Economics
SOC303 or SOC304 | First OR Second Semester
REQUIRED ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

Economics (Online)
SOC303o and SOC304o | First OR Second Semester
REQUIRED ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This is a one-semester course designed to study economic principles and concepts. Students will be exposed to three areas of study within economics; personal financial literacy, microeconomics, and macroeconomics.  While the personal financial literacy portion of this course focuses on the personal “how tos” (credit and debt, budgeting, investments, etc.), micro and macro focus on fundamental principles and theories of economics (supply and demand, opportunity costs, market structures, trade, etc.).  This course has an emphasis on practical application of material covered.

Global Geography and Culture
SOC101 and SOC102 | Full-Year Course
REQUIRED ⬛9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

Global Geography and Culture is a yearlong course focusing on how humans interact with their environment and each other around the world. The purpose of the course is to utilize geographic processes and cultural understanding to study the world. Students will be introduced to geographic concepts, elements of global culture and society, and how history impacts world regions.

Government
SOC401 or SOC402 | First OR Second Semester
REQUIRED ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

Government (Online)    
SOC401o or SOC402o | First OR Second Semester
REQUIRED ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This is a one-semester course that presents an introduction to American government. This course emphasizes the operation and mechanics of our government—including, but not limited to, the following: the U.S. Constitution, civil and personal rights, political parties and campaigning, Congress, the presidency, and the court system. A special research project or community service project is required to demonstrate lifelong civic action through participatory citizenship.

United States History
SOC301 and SOC302 | Full-Year Course
REQUIRED* ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

United States History (Blended)
SOC301b and SOC302b | Full-Year Course
REQUIRED* ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

United States History (Online)
SOC301o and SOC302o | Full-Year Course
REQUIRED* ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This one-year course will give students a good foundation in United States History. Students will complete a brief survey of the forming of our government to the Civil War. The course will then emphasize the Reconstruction era to the present. 

*To take U.S. History as a sophomore, a student must have a 323 National Standard Score (NSS) in social studies on the Iowa Assessments and an A in Global Geography and Culture  or a B in Global Understanding and a 3.5 GPA.

English Learner (EL) Courses

EL Economics
SOCe303 | First Semester
Prerequisite: All students must be enrolled in and qualify for the English Learners (EL) Program.
REQUIRED ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This one-semester course is designed to insure the proficiency of the key Iowa Core concepts regarding the study of Economics to English Learners. EL Economics will cover the same themes and maintain required standards as the Economics course, while incorporating heavy emphasis on vocabulary and life skills, and promoting a linguistic neutral environment. This course will also allow all students to explore the economies of their heritages in comparison to that of the United States.

EL Government
SOCe402 | Second Semester
Prerequisite: All students must be enrolled in and qualify for the English Learners (EL) Program.
REQUIRED ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This one-semester course is designed to insure the proficiency of the key Iowa Core concepts regarding the study of government to English Learners. EL Government will cover the same themes and maintain required standards as the Government course, while incorporating heavy emphasis on vocabulary and life skills, and promoting a linguistic neutral environment. This course will also allow all students to explore the governments of their heritages in comparison to that of the United States. 

EL United States History (USEL)
SOCe301 and SOCe302 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisite: All students must be enrolled in and qualify for the English Learners (EL) Program.
REQUIRED ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

USEL is a course that provides a general survey of United States history to students who use English as a second language in an environmentally appropriate setting. It covers the most well-known events, settings, and people from 1763 through the present administration and fulfills the requirement of United States History for graduation.

American Heritage
SOC307 and SOC308 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Writing or test-out
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This interdisciplinary course integrates history, literature, and writing in an exploration of important literacy trends and themes in early and American Literary Voices, especially as it relates to cultural and historical events from the 17th Century forward. In this yearlong course, students will earn four (4) credits: one for each semester of U.S. History, one American Literary Voices credit, and one Intermediate Writing credit. See those course descriptions for more details regarding curricular topics.

This course, taught by one social studies teacher and one language arts teacher, meets daily for two periods (or one block period). This reading intensive and project-based course will emphasize group interaction, research projects and field trips to explore real world connections. Students interested in working with others on group projects are well suited for the interactive and exploratory nature of this class. Because students in this course work with the same peers and teachers for both semesters, they will form deeper relationships with each other than often happens in shorter courses.

Please note: Students previously enrolled in Intermediate Writing or either Literature and the Land or American Literary Voices are not eligible. Additionally, students who complete this course should not schedule another semester of Literature and the Land or American Literary Voices or Intermediate Writing. There may be limited availability to register for this course.

American Studies (PBLN)
SOCp307 and SOCp308 | Full-Year course
Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Writing or test-out
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

This course is taught using project-based instructional strategies.  In this yearlong course, students will earn four (4) credits: one for each semester of U.S. History, one American Literary Voices credit, and one Intermediate Writing credit. See those course descriptions for more details regarding curricular topics.

Analysis of Society (PBLN)
PBL402 | Second Semester
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Writing or test-out
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

This course integrates Advanced Composition with Sociology using project-based instructional strategies. Students will earn 1 credit for Advanced Composition (NCAA, RAI) and 1 credit for Sociology (NCAA, RAI). Please see each individual course for further course

Cultural Literacy (PBLN)
ENGp101 and ENGp102 | Full-Year Course
ELECTIVE ⬛9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI

Cultural Literacy is a PBL-integrated course. Cultural Literacy is a two-semester course and is a broad-based investigation of world regions. The course focuses on the geography and cultures of Latin America, the Middle East, East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Antarctica, and the Pacific World. In addition to these area studies, the course will emphasize the five themes of geography, map skills, research skills, and current global issues. This social studies course will integrate with the ninth-grade core courses and electives.

Current Events: Local to Global 
SOC205 or SOC206 | First OR Second Semester
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

Current Events: Local to Global (Blended)
SOC205b or SOC206b | First OR Second Semester
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This is a one-semester course open to all students in grades 10-12. Students will investigate important local, national and international events that affect the modern world. Students will learn to evaluate media sources as well as causes and effects of current events. Understanding and evaluating differing perspectives will be a key focus of this course.

Psychology
SOC305 or SOC306 | First OR Second Semester
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

A one-semester survey course introducing the student to various perspectives, methods of research, social theories, disorders, treatments, and the biological basis of psychology.  Recommended for students who have shown an interest in the behavioral science

Sociology
SOC201 or SOC202 | First OR Second Semester
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This is a one-semester course designed to explore sociology, the study of society’s groups.  Through this course, the student will develop basic understandings of how and why we behave as we do in our social environment.  Students will develop an understanding of their place in our complex society, as well as the diversity of others. There are three goals in the course:  understand the basic structure, functions, and processes in our society; to examine the challenges and values of our pluralistic society. Emphasis will be placed on small and large group discussion.

World Civilizations
SOC203 and SOC204 | Full-Year Course
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

World Civilizations is a full-year course designed for college-bound students. It surveys the history of the world from ca. 3000 BCE to ca. 1920 CE. Students can expect to learn about political leadership, conflicts and war, art and architecture, belief structures and world religions, and how people lived throughout history. Students who take World Civilizations will be expected to handle a slightly advanced curriculum and reading level as well as weekly reading assignments.

AP European History
SOC501 and SOC502 | Full-Year Course
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This full-year college-level course considers the accumulative study of European history from c. 1450, or the Renaissance, to modern times. It is an academically challenging class that covers political, social, economic, and cultural history in various European countries. Students who take AP European History will be expected to handle a rigorous curriculum as well as intensive reading assignments. In addition to covering course content, the class will emphasize the historical thinking skills and writing skills.

It is assumed that students enrolling in this course are willing to assume university-level responsibility. This course must be taken for DMACC credit. 

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their gpa for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their gpa for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student.  If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.

AP Human Geography
SOC225 and SOC226 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisite: Valley Southwoods will be contacting students via letter of their enrollment status in accelerated courses by the end of April.
ADVANCED ⬛9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬛RAI 

AP Human Geography is the rigorous one-year accelerated ninth-grade social studies course. AP Human Geography introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine the human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice.

1. Interpret maps and analyze geospatial data.
2. Understand and explain the implications of associations and networks among phenomena in places.
3. Recognize and interpret the relationships between patterns and processes at different scales of analysis.
4. Define regions and evaluate the regionalization process.
5. Characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places.

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Successful completion of an Advanced Placement course requires much more commitment to study time than a normal high school class.  Therefore, before registering for these classes, it is highly recommended that the student assess his or her total course schedule as well as the amount of involvement in extracurricular activities. Students should consider including at least one study hall each day for additional assistance and an opportunity for make-up after an absence.

AP Macroeconomics
SOC309 or SOC310 | First OR Second Semester
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

AP Macroeconomics is an introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination; it also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.

In addition to the macroeconomics focus of this class, significant content will concentrate on Consumer Economics, Financial Literacy, and 21st-century skills. Topics include money management, credit, financial planning, and more. Due to the large quantity of material covered in this course, content will move quickly and students will be required to do extensive preparation outside of class.

This course will fulfill the Economics credit required for graduation and is required as part of the Honors and Scholars Diploma programs. AP Macroeconomics is NOT available for DMACC credit.

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student.  If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.

AP Psychology
SOC507 and SOC508 | Full-Year Course
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

AP Psychology is a year-long course where students are introduced 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. This course must be taken for DMACC credit during Second Semester. 

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student. If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.

AP U.S. Government and Politics
SOC505 or SOC506 | First OR Second Semester
REQUIRED/ELECTIVE* ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics is a one-semester class designed to offer analytical perspective and enhance students’ critical view of our American governmental system. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. Students will explore, analyze, and research American political life, participatory democracy, elections and campaigns, public opinion/interest groups, and the roles and organization of our government’s branches. 

This course will include rigorous study on the historical development of governmental procedures and policies; through analysis of institutions in American Government, depth of study on the role of the electorate in the American political system, the variety of theoretical perspectives, and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. Students will do extensive reading and writing in this college-level course. Advanced writing skills and high achievement in United States History are recommended for students taking this course. This course must be taken for DMACC credit.

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

*Satisfactory completion of AP United States Government and Politics fulfills the district requirement for American Government. 

Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student.  If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.

AP United States History
SOC503 and SOC504 | Full-Year Course
REQUIRED/ELECTIVE* ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This is a full-year, college level course for juniors and seniors. It focuses on United States History from European exploration to the present. It is an academically challenging course that includes political, social, economic, and cultural history. Students who enroll in Advanced Placement United States History will be exposed to a college-level curriculum with continuing experiences to develop advanced writing skills, reading skills, and test preparation skills. Students are expected to participate and contribute to class discussions and debates.

This course must be taken for DMACC credit. It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

*Satisfactory completion of AP United States History fulfills the district requirement for United States History.

Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student.  If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.

AP World History: Modern
SOC509 and SOC510 | Full-Year Course
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬛NCAA ⬛RAI 

This full-year college level course is a survey of global history from ca. 1200 CE to the present. AP World History: Modern will focus on the regional histories of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. It will emphasize interaction between cultures and regions as well as the causes and consequences of global events, processes, and relationships. Although the focus is 1200 CE to the present, the course will include cultural, religious, economic, and social developments from previous eras that influence the modern world. Students who take AP World History: Modern will be expected to handle a rigorous curriculum as well as intensive reading assignments. In addition to covering course content, the class will emphasize historical thinking skills and writing skills. It is assumed that students enrolling in this course are willing to assume university-level responsibility. This course must be taken for DMACC credit. 

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student. If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.