Social Studies Department Courses

Modern World History presents a chronological study of the world from the Renaissance to the present. The course focuses on the history of Europe during the Renaissance and Reformation, European impact on other parts of the world, growth and changes of nations throughout the world in each century, and the effects of economic, geographic, cultural and political interactions throughout the world overtime.

Chronological study of the world from the Renaissance to the present. The course focuses on the history of Europe during the Renaissance and Reformation, European impact on other parts of the world, growth and changes of nations throughout the world in each century, and the effects of the economic, geographic, cultural and political interactions throughout the world over time. Course requirements include parallel readings and critical research.

This course stresses the economic system of the United states, the role of government in the economy, and the effect of events worldwide on the national economic picture.  Students will look critically at the American government its policies and processes.  The powers of the national, state, and local governments and their role in a democratic society are emphasized. 

This course examines the foundation of the United States governmental system. It examines the free enterprise system and the language of economics and includes profiles on the lines and the theories of major economists.  This course presents the study of economics and includes a study of markets, supply and demand, types of businesses, labor, and production, the banking system, business cycles, and world trade.

This course is a general survey of US History with course emphasis on recurring historical concepts such as conflict, change, peace, and nationalism. End-of-Course exam is required at the end of this course, which counts for 20% of the student’s final grade.

This course is a prerequisite for sophomores with exceptional ability who plan to take AP US History. It includes an in-depth study of American History from the pre-Columbian Era to present. Emphasis will be placed on writing. End-of-Course exam is required at the end of this course, which counts for 20% of the student’s final grade.

 This one half unit (.5) Personal Finance course fulfills the requirement for graduation credit. It is designed to help students develop skills to make informed financial decisions, manage financial resources, and plan for future financial success. Using experiential activities, students will learn the basic principles of personal finance and how to manage their money in a global economy, which include budgeting, banking, insurance, mortgages, savings, investments, inheritance, retirement, tax, and estate planning.  Students will also learn about consumer protection laws, internet safety, and cyber security, enabling them to safeguard financial information against technology-based attacks.

Psychology gives a general overview of the principles and concepts of psychology, including learning theory, perception, intellectual, and social development, abnormal behavior, and interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this course is to provide students with a better understanding of the dynamics that shape our own behaviors as well as the behaviors of others. 

Sociology is the study of human society and social behavior. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a basic understanding of how humanity is shaped largely by the groups to which people belong and by the social interaction that take place within those groups. Societal problems in the United States will also be discussed.

Law education is not only to educate the student on law but to dive deeper into the different aspects of law. Students will be encouraged to study personality and individual differences and commonalities and to consider possible biological, social, cultural, economic, peer, and family influences on personality, thinking, learning, and behavior.

Sports platforms have also been used to put social, political, and economic issues in the spotlight. This course will examine the history of sports, their very foundations, as well as examine the role sports and sports figures have played in shaping and changing society.

The AP Human Geography course is equivalent to an introductory college-level course in human geography. The course 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 socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. The curriculum reflects the goals of the National Geography Standards (2012).

AP U.S. History is designed to be the equivalent of a two semester introductory college or university U.S. history course. In AP U.S. History students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; making historical comparisons; utilizing reasoning about contextualization, causation, and continuity and change over time; and developing historical arguments. The course also provides seven themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: American and national identity; migration and settlement; politics and power; work, exchange, and technology; America in the world; geography and the environment; and culture and society. 

This course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, analyze bias, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas.