Social Studies

WORLD HISTORY: Age of Revolutions Through the 20th Century

Full year
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 9-10
Prerequisite: None

Learner’s Mindset

Helping & Teaching People House

Students continue the chronological study of world history. This study incorporates each of the seven standards. As students study historic eras, they consider the influence of geographic settings, cultural perspectives, economic systems and various forms of government. Students gain a deeper understanding of the role of citizens and continue to develop their research skills. Some of the major concepts studied include the Enlightenment, the French and American Revolution, the Napoleonic and post-Napoleon (Congress of Vienna) era, the Industrial Revolution, economic expansion, slave trade, WWII, and the Cold War. This course will address the benchmarks for the Ohio Department of Education Standards.
*Meets ½ credit of World History required for graduation.

HONORS WORLD HISTORY: FROM 1750 TO THE PRESENT 

(Intellectualism and Revolution through the 20th century)

Full year
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 9
Prerequisite: None

Highly Recommended: B or better in Honors Social Studies 8 or A in Social Studies 8

Critical Thinking

Helping & Teaching People House

The student will examine Western Civilization from the colonial and Enlightenment period to the present. The course will focus on intellectualism with the enlightenment, the relationship of intellectualism and the revolution in the 19th century, and the impact of industrialization. Particular Focus will be given to the political and social theories of the period, scientific discoveries and inventions, and the importance of religious thought.  It is an examination of the world wars in Europe and the changes that resulted in present-day world conflicts. Students will have weekly reading, group projects, compositions, and research investigation assignments per quarter. Students should have a strong reading background in relation to advanced reading materials covered in class. Students should also be able to critically analyze sources and synthesize connections across time periods and historical themes.

*Meets ½ credit of World History required for graduation.

U.S. HISTORY: Post Reconstruction

Full year

Credit: 0.50 per semester

Grade: 10 - class of 2026 and beyond

Prerequisite:  None

Learner’s Mindset

Helping & Teaching People House

Ninth-grade students continue the chronological study of the history of the United States with emphasis on domestic affairs. The study incorporates each of the seven standards. As students study historic eras, they consider the geographic, cultural, economic and governmental changes that have occurred. Students develop a deeper understanding of their role as citizens and continue to expand their command of social studies skills and methods. This course will address the benchmarks for the Ohio Department of Education Standards.

*Meets ½ credit of American History required for graduation.

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

Full year
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 10-12
Highly Recommended: "A" each quarter and semester in US History and teacher signature; A “B” or better in two semesters of AP US History

Critical Thinking

Helping & Teaching People

All students who take this Advanced Placement course will be required to take the AP exam, which is administered by the College Board in May. There is a fee associated with the exam, which will be included in the student fees.

The students will examine global civilization from the Colonial and Enlightenment period to the present.  The focus on intellectualism with the Enlightenment, the relationship of intellectualism and revolution in the 19th century, and the impact of industrialization.  Particular focus will be given to the political and social theories of the period, scientific discoveries and inventions, and the importance of religious thought.  It is an examination of the World Wars in Europe and the changes that resulted in present-day world conflicts.  

*Meets ½ credit of World History required for graduation.

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 

Full Year
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None

Highly Recommended: B or better in any AP Social Studies or, A in World & US History

Critical Thinking

Rules & Enforcement House

All students who take this Advanced Placement course will be required to take the AP exam, which is administered by the College Board in May. There is a fee associated with the exam, which will be included in the student fees.

AP U.S. Government and Politics is a full year course for students with a high interest level in history, government, economics, and politics.  This course is fast-paced with a heavy workload, and involves a large amount of reading on a nightly basis.  This course will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States.  It 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.  Students will become acquainted with the variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes.  Topics covered include: Constitutional underpinnings of the U.S. government, Political beliefs and behaviors, Political parties, interest groups, and mass media, Institutions of national government, Public policy, and Civil rights and civil liberties.

*This course fulfills the 1/2 credit American Government requirement for graduation.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: PROCESSES AND STRUCTURE - COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS

1 Semester
Credit: 1.0 awarded at completion of course
Grade: CCP
Credit: 3 College Hours – BGSU POLS 1100
Prerequisite:Meet College Credit Plus Requirements and be admitted to BGSU
Method of Delivery: At AWHS Campus
Fee: No

Critical Thinking

Rules & Enforcement House

Constitutional basis and development, political processes (parties, nominations and elections, interest groups and public opinion), federalism and institutions of national government.

AP U.S. HISTORY

Full year

Credit: 0.50 per semester

Grade: 10

Highly Recommended: Honors World History

Critical Thinking 

Helping & Teaching People House

All students who take this Advanced Placement course will be required to take the AP exam, which is administered by the College Board in May. There is a fee associated with the exam, which will be included in the student fees.

The Advanced Placement course is a one-year course spanning from settlement in 1607 to present-day United States. This course will prepare the student for the Advanced Placement Test in May, which provides the possibility for students to gain credit for two college courses. In order to prepare students for exam, numerous in-class essays will be assigned which include document-based essays that challenge students to work with primary sources.  In addition, objective multiple-choice tests will be part of the assessment process. Students are expected to read four to five school nights a week.

*Meets ½ credit of American History required for graduation.

BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGY: (Psychology Spelled with a "You"

1 Semester
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None
Fee: Yes

Empathy

Helping & Teaching People House

This course focuses on the development of the individual and concentrates on how the principles of psychology apply to you as an individual. Some areas of study will be why individuals behave the way they do, individual learning styles, personality development, and the workings of the brain, intelligence, individual perception of the environment, psychological disorders, and careers in psychology. Grades are based on self-investigation papers, tests, projects, journals, and class participation.

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY: (Psychology of “You” with others)

1 Semester
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None

Empathy

Helping & Teaching People House

This course explores how we interact with each other, how we shape society, and how society shapes us. Some areas of study are: the self-concept, loving and close relationships, attitudes, prejudice and stereotypes, aggression, and social influence. Grades are based on class engagement, participation, self-investigation projects, debates, and other major projects.

AP PSYCHOLOGY

Full Year

Credit: 0.50 per semester

Grade: 11-12

Prerequisites: None

Highly Recommended: Previous AP social studies classes and Behavioral Psychology

Fee: Yes

Critical Thinking

Helping & Teaching People

All students who take this Advanced Placement course will be required to take the AP exam, which is administered by the College Board in May. There is a fee associated with the exam, which will be included in the student fees.

AP Psychology is designed to prepare students for the AP National Psychology Exam. It is equivalent to an introductory college course in psychology.  All areas of psychology are covered. This includes but is not limited to; history and methodology, biological basis of behavior, states of consciousness, learning and cognition, memory, personality, sensation and perception, motivation, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and child development. 

Students are expected to perform at an accelerated pace and complete a considerable amount of reading in the text and supplemental materials. Students will be expected to take challenging multiple-choice and essay tests. This course requires students to synthesize and evaluate all material presented through both oral and written formats. There is a heavy emphasis on study skills and genuine class participation in activities and discussions.

WORLD WAR II ERA

1 Semester
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None
Fee: Yes

Collaboration & Communication

Rules & Enforcement House

This course will focus on the events prior to, during, and immediately following World War II. Special areas of interest will be the major cause of the war, new types of warfare, the battles in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific, major figures of the war, the use of the atomic bomb, and the Holocaust. A variety of different teaching methods will be used during this course and students will be expected to do some individual research. Students will also be expected to complete a few projects that demonstrate their understanding of specific topics.

Typical questions that will be answered include: What caused WWII? Who was Adolf Hitler? What was the Holocaust? When and what was D-Day? Why did the United States drop the atomic bomb on Japan?

VIETNAM ERA 

1 Semester
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None

Learner’s Mindset

Rules & Enforcement House

This course will survey the Cold War era up through the Vietnam War, from the Truman Doctrine, to French involvement of French Indochina, including a synopsis on the Korean War, leading to the brink of Vietnam with the Geneva Conference in 1954. The class will analyze Ho Chi Mihns’ decision to implement communism into Vietnam and will also analyze the North Vietnamese viewpoint of the war as well as the U.S. and South Vietnamese viewpoint. The class will also focus on the different Presidents' involvement and their diplomatic strategies in "winning" Vietnam. Although Vietnam was primarily guerrilla style warfare there were significant battles that helped define this war that will be looked at. As well, the war in Vietnam was the war on the home front with protesters and supporters. There will be a sociological analysis as to America's differing viewpoints of the war and its impact on veterans returning from the war. Supplemental activities will include:

Guest speakers (veterans) throughout the semester with different accounts of the war and veteran interview, debates relating to the war objectives or the American public's viewpoints, and movie clips or movies relating to the subject at hand.

CIVIL WAR ERA 

1 Semester
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None

Learner’s Mindset

Rules & Enforcement House

This course will focus on the events leading up to, during, and immediately following the American Civil War.  The goal of this course is to understand the meanings of what is a major transformative event in American History.  Those meanings can be viewed from national, moral, racial, social, and constitutional perspectives.  The course will cover roughly a 30-year period and will examine the themes of Union/Disunion, Slavery, Emancipation, and Reconciliation/Reconstruction.  Also the effects of modern total war on individuals and society as a whole will be explored.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES 

1 Semester
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None

Critical Thinking

Helping & Teaching People

Contemporary Issues is the study of controversy that exists in our society today. This class will give students the opportunity to participate in a student-centered learning environment that will challenge them to participate in numerous research activities, debates, and other activities that will enable students to find solutions to controversial issues. Students will be challenged to utilize their critical thinking skills to reach an educated opinion on the issue at hand. The issues covered will include political, social, economic, moral, and environmental problems.  The issues covered in this course will be determined by the students. Issues discussed and debated in the past include: social, economic, moral, political, and environmental.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

1 Semester
Credit: 0.50 per semester
Grade: 11-12
Prerequisite: None

Empathy

Helping & Teaching People House

The Community Engagement course will give students the skills to become involved and active participants in the needs of their community.  They will work with existing community organizations, or create new groups, to further develop existing events or create events that will serve the needs of the community. Students will be asked to have responsibilities that will showcase their talents, whether it be public relations, technology skills, or others.  The course will also work to make our schools more inclusive to members of our community by empowering our community members to further learn about, and attend our schools' events. 

*Students may earn the community service seal by successfully completing this course.