Social Studies

10043 - New Mexico History

Grade 9

Semester-long course; .5 credit

New Mexico History is a required course for graduation.

This course is backed by Health.

New Mexico History is a semester-long survey course of the political,

economic, social, cultural, and geographical features of New Mexico, emphasizing the 20th century to the present. The student analyzes the role that New Mexico currently plays in national and international arenas. The student applies and reconstructs personal knowledge of the past to develop a historical perspective and uses that perspective when examining relationships of the political, economic, social, and cultural issues of today.

12019 - World History and Geography

Grade 10

World History and Geography is a required course for graduation.

In this course, students study diverse world regions, cultures, communities, religions, and institutions, analyzing their development, growth, and interactions since the Renaissance. The course evaluates continuity and change over time and the outcomes produced by these processes. Themes include the development of economic, social, technological, and political trends that have culminated in our present world. The literacy skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking and research strategies are integrated into the course.

12013 – Advanced Placement (AP) World History

Grade 10

Teacher signature required

This course fulfills the World History and Geography requirement.

The course prepares students for success on the national A.P. World History exam given in May. It is strongly recommended

that the student take the exam. Depending on the student’s score and the policies of the college or university the student chooses to attend, he or she may receive actual college credit. Cost of the exam is assumed by the student.

A.P. World History examines the evolution of global processes in interaction with different types of human societies, focusing on the

past one thousand years of history. The course builds knowledge of geography and an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents. Students analyze the nature of change and continuity, their causes and consequences, in the context of

international historic frameworks. The student uses critical thinking skills to demonstrate understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history. The course develops student skills in close reading, writing, and research, necessary for success in this class and later in college classes. The student is encouraged to take the national A.P World History

examination in May. Many universities and colleges consider successful completion of an A.P. class and taking the A.P. exam as

evidence of an academic commitment. Depending on the student’s exam score and the policy of the university or college, the student may receive college credits.

11011 – United States History and Geography

Grade 11

U.S. History and Geography is a required course for graduation.

United States History and Geography is a survey course covering U.S. history from post-Reconstruction (1877) to the present. Major

emphasis is placed on American society, culture, and politics. The student uses critical thinking skills to gain and demonstrate understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States.

11013 - Advanced Placement (AP) United States History

Grade 11

Teacher signature required

The A.P. United States History course fulfills the graduation requirement for 1 credit in U.S. History and Geography.

The course prepares students for success on the national A.P. U.S. History exam given in May. It is strongly recommended that the student take the exam. Depending on his or her score and the policies of the college or university the student chooses to attend, he or she may receive actual college credit. Cost of the exam is assumed by the student.

A.P. United States History is a comprehensive course that examines our nation’s history from the discovery and settlement of the New World, up to the twenty-first century. Major emphasis is placed on American society, culture, politics, and economics. The student uses critical thinking skills to analyze major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States. The course emphasizes and develops close reading, writing, and research skills that are necessary for success on the A.P. exam and future college success. Students are encouraged to take the U.S. History Advanced Placement exam. Many universities and colleges consider successful completion of an A.P. class and taking the appropriate national A.P. exam as evidence of an academic commitment. Students who pass the national exam may receive actual college credit for their work, depending on the student’s score and the policy of the university or college that he or she chooses to attend.

11020 - U.S. History and Geography-Humanities

(Taken with 21532 - English 11 Humanities)

Prerequisite: Successful Completion of English 10 or English 10 Honors

Grade 11

U.S. History and Geography-Humanities fulfills the graduation requirement for 1 credit in U.S. History and Geography.

APS teachers have designed this course to align with English 11 Language Arts standards and U. S. History standards, thus the

student earns both English and Social Studies credits. The course highlights the major political, social, cultural, and economic developments of America from European exploration through the 21st century. The student studies the diverse cultures and ethnic groups that have contributed to the making of America’s social fabric and analyzes the political development of American democracy. The course combines American literature, history, and fine arts in its study of the ideals and traditions of our cultural heritage from colonial times to the present, emphasizing the 19^th and 20th centuries. The student develops and applies critical thinking skills and uses current technology in the classroom.

13011 - Government

Grade 12

Semester-long course; .5 credit

Government is a required course for graduation.

The Government course provides the student with a framework for understanding the purposes, principles, and practices of American government as established by the United States Constitution. The student analyzes the history and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government. In addition, he or she examines our personal rights and responsibilities as citizens and how to exercise them, as we experience and participate in the political process at local state, and national levels of governments.

13016 – Advanced Placement (AP) United States Government and Politics

Grade 12

Semester-long course; .5 credit

Teacher signature required

AP U.S. Government and Politics fulfills the graduation requirement for .5 credit in Government.

The course prepares students for success on the national A.P. U.S. Government and Politics exam given in May. It is strongly recommended that the student take the exam. Depending on his or her score and the policies of the college or university the student chooses to attend, he or she may receive actual college credit. Cost of the exam is assumed by the student.

This course provides the student with a framework for understanding the purposes, principles, and practices of American government, as established by the United States Constitution. Students gain an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States through the study of general concepts used to interpret U. S. politics and the analysis of specific examples. He or she becomes acquainted with a variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. The student analyzes the history and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government. In addition, he or she examines his or her rights and responsibilities as a citizen and how to exercise them as a participant in the political process at local state, and national levels of government. Many universities and colleges consider successful completion of an AP class and taking the appropriate national AP exam as evidence of an academic commitment. Students who pass the national exam may receive actual college credit for their work, depending on the student’s score and the policy of the university or college that he or she chooses to attend.

15011 - Economics

Grade 12

Semester-long course; .5 credit

Economics is a required course for graduation.

Economics examines the allocation of scarce resources and the economic reasoning used by government agencies and others in various economic roles. The student examines topics such as scarcity, supply and demand, market structures, the role of government, money, the role of financial institutions, and international trade.

15015 – Advanced Placement (AP) Economics

Grade 12

Semester-long course; .50 credit.

AP Economics fulfills the graduation requirement for .5 credit in Economics.

The course prepares students for success on the national AP Macroeconomics exam given in May. It is strongly recommended that the student take the exam. Depending on his or her score and the policies of the college or university the student chooses to attend, he or she may receive actual college credit. Cost of the exam is assumed by the student.

AP Economics provides the student with an in-depth understanding of the principles of economics, primarily macroeconomics. The focus of the course is on the principles of economics that relate to an economic system as a whole. Emphasis is placed on the study of national income and price determination. AP Economics introduces the student to economic performance measures, economic growth, and international economics. In addition, the course provides the student with opportunities to apply literacy strategies and skills.

16015 -- AP Human Geography

Grades 9-12

Special Requirement: Students must be willing to participate in rigorous, college level curriculum with nightly outside work, in depth writing and reading, and daily active classroom participation. It is the expectation that all students enrolled will take the AP exam in May.

Description: Human Geography AP focuses on the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. The student employs spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. The student uses and thinks about maps and spatial data; understands and interprets the implications of associations among phenomena in place; recognizes and interprets at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes; defines regions and evaluates the regionalization process; and characterizes and analyzes changing interconnections among places. The student is encouraged, but is not required, to take the AP exam at the end of the school year.

53041 – Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology

Grades 11-12

Year-long course; 1 credit

The course prepares students for success on the national AP Psychology exam given in May. It is strongly recommended that the student take the exam. Depending on his or her score and the policies of the college or university the student chooses to attend, he or she may receive actual college credit. Cost of the exam is assumed by the student.

AP Psychology provides the student with a learning experience that is the equivalent of a college introductory psychology courses. Students are introduced to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. The student is exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major fields within psychology (e.g., biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning, cognition, motivation and emotion, states of consciousness, developmental psychology, personality, experimental and correlational design, abnormal psychology, treatment of psychological disorders, ethical use of data. The student also learns about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Literacy strategies and techniques are integrated throughout the curriculum. SENSITIVE MATERIALS WILL BE DISCUSSED.

14009 - Philosophy

Grades 11-12

This class will not count for NCAA credit

Philosophy is an elective survey social studies course in which the student examines the history of philosophy and the basis of philosophical/logical thought. The student develops thoughtful attitudes toward life and the world through encounters with the ideas of great philosophers, acquires philosophical materials and skills that build upon and integrate previous social studies classes and obtains a foundation in knowledge and skills that prepare him/her for post-secondary education. Literacy is integrated throughout the course.

16041 - Sociology

Grades 10-12

Sociology is the study of groups of people and the ways in which they are similar and different. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, sociological perspective, culture, interaction and social structures, socialization, social institutions, social groups, deviance, and social stratification. Reading, writing, and speaking strategies are integrated throughout the curriculum.

16025 - Reel History I

Grades 10 – 12

Year long course; 1 Credit

$5.00 fee

Elective Reel History is a comparative study between film and United States history. Exploration of fact and fiction is made through

the use of various film genres in an attempt to understand popular culture and its role in the history of the United States. The student

discovers how truths and misconceptions have impacted popular culture. Critical thinking skills are used in identification and

evaluation of course material. Cause and effect and interpretations of various political and social messages as well as comparisons of

different media are measured. Formulation of questions and the use of primary and secondary material are used to contrive well

thought conclusions regarding subject material. The student recognizes the relationships between Social Studies and global changes, applying a base of Social Studies knowledge to recognize allusions to important places, persons, and events in media. The student examines questions as to why and how things have changed, using this information to predict what may happen in the future. Areas of study include, but are not restricted to, historical relevance, major film players, analysis and interpretation, expression of ideas,

appreciation of film as an art form, and media literacy. Due to the ratings of some films, parental approval will be required in order to

view some of the films shown during the course of the year. A $5.00 fee will also be collected from each student.