Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Department Chair approval
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 11, 12
Advanced Placement French is an intense course conducted in French intended to cover the equivalent of a third-year college course in advanced French composition and conversation. Emphasizing the use of French for active communication, it encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition. The course objectives are to help students comprehend formal and informal spoken French, acquire vocabulary to allow the accurate reading of authentic literature, compose expository passages, and express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Department Chair approval
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 11, 12
AP German is an intense course conducted in German intended to cover the equivalent of a third-year college course in advanced German composition and conversation as well as prepare for the AP German Language Exam. Emphasizing the use of German for active communication, it encompasses aural/oral skills, reading, comprehension, grammar, and composition. The course objectives are to help students comprehend formal and informal spoken German, acquire vocabulary to allow the accurate reading of authentic literature, compose expository passages, and express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Department Chair approval
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 11, 12
Advanced Placement Spanish is an intense course conducted in Spanish intended to cover the equivalent of a third-year college course in advanced Spanish composition and conversation. Emphasizing the use of Spanish for active communication, it encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition. The course objectives are to help students comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish, acquire vocabulary to allow the accurate reading of authentic literature, compose expository passages, and express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency. Students will prepare for the AP Spanish Language exam.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Department Chair approval
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 10,11, 12
The 2010 College Board AP Course Description Guide states, “The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural, economic, political, and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live.” The goals of AP European History are for students to develop (a) an understanding of some of the principal themes in modern European history, (b) an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, and (c) an ability to express historical understanding in writing.
This course is targeted for students that are highly motivated, passionate about history, and demonstrate strong reading and writing skills. Students will prepare for the AP European History exam.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Department Chair approval
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 10,11, 12
This course meets the United States History graduation requirement.
This course is limited to a select group of juniors who have demonstrated a high proficiency in reading, writing, and historical skills. Students will spend time interpreting and analyzing primary sources, writing papers, completing projects, and doing outside reading to prepare for the AP United States History exam which is required for all students in the class.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Department Chair approval
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 10,11, 12
The 2010 College Board AP Course Description Guide states, “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.” This year-long course also addresses “the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice” and goes into more depth than the regular psychology course. Students will prepare for the AP Psychology exam.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Approval of the Division Leader
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 9,10,11, 12
This course will be piloted at Crystal Lake South High School during the 2015-2016 school year, with the intent to make it available district-wide during the subsequent school year.
The 2013 College Board AP Course Description Guide states, “The purpose of the AP Human Geography course is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students learn to employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications.”
This year-long course targets students that are highly motivated, demonstrate critical thinking, analysis, and interpretive skills, as well as possess an interest in maps and geospatial data (e.g., natural or constructed features). Students will prepare for the AP Human Geography exam.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Approval of the Division Leader
Credits: 1/2 per semester
Levels: 10,11, 12
Microeconomics
The 2014 College Board AP Course Description Guide states, “AP Microeconomics is an introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe and explain economic concepts.” This course is targeting students that are highly motivated, demonstrate critical thinking skills, math skills, and an interest in business related matters. Students will prepare for the AP Microeconomics exam.
Macroeconomics
The 2014 College Board AP Course Description Guide states, “AP Macroeconomics is an introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles of economics 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 the international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.” This course is targeting students that are highly motivated, demonstrate critical thinking skills, math skills, and an interest in business related matters. Students will prepare for the AP Macroeconomics exam.
Students taking this course are required to also enroll in AP Macroeconomics during the same school year. Due to a variety of matters including, but not limited to the sequence and pacing of the curriculum, students will not meet the consumer education graduation requirement unless they successfully complete both AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics.
Semesters: 2
Prerequisites: Approval of division leader.
Level: 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1
This course meets the state civics requirement.
AP U.S. Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. government and politics. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, constitutional underpinnings of the U.S. government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups and mass media, institutions of national government, public policy, civil rights and civil liberties.