Social Studies

All students must earn 3 Social Studies credits in order to graduate from Grandview High School. Of the 3 credits, 1 credit must be achieved in United States History and a 1/2 credit must be completed in U.S. Government.

The 1.0 credit of U.S. History may be earned in ONE of the following ways:
a) CP U.S. History in 11th grade
b) *AP U.S. History in 11th grade
c) *CE U.S. History to Reconstruction AND *CE U.S. History to Reconstruction in 11th grade
d) CCSD U.S. History - Online

The 1/2 credit of Government may be earned in one of the following ways:
a) CP U.S. Government - Semester course offered during 11th or 12th grade
b) *AP U.S. Government (typically taken in 11th or 12th grade)

While only 3 credits are required for graduation, it is highly recommended that all students who plan to attend college take at least 4 credits of Social Studies.

9th Grade Social Studies

CP Human Geography

CP Human Geography

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 9

Credit: 1

This course examines the physical and human geography of the Earth. Students look at the political, economic, demographic, religious, linguistic and social forces that shape a region’s cultural landscape and will be able to analyze how people are interacting with their environment and increasingly interconnected with one another in a Globalized world. The vehicle of this course is through the Project Based Learning platform in order to encourage and engage students to experience their own learning.

AP Human Geography

AP Human Geography

Prerequisites: 9th graders - Teacher signature, successful completion of entrance examination

Grade level: 9

Credit: 1

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

10th Grade Social Studies

CP World History

CP World History

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 10

Credit: 1

This course is a survey of history from roughly the 1200s to the present day. Through project-based learning strategies, students will learn about the political, economic, and cultural forces which have shaped the development of civilizations around the world and laid the foundations for the issues which face the people of the globe today. This course includes Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The course will also focus on developing students' reading, analysis, and writing skills through a long-term research paper.

AP World History

AP World History

Prerequisites: Teacher signature

Grade level: 10

Credit: 1

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

The purpose of this Advanced Placement course is to use selected factual knowledge, reading, writing, and analytical skills to enhance the students’ understanding of history. This course includes Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Specific themes explored in the course will involve political structures, economic systems, religious institutions, social classes, intellectual philosophies, artistic movements, technology, and the environment. An Advanced Placement exam will be administered at the end of the course, providing students with the opportunity to attain college credit and/or advanced placement in college courses. Each student is expected to take this national exam. Due to the advanced nature of this course, grades will be weighted.

CP Social Studies (11th and 12th Grade)

CP US History (year)

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 11

Credit: 1

Students in United States History will learn about the development of this country's political, economic, and social systems by studying the American revolution through the current era. Students will be exposed to economic concepts that examine financial literacy. Students will learn methods of historical inquiry through, lecture, class discussion, audio visual material, and primary and secondary documents.

CP US Government & Politics (sem.)

American Ethnic Studies (sem.)

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

This semester course focuses on the history of ethnic and racial minority groups in the United States of America. This semester course will focus on the African American, Latin American, Asian American, and Indigenous American Experiences. Students will have the opportunity to learn about racism, oppression, xenophobia, and ongoing efforts to fight for greater social, economic, and political equity.

Economics (sem.)

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

This course is designed to acquaint the student with basic economic elements, goals, problems, and alternatives of the modified free market system. The student will study the major economic goals of our society: growth, full employment, price stability, and efficiency. Knowledge of these concepts will provide a better understanding of our roles in society.

Music in American History (sem.)

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Music in American History will incorporate the impact music has on public opinion, public policy, and social movements in American History. The curriculum will incorporate historical relevance of the blues and jazz era of the early 20th century, rise of Rock and Roll during the 1950’s, protest songs of the 60s and 70s, and expand to the impact of Rap in the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s.

Psychology (sem.)

Sociology (sem.)

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Sociology is a study of human behavior in groups and societies. Instead of focusing on the individual, this class will focus on how people work and relate to other people. Topics will include theory of sociology, socialization, culture, social institutions, social inequality, and social deviance. Students will also develop the skills necessary to conduct sociological research including conducting surveys, experiments, observations, and interviews.

World Religions (sem.)

Prerequisites: None

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

In this course, students will study the major faiths of mankind including Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Students will learn about the historical origins of each religion, beliefs and practices, and the impact each religion has had on its members and world affairs. Students can expect a high level of discussion as well as the opportunity to visit the places of worship for these religions.

CE Social Studies Courses (semester)

CE US History to Reconstruction (semester)

Prerequisites: AVID or World History teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Explores events, trends, peoples, groups, cultures, ideas, and institutions in North America and United States history, including the multiple perspectives of gender, class, and ethnicity, between the period when Native American Indians were the sole inhabitants of North America, and the American Civil War. Focuses on developing, practicing, and strengthening the skills historians use while constructing knowledge in the discipline. This course is one of the Statewide Guaranteed Transfer courses: GT-HI1 category.

CE US History since Civil War (semester)

Prerequisites: AVID or World History teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Explores trends within events, peoples, groups, ideas, and institutions since the American Civil War. This course focuses on developing, practicing, and strengthening skills historians use while constructing knowledge and studying a diverse set of narratives through perspectives such as gender, class, religion, and ethnicity. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-HI1 category.

AP Social Studies Courses

AP European History (year-long)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

This college-level course will cover European history from the Renaissance to the present. The class will emphasize chronological coverage of historical events and concepts; critical historical analysis; and themes in the areas of political, intellectual, cultural social, and economic history. Other major components of this course will be the development of document-based essay writing and analytical skills. Each student is expected to take a national Advanced Placement exam at the end of the course. This exam will provide students with the opportunity to obtain college credit and/or advanced placement in college courses. Due to the advanced nature of this course, grades will be weighted.

AP Psychology (year-long)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

Advanced Placement Psychology is designed to introduce students to the scientific study of mental process and behavior. Students will be exposed to the major subfields of psychology as well as methods and practices. An Advanced Placement exam will be administered at the end of the course providing students with the opportunity to obtain college credit and/or advanced placement in college courses. Each student is expected to take the Advanced Placement Exam. Due to the advanced nature of the course, grades will be weighted.

AP Micro/AP Macro Economics (year-long)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

AP Microeconomics is a course that teaches the fundamentals of business decisions and market theory. This course introduces microeconomic concepts, supply and demand analysis, theories of the firm and individual behavior, competition and monopoly, and welfare economics. Students will learn the inner workings of firms and how they make their production and pricing decisions. AP Macroeconomics provides an overview of macroeconomic issues: the determination of output, unemployment, interest rates, and inflation. Monetary and fiscal policies are discussed. Advanced Placement exams (Micro/Macro) will be administered at the end of the year, providing students with the opportunity to obtain college credit and/or advanced placement in college courses. Each student is expected to take this national Advanced Placement exam. Due to the advanced nature of this course, grades will be weighted.

AP US Government & Politics - We The People (year-long)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

This college level course provides students an in-depth examination of the structure of the United States government, how citizens, the media, political parties, and interest groups influence it, and how American politicians gain, keep, and use power. Students spend most of the first semester developing their research, writing, and public speaking skills through the We the People program, which involves Constitutional research and analysis. We the People has been the subject of over 20 studies showing its unique educational achievements. This course will meet Colorado's graduation requirements for Government. Students will take the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam in the spring. Due to the advanced nature of this course, grades will be weighted.

AP US Government & Politics (semester)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

This is a college-level course provides students with an in-depth examination of the structure of the United States government, how citizens, the media, political parties, and interest groups influence it, and how American politicians gain, keep, and use power.

AP US Comparative Government & Politics (semester)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 0.5

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

This is a course where students examine the governments of China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Students analyze the structure of these governments, how and why each government is structured in that way, and the current political issues that each government faces. This course does NOT meet the CCSD graduation requirement for US/Colorado government.
Note-Due to enrollment numbers, this course may be offered as an independent study course (alternative instruction-independent study).

AP Human Geography (year-long)

Prerequisites: 9th graders - Teacher signature, successful completion of entrance examination

Grade level: 9

Credit: 1

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

AP World History (year-long)

Prerequisites: Teacher signature

Grade level: 10

Credit: 1

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

AP US History (year-long)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

Grade level: 11-12

Credit: 1

Fee: See AP Section for exam fee information

The Advanced Placement Program in U.S. History is designed to provide students with the skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials offered in college U.S. History. Using extensive chronological coverage, this college-level course will survey a broad variety of topics such as economic, cultural, intellectual, social, political- constitutional, and diplomatic history. An Advanced Placement exam will be administered at the end of the course providing students with the opportunity to obtain college credit and/or advanced placement in college courses. Each student is expected to take this national Advanced Placement exam. Due to the advanced nature of this course, grades will be weighted.

Social Studies Flowchart

Flowchart