Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	12/03/2019
Top Code	493062 - Secondary Education (Grades 9-12) and G.E.D.
Units	0 Total Units
Hours	45 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 45)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Noncredit (N)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Basic Skills (B)
Repeatable	Yes; Repeat Limit 99
Grading Policy	P/NP/SP Non-Credit (D)

Course Description

This noncredit course is designed to prepare students to take the social studies portion of the General Education Development (GED) Test. The course provides pre- and post-testing of social studies content and individualized prescriptive instruction in preparation for the test. This course provides subject area study in the following proportions: 50% Civics and Government, 20% History, 15% Economics, and 15% Geography. These proportions match the weighting of the number of questions on the GED Social Studies Test. Open Entry/Open Exit. NOT DEGREE APPLICABLE. Not Transferable.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Course Outcomes
2. Analyze the process of American government.
3. Examine primary sources within an historical context.
4. Apply fundamental economic concepts.
5. Analyze maps and graphs to describe human geographic phenomenon.

Course Objectives

• I Civics and Government
• I. 1. Identify and evaluate the different types of modern and historical governments.
• I. 2. Analyze the development of American constitutional democracy.
• I. 3. Identify the structure of United States federal and states governments.
• I. 4. Examine domestic and foreign policy.
• II World/Western History.
• II. 1. Examine early historical evolution including environmental factors.
• II. 2. Analyze the development of classical civilizations including cultural factors.
• II. 3. Identify and examine European influence in the development of contemporary civilizations.
• III United States History
• III. 1. Identify and evaluate key historical periods in U.S. history.
• III. 2. Identify key documents and examine how each reflected upon and helped shape American history.
• IV Economics
• IV. 1. Examine the rise of capitalism.
• IV. 2. Explain how free markets work.
• IV. 3. Identify and evaluate key micro-economic concepts.
• IV. 4. Identify and evaluate key macro-economic indicators.
• IV. 5. Examine the relationship between economic, financial and political institutions.
• V Geography
• V. 1. Identify and evaluate the borders between peoples, nations, and human migration.
• V. 2. Analyze the relationship between societal development and the environment.

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Lecture Content

Civics and the U.S. Government How to apply key concepts and principles to todays American society. Comparative government types. Democracy as a concept. Direct democracy and its application. Representative democracy and why it makes sense. Other government types. Monarchies old and new. Modern non-democratic regimes:  totalitarian, authoritative and dictatorship. Understanding the development of democratic political systems. American documents and their relevance in developing a nation/state. The Declaration of Independence and the claim of independence. The purpose of the Articles of Confederation. The U.S. Constitution and Amendments as they apply to the structure of the federal government. The Bill of Rights and other Amendments and how they affect you. The Federalist Papers and early conceptions of a government. Key concepts and principles. Civil rights and civil liberties and how these affect you. Popular sovereignty and the legitimacy of government. Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law as it applies to the U.S. government. The balance between majority rule and minority rights. Separation of power as the Founders envisioned it and how it works today. The system of checks and balances as the Founders envisioned it and how it works today. Federalism as it was established and what it looks like today. Understanding the American political system. The structure, power, checks and balances of the federal government. The Executive branch: the presidency. The Legislative branch:  Congress. The Judicial branch:  The federal courts includin g the U.S. Supreme Court. The federalist system:  the structure, power and limitations on state and local governments. Federalism defined. Federalism compared to confederations and centric systems. Mediating institutions and their importance in our political system. Political parties. Interest groups. Civic engagement. Governmental processes and policies. Campaigns, elections and voter turnout in recent elections. Domestic policy and how it affects you. Foreign policy and the U.S.s role in the international system. World/Western Civilization Exploring significant concepts. The significance of geography and climate on human civilizations. Interregional connections of religion, culture, and intellectual life. Development and spread of language, art, and culture. The importance and effects of the Agricultural Revolution. Migration, population and disease and their effects on civilizations. Technological advances and change. The Greco-Roman influence on the western world. World/Western History I Early historic evolution. Hunter and gatherer societies:  the development and spread of language, art, and culture. Rise of agrarian and urban societies. Rise and spread of religion and writing. Trade between agrarian and pastoral nomadic communities. Egypt:  the “cradle” of early civilization. Rise of states and empires. The Greek city-states. The Roman Republic and the rise of an empire. World/Western History II. European exploration and expansion. Religious and political reform in early modern Europe. The Enlightenment and revolutions. The Scientific Revolution. The Enlightenment Period and thinkers. The American War for Independence and the French Revolution. How industrialization changed the world. The Age of Imperialism in a world context. The rise of nationalism, communism and the World Wars. The period of decolonization and self-determinism. Alliances during the Cold War and the fight over the Third World. The modern age and the effects of globalization. History of the United States. Early American history and colonization. Native American religion, gender, politics, and economics. European exploration: conquest and patterns of colonization. Founding of Jamestown and its demise. Political structures, economies and culture of the first 13 colonies. The importance of indentured servants and slavery. Imperial reform and colonial reaction. Parliamentary Acts and the colonial response. The claim for independence and its affects. The American Revolution: how the colonists won the war. Forming the new Republic. The Constitutional Convention and the road to ratification. Conflicts between the North and South. President Jackson and democracy. The Civil War and its aftermath. How the North won the war. The end of the war and the end of slavery. The Reconstruction period and Jim Crow segregation. The conquest of the American West. The meaning of “Manifest Destiny”. How the western movement affected American society. The importance of the railroad. The end of a century and new beginnings. How the Industrial Revolution affected American society. The Gilded Age and corruption. Reform movements, Progressivism and change. Americans takes a role in the international arena. The United States and the First World War. The New Era of Prosperity:  the roaring 20s. The Great Depression and the New Deal. The United States and World War II. The Cold War. How the two superpowers controlled the world. The nuclear arms race, paranoia and the spread of communism. Diplomacy, détente and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Affluent America and the Golden Age. Social and political movements. The Civil Rights movements and minoritys rights. The Civil Rights Acts. Anti-war movements and the Vietnam War. The American counter-culture. Reactions to the 50s, 60s and 70s. The rise of Conservatism. Global realities and multi-national corporations. Reactions to American imperialism and the rise of terrorism 9/11. A post 9/11 world. Historical documents and literature:  analyzing primary sources in their historical context and for their historical significance. The Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights. The Mayflower Compact.  The navigation and taxation Acts. Thomas Paine: Common Sense. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay: The Federalist Papers. The Dred Scott Supreme Court case. President Lincoln: the Emancipation Proclamation. Economics The rise of capitalism. Exploration, trade routes and the creation of new markets. Adam Smith and the Wealth of Nations as it relates to private property and capitalism. Economic and political relationships in the western world. Mercantilism Market capitalism How markets work. Free markets and the Invisible Hand Theory. Supply and demand. Perfect competition versus a monopoly. Comparative advantage and gains from trade. Principles of Microeconomics Understanding key microeconomic concepts. Scarcity. Opportunity cost. Labor and capital. Consumer choice and demand. Firm behavior, production and surplus. Principles of Macroeconomics. Understanding key macroeconomic indicators. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Price and Inflation. Unemployment. Trade balances. Effect of wars on the economy. Financial institutions and their economic importance. Banks. The Federal Reserve System (FED). The International Monetary Fund (IMF)Money. Governments fiscal policies and how they affect the economy. Taxes. Governmental spending, deficits and the national debt. Geography Physical, Regional and Human Geography Earth as a system with four major subsystems. Earths materials, structure and processes. Physical foundations: weather and climate. Geographic methods and concepts:  space, place and landscapes. Cultural / human foundations. Demographic factors:  population, migration, mortality, birth and death rates, literacy, urbanization, average income, density, distribution and diffusion. Cultural factors: religion and language. ol> Human and Environmental Relationships. The significance of geography and climate on humans. The relationship between humans and the environment. Physical settings that influence settlement patterns, adaptive strategies and agriculture. Human land use: rural and urban. Human impact on land, water and atmosphere. Economic geography and development. Models of growth and sustainability. Traditional agriculture, industrial agriculture, agribusiness, bioengineering and GMOs. The importance of infrastructure and transportation. Comparative standards of living:  patterns of wealth and poverty. Modern issues. Sustainability, conservation and preservation. Climate change. Globalization. Environmental justice.

Lab Content

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Method(s) of Instruction

• Enhanced NC Lect (NC1)
• Online Enhanced NC Lect (NC5)
• Live Online Enhanced NC Lect (NC9)

Instructional Techniques

Provide an initial student evaluation to determine their strongest and weakest content area(s) of the students knowledge of social studies.Develop an individualized study plan that caters to content strengths and weaknesses.Lecture and class discussions/activities.Practice exercises and tests.

Reading Assignments

Assigned TextsStudy Guides and Other Resources

Writing Assignments

Completion of computer and textbook exercises in social science.Practice activities and tests on social science.

Out-of-class Assignments

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Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Understand, interpret, and apply information from social science reading passages and graphics.Determine central ideas, inferences, and conclusions between social studies materials.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Interpret data and statistics in graphs and charts.  Analyze point of view and purpose in social science reading passages and graphics.

Eligible Disciplines

Economics: Masters degree in economics OR bachelors degree in economics AND masters degree in business, business administration, business management, business education, finance, or political science OR the equivalent. Masters degree required. Geography: Masters degree in geography OR bachelors degree in geography AND masters degree in geology, history, meteorology, or oceanography OR the equivalent OR see interdisciplinary studies. Masters degree required. History: Masters degree in history OR bachelors degree in history AND masters degree in political science, humanities, geography, area studies, womens studies, social science, or ethnic studies OR the equivalent. Masters degree required. Political science: Masters degree in political science, government, or international relations OR bachelors degree in any of the above AND masters degree in economics, history, public administration, social science, sociology, any ethnic studies, J.D., or LL.B. OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Van Slyke, Caren. GED Test Prep Plus 2019GED Test Prep Plus 2019, ed. Kaplan Publishing, 2018

Other Resources

1. Online Resources: GED.comGED Study Guide Social Studies: https://ged.com/wp-content/uploads/GED_Study-Guide_Social-Studies.pdfGED Social Studies Practice Exam: https://ged.com/practice-test/en/social-studies/start.htmlAssessment Guide for Educators Social Studies: https://ged.com/wp-content/uploads/assessment_guide_for_educators_social_studies.pdf Khan Academy lectures and tutorial videos: https://www.khanacademy.org/signupUS government and civics, US history, World history, Economics