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Graduation Requirements for Social Studies:
Graduation Requirements for Social Studies:
11 credits are required from courses that meet requirements under
11 credits are required from courses that meet requirements under
Geography, World History, US History, Economics, Government
Geography, World History, US History, Economics, Government
Human Geography
Required: 9
Length of Course: Two trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: Geography
Required course for all freshmen.
Human Geography is designed to develop the student’s under-standing of the world community. Some topics of study include population, culture, political systems, agriculture, urbanization, economics, and the environment.
AP Human Geography
Elective: 9 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: Geography (replacement course for Human Geography)
Weighted Grade
Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of an introductory college course. Solid reading and writing skills are necessary to handle the rigors of the course. Some topics of studies include: population and migration, agriculture, popular and folk culture, political systems & urbanization.
World History
Required: 10
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: World History
Required course for all 10th graders.
This course is a broad survey of World History. Students will look at the movements, personalities and cultures of many different world civilizations.
AP World History
Elective: 10 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: World History (replacement course for World History)
Weighted Grade
Advanced Placement (AP) World History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn the student college credit. It is a three-trimester survey of World History. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing and interpretation of original documents.
US History
Required: 11
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: US History
Required course for all 11th graders.
Students will examine and analyze US History from exploration to the present day. The US History course will explore the social, political, cultural, and economic movements within US History.
AP US History
Elective: 11 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: US History (replacement course for US History)
Weighted Grade
Advanced Placement (AP) US History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn student college credit. It is a three-trimester survey of US History from the age of exploration and discovery to the present. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original documents, and historiography.
Economics
Required: 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: Economics
Economics provides a logical way for people to think about decisions at every level – personal, family, organizational, business and governmental. Studying economics gives one a better understanding of the world, economic policy and be an informed participant.
AP Economics
Elective: 12 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: Economics (replacement course for Economics)
Weighted Grade
AP Economics is a college level, in-depth course that emphasizes the how’s and why’s of the U.S. economic system. It explores concepts in both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students will be prepared to take Advanced Placement exams in both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Passing the exam with a 3-4 or 5 will earn college credit at many colleges and universities.
Government
Required: 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: Government
This course will provide students the knowledge and skills needed for informed, responsible participation in public life. It is the study of constitutional principles and the democratic foundation of our national, state, and local institutions. Students will also study the political processes and structures of government, grounded in the understanding of constitutional government under the rule of law. This course covers topics including the foundations of the American Political Systems, founding documents, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and other forms of government past and present.
AP Government
Elective: 12 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Two trimesters
Fulfills Graduation Requirement for: Government (optional course for Government)
Weighted Grade
AP Government is a college level course covering the basic principles and theories of government. The course will prepare students for further study of government and related fields. Topics include the American Political System, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and the comparison of other forms of government in Britain, Russia, China, Iran and Nigeria. Passing the American Government and comparative government exams in the spring with a 3, 4 or 5 will earn students college credit at many colleges and universities.
SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES
SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES
Students have the opportunity to pursue a choice elective within social studies topics. While there is no limit to the number of social studies electives a student may select, any of the courses below will meet the trimester requirement for social studies choice elective.
Psychology
Elective: 11, 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills Social Studies elective credit
This course is designed to cover many of the basic concepts essential for an introductory Psychology course. The major focus of the course is to gain more knowledge of and interest in human behavior. Some of the topics in Psychology include: learning, personality, intelligence, memory, mental disorders, motivation and many others. If you are interested in finding out why people do the things they do, you will enjoy this course.
AP Psychology
Elective: 11, 12 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Weighted Grade
Fulfills Social Studies elective credit
Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of an introductory college course in Psychology. Because students will prepare to take the AP Psychology exam for college credit in the spring, exams are emphasized in this course. The purpose of the AP course in Psychology is 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. They also learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice.
Practical Law
Elective: 11, 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills Social Studies elective credit
Practical Law provides an understanding of law and the legal system while improving students’ understanding of the fundamental principles and values underlying our Constitution. In addition, this course will promote awareness of current issues and controversies relating to law and the legal system, and will improve understanding of the roles that law, lawyers, law enforcement officers, and the legal system play in our society. Lastly, this course will provide exposure to the many vocational opportunities that exist within the legal system.
Sociology
Elective: 11, 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills Social Studies elective credit
Sociology introduces the scientific study of human society, culture, and social interactions. The tools of sociological inquiry are applied to the study of contemporary social issues, and historical events. Some topics in Sociology include: culture, socialization, wealth and poverty, race and ethnicity, and gender. Students will learn how to apply sociological concepts to the interplay among individuals, groups, and societies.
History Through Film
Elective: 11, 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills Social Studies elective credit
History Through Film examines history as depicted in Hollywood films. Films will be analyzed and evaluated in terms of legitimacy as a historical source. Students view movies on various topics and participate in discussions, explore evidence from more traditional sources such as articles, film reviews and critical commentaries.
Ethnic Studies
Elective: 11, 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills Social Studies elective credit
This Ethnic Studies course is designed to raise questions about the ways race/racism, cultures within the United States, sexual gender, language, religion, disabilities, economics, and ethnic identity shape our experiences. Why do our differences matter to the extent that they do? How do our personal experiences among these issues relate to the structure of our society? What level of understanding would it take to overcome our discomfort of differences? How have concerns for social justice and equity shaped the field of Ethnic Studies? In this course we will be reading a variety of academic and cultural text, which illustrate the interdisciplinary of the work in Ethnic Studies. We will explore these issues through readings, discussions, lectures, films, short stories, music, and presenters. This course is designed to be an introductory course and have students begin to think critically about these topics.
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