is the systematic study of behavior and mental processes. IB Psychology examines the interaction of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences on human behavior, thereby adopting an integrative approach. IB Psychology students will develop an awareness of how psychological research can be applied for the benefit of human beings, ensure that ethical practices are upheld in psychological inquiry, develop an understanding of the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences on human behavior, develop an understanding of alternative explanations of behavior, and understand and use diverse methods of psychological inquiry. Students will study at least one of the following options to be determined by the instructor: Abnormal psychology, Developmental psychology, Health psychology, Psychology of Human Relationships, and Sports psychology. An internal assessment will be conducted in the fall/winter and will require the student to write a report over a simple psychological experiment they will design, conduct and analyze. In the senior year, students conduct a basic cognitive experiment and write a 1,500 word APA format report. International Baccalaureate courses are open to any Granite Bay High School student. Applicable IB exam and registration fees apply. ALL students enrolled in IB courses are required to complete the entire course and sit for the external exams in May.
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IB WORLD RELIGIONS SL-1, SL-2
This course also serves to create an understanding of world religions and how other people, throughout the world, view and understand religion. There is an expectation of a maturity level for the student who takes this class, a level that will require tolerance and open-mindedness when learning and discussing other religions. The World Religions class will study 5 different world religions throughout the course of study. After an overview of key concepts of the five religions, two of the religions will be studied much more in-depth. By the end of the course, students will have completed a 1,500-1,800 self-study/investigative research paper on an aspect of one of the religions. International Baccalaureate courses are open to any Granite Bay High School student. All IB exam and registration fees apply. ALL students enrolled in IB courses are required to complete the entire course and sit for the external exams in May.
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AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Designed for the university-bound student, this class will introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface. The course teaches students to interpret maps, analyze geospatial data, define regions, understand changing interconnections among places, interpret relationships among patterns and processes, and explain the implications of networks and associations, such as political formations, cultural values and economic constraints. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. There will be an emphasis on current events, reading and writing skills and technology will be utilized to explore human interaction and its relationship with the earth. This course follows the College Board's AP Human Geography framework. Students are expected to sign up for and take the AP exam in May. This course satisfies the RJUHSD World Studies graduation requirement.
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AP EUROPEAN HISTORY
Blocked with Honors English 10 this course is designed for the university-bound student, preparation for college coursework, pacing and testing in European History is a major focus of the course. Students will engage in the process of framing an inquiry, selecting relevant sources, and organizing evidence in support of a thesis. Primary and secondary sources of information will be examined and analyzed. Students will build on their skills in logic, analytical reading, critical thinking, and high-level expository writing. A successful performance on the Advanced Placement Exam will enable students to obtain college credit in World History at selected colleges and universities. This course follows the College Board’s AP European History framework.. AP students are expected to sign up for and take the AP exam in May.
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AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
Designed for university-bound students, AP U.S. History is a rigorous, in-depth examination of the course of American economic, political, and social development from colonial to contemporary times. Preparation for academic success in college reading, coursework and testing is a major focus of this course. Students will strengthen their skills in logic, analytical reading, critical thinking, and high-level expository writing. Students will engage in the process of framing an inquiry, selecting relevant sources, and organizing evidence in support of a hypothesis using primary and secondary sources of information in their analysis. AP students are expected to sign up for and take the AP exam in May. A successful performance on the Advanced Placement Exam will enable students to obtain college credit in American History at selected colleges and universities. This course follows the College Board’s AP United States History framework.
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GOVERNMENT/ECONOMICS
Course content includes an overview of federal and state government and basic economic principles. Students will study the three branches of government, the electoral process, various systems of government, and basic micro and macroeconomics. Economic problems in the US and personal economics are also stressed. The course emphasizes the active role of the individual and provides practical strategies for students to use in making personal economic decisions. A community-service component is required in this course.
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AP MICROECONOMICS
Students will master the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both as consumers and producers, within the economic system. The course places primary emphasis on the nature and function of product markets, and includes the study of factor markets and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy.
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LAW AND JUSTICE
This course combines theory and practice about law, democracy, and human rights. The curriculum focuses on legal rights and responsibilities, engagement in the democratic process, and commitment to the rule of law and social justice, especially focusing on Supreme Court case analysis. Topics include constitutional rights and liberties, civil and criminal law, adult and juvenile justice, family and consumer law.
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MILITARY HISTORY
American Military History is a course designed to provide students with a survey of the politics, strategies, tactics, causes, and effects of American armed conflict. The realities of war will be researched, discussed, viewed, and debated through video, literature, eyewitness accounts, oral histories, and class projects. This course will assist students in their studies of Granite Bay’s World and U.S. History courses.
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student Government is a course designed to provide a setting for hands-on learning and implementing of the ASB and Class Activities programs at Granite Bay High School. Elected and appointed leaders enroll in one of two sections, to focus on either Class or ASB activities.
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ADVANCED PEER CONNECTIONS
The Advanced Peer Connections course requires students to have taken Beginning Peer Connections. The advanced course builds on the skills learned in the beginning course in several ways. Students learn additional skills such as conflict resolution, group facilitation, and program management. Students in this course provide ongoing services to the student body: lunchtime Wellness Workshops, classroom presentations, peer counseling, conflict mediation, and support group discussions. Students will connect with other clubs and organizations on campus to provide support and services in an ongoing effort to improve campus culture. They will also research a teen-related topic important to them and offer services related to their topic. In addition, students run and manage the Peer Resource Center by joining or leading a committee, handling social media, managing the PRC website, organizing events, and more. For more information about the Peer Resource Center, please go to www.gbpeer2peer.com.
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IB THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 1, KNOWLEDGE 2
TOK is an enquiry into the ways of knowing and different types of knowledge. This course challenges students to reflect critically on the methodologies of the six IB curriculum areas. Students will develop skills to identify and then evaluate belief and knowledge claims. Students will also reflect upon their IB experiences and will integrate and evaluate what they know within a larger knowing community. This course is required for all IB Diploma Programme candidates and mandates a minimum of 100 hours spread over 3 terms in grades 11 and 12. The assessment includes an essay (1200-1600 words) worth 66% and a presentation worth 33% of the IBO grade. International Baccalaureate courses are open to any Granite Bay High School student. ALL students enrolled in IB courses are required to complete the entire course and sit for the external exams in May.
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SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Social psychology is a branch of psychology that analyzes the individual in the context of a social situation. This Social Psychology course provides students the opportunity to study the way in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others. Students will learn how and when people are influenced by others, and what happens in the mind of an individual when various influences come into conflict with one another. Curriculum topics include: how we understand others and ourselves, attitude formation and change, the influence of social groups, interpersonal attraction, conformity, persuasion, aggression, and prejudice.
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AP PSYCHOLOGY
The AP 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. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Some of those subfields include: personality development, psychological disorders, states of consciousness, memory, intelligence, and more. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. AP students are expected to sign up for and take the AP exam.
