All students must complete a minimum of 3.0 credits of social studies (0.5 of which must be political science or a course deemed an equivalent by a school counselor) in order to meet graduation requirements set by Lakeland Union High School and the Wisconsin Department of Instruction.
Beyond this minimum requirement, many post-secondary plans have a minimum requirement of its own; including specific course requirements. Be sure to speak to your academic counselor to ensure you are planning for success with regards to your post-secondary goals. Any social studies courses taken beyond the 3.0 credits required for graduation will cover a student's required elective credits (9.0 required for graduation).
The following social studies courses are available via our CompassLearning Odyssey and Edgenuity providers.
* indicates the course has been aligned to a board-approved LUHS course.
Civics - 0.5 credit (required for graduation - online equivalent of Political Science)
In civics, students learn major historical political ideas, forms of government, and founding principles of U.S. government. Students learn the functions, structure, and powers of government at all levels. Emphasis is placed on the U.S. Constitution, its fundamental principles, and the form of government it created. Students analyze concepts of republicanism, federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights. Students compare the U.S. system of government and economics with other systems. Students analyze the impact of individuals, political parties, interest groups, and the media; evaluate the importance of voluntary individual participation in a democratic society; and analyze the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Students examine the relationship between policies and culture in the U.S. Students learn the requirements for citizenship and the importance of active citizens in a democracy.
This year-long course introduces high school students to the study of psychology and helps them master fundamental concepts in research, theory, and human behavior. Students are exposed to the facts, concepts, and principles associated with the major fields within psychology through direct instruction, interactive activities, projects, and writing assignments. As they progress through each unit, students will analyze human growth, learning, personality, and behavior from the perspective of major theories within psychology, including the biological perspective, the psychosocial perspective, and the cognitive perspective. From a psychological point of view, students will investigate the nature of being human as they build a comprehensive understanding of traditional psychological concepts and contemporary perspectives in the field. By using the scientific method, students will gain a practical understanding of common research methods. Course components include an introduction to the history, perspectives, and research of psychology; an understanding of topics such as the biological aspects of psychology, learning, and cognitive development; the stages of human development; aspects of personality and intelligence; the classification and treatment of psychological disorders; and psychological aspects of social interactions.
Sociology - 0.5 credit
This semester course delves into the fundamental concepts of sociology. This interactive course, covers cultural diversity and conformity, basic structures of society, individuals and socialization, stages of human development as they relate to sociology, deviance from social norms, social stratification, racial and ethnic interactions, gender roles, family structure, the economic and political aspects of sociology, the sociology of public institutions, and collective human behavior, both historically and in modern times.
US Government - 1.0 credit
In US Government, students learn major historical political ideas, forms of government, and founding principles of U.S. government. Students learn the functions, structure, and powers of government at all levels. Emphasis is placed on the U.S. Constitution, its fundamental principles, and the form of government it created. Students analyze concepts of republicanism, federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights. Students compare the U.S. system of government and economics with other systems. Students analyze the impact of individuals, political parties, interest groups, and the media; evaluate the importance of voluntary individual participation in a democratic society; and analyze the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Students examine the relationship between policies and culture in the U.S. Students learn the requirements for citizenship and the importance of active citizens in a democracy.
US History I (to 1850) - 1.0 credit
In US History I, students study the history of the U.S. from the origins of society to 1850. Special attention is given to the development and characteristics of African, European, and Native American peoples. There is significant coverage of the political, economic, and social events related to the exploration, colonial, and revolutionary eras; the writing and ratification of the U.S. Constitution; the development of the early republic; sectionalism; westward expansion; and the development of American culture. Students learn basic geography as well as population and settlement patterns. Students learn about the development of the free-enterprise system in the U.S. Students examine basic American principles, including limited government, federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, and individual rights as reflected in the U.S. Constitution and other historical documents. Students evaluate major reform movements of the 19th century and examine rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens.
US History II (1850 - Present) - 1.0 credit
In US History II, students study the history of the U.S. from the Civil War to the present. Historical content focuses on political, economic, and social events related to sectionalism, slavery, industrialization, urbanization, major international wars, domestic and foreign policies of the Cold War and post-Cold War eras, and reform movements including the expansion of democratic processes and civil rights. Students examine the impact of geographic factors on major events and analyze causes and effects of the Great Depression. Students examine the impact of constitutional issues on U.S. society, evaluate the relationships among the three branches of government, and analyze efforts to expand the democratic process. Students analyze the impact of technological innovations on the American labor force. Students learn contemporary U.S. history, including the election of 2008 and the terrorist threat of the early 21st century. The course includes a review of U.S. history prior to 1850.
World Geography - 1.0 credit
In World Geography, students study people, places, and environments with local, regional, national, and international perspectives. Students will understand the influence of geography on the present and past. The course includes study of the physical processes that shape patterns in the physical environment; the characteristics and interrelationships of climates, major land forms, and ecosystems; the political, economic, and social processes that shape regions; types of settlement; the distribution and dispersion of world population; relationships between people, places, and environments; and the idea of region. Students will analyze how location affects economic activities in different economic systems throughout the world. Students will identify the processes that influence political divisions and analyze how different points of view affect priorities in public policy. Students will analyze the effects of technology and human modifications on the physical environment.
World History - 1.0 credit
This course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons of major societies. The course emphasizes the development of relevant factual knowledge, leading interpretive issues, and types of historical evidence. Beginning with the earliest known civilizations, the course builds on an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage up to the present. The division of world history into broad chronological periods forms the organizing principle for dealing with change and continuity from the earliest civilizations to the present. Specific themes provide further organization, along with consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study. A significant portion of the content dealing with the 20th and 21st centuries is accompanied by archival video footage.