This course is meant to take some of the mystery out of the college application process. You will learn how to narrow down your list of college choices, what to do with different kinds of applications, and how to write a strong college essay. The college essay is your way to stand out from other applicants, and good writing is the perfect way to make a great impression. So learning about the ins and outs of a strong application is a perfect start to achieving your college goals! This is a 1 quarter (8 week) course

This one-semester elective course is designed to give students an introductory overview of the major concepts in the field of psychology. It begins with a survey of history and systems in psychology, influential schools of thought, prominent figures and how each contributed to the development of the field. It provides opportunities to explore studies regarding psycho-biological processes, research methods, human development, personality theories, learning, perception, memory and psychological disorders and effective treatments. Students will create hypothesis regarding human behavior, conduct studies, collect data, sort and analyze that data and write summary conclusions. Students will hold conversations to deepen their ideas, practice using evidence to support their positions, see flaws in each other’s study designs to arrive at their own beliefs, opinions and further questions. Major goals of this course include: learning to observe human behavior without interpreting it through personal inferences; becoming better listeners; thinking about their own thought systems, experiences and beliefs in new ways (practicing metacognition); to gain insight into the behavior of those around them through familiarity and application of psychological principles, critical thinking skills and sophisticated, if not entirely formal, analysis.

This one-semester elective course is designed to give students an introductory overview of the major concepts in the field of sociology. Sociology is the scientific study of society and the relationships of the individual within a society. It studies social behavior, social organization and cultural institutions. It uses empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a better understanding of social order, deterioration and change. This course will cover issues relating to: law and crime; family and gender; work and leisure; culture including art, music and film; communications, particularly social media; death and dying; and peace, war and conflict. It will devote an emphasis on recognizing population and demographic phases and their impact, as well as race and ethnic changes that resulted from these shifts.