social studies courses

Economics/Personal Finance

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 12

Economics is a one-half credit course. Students will examine the allocation of scarce resources and the economic reasoning used by government agencies and by people as consumers, producers, savers, investors, workers, and voters. Personal Finance is a one-half credit course. This course is designed to inform students how individual choices directly influence occupational goals and future earnings potential.

U.S. Government/Civics

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 11 & 12

Students will study the purposes, principles, and practices of American government as established by the Constitution. Students are expected to understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens and how to exercise these rights and responsibilities in local, state, and national government.

AP U.S. Government: 

2 term-2 credit 

Grades 11, 12

The AP course in United States Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret the United States Government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute United States government and politics. While there is no single approach that an AP United States Government and Politics course must follow, students should be acquainted with the variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. The pace and content of the material will reflect college level work. Additionally, course content and how it will be taught will reflect the curriculum and standards set by the College Board - not on the performance level of the class.

U.S. History

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 11

Students will examine the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution and America’s growing role in world diplomatic relations, including the Spanish-American War and World War I. Students will study the goals and accomplishments of the Progressive movement and the New Deal. Students will also learn about the various factors that led to America’s entry into World War II, as well as its consequences for American life. Students will explore the causes and course of the Cold War. Students will study the important social, cultural, economic, and political changes resulting from the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, and recent events and trends that have shaped modern-day America. Students will continue to use skills for historical and geographical analysis as they examine American history since Reconstruction with special attention to Tennessee connections in history, geography, politics, and people. Students will continue to learn fundamental concepts in civics, economics, and geography within the context of United States history. The reading of primary source documents is a key feature of United States history standards. This is a state requirement for all eleventh grade students. Completion of the state-generated End-of-Course Exam is required.

Honors U.S. History

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 11

Students will examine the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution and America’s growing role in world diplomatic relations, including the Spanish-American War and World War I. Students will study the goals and accomplishments of the Progressive movement and the New Deal. Students will also learn about the various factors that led to America’s entry into World War II, as well as its consequences for American life. Students will explore the causes and course of the Cold War. Students will study the important social, cultural, economic, and political changes resulting from the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, and recent events and trends that have shaped modern-day America. Students will continue to use skills for historical and geographical analysis as they examine American history since Reconstruction with special attention to Tennessee connections in history, geography, politics, and people. Students will continue to learn fundamental concepts in civics, economics, and geography within the context of United States history. The reading of primary source documents is a key feature of United States history standards. This is a state requirement for all eleventh grade students. Completion of the state-generated End-of-Course Exam is required.

World History 

Yearlong - 1 credit 

Grade 9

Academy Only

Students will study the rise of the nation state in Europe, the French Revolution, and the economic and political roots of the modern world. They will examine the origins and consequences of the Industrial Revolution, nineteenth century political reform in Western Europe, and imperialism in Africa, Asia, and South America. They will explain the causes and consequences of the great military and economic events of the past century, including the World Wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, and the Russian and Chinese Revolutions. Finally, students will study the rise of nationalism and the continuing persistence of political, ethnic, and religious conflict in many parts of the world. Relevant Tennessee connections will be part of the curriculum, as well as appropriate primary source documents. Students will explore geographic influences on history, with attention given to political boundaries that developed with the evolution of nations from 1750 to the present and the subsequent human geographic issues that dominate the global landscape today.

AP U.S. History

2 term-2 credit

Grades 11, 12

The AP United States History course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States history. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials-their relevance to a given interpretive problem, reliability, and importance- and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. This AP United States History course will develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. The pace and content of the material will reflect college level work. Additionally, course content and how it will be taught will reflect the curriculum and standards set by the College Board- not on the performance level of the class. US History is a state requirement for all eleventh grade students. Students are also encouraged, but not required, to complete the AP US History Exam in May of the spring semester. High scores can potentially earn college credit depending on the score and educational institution. The pace and content of the material will reflect college level work. Additionally, course content and how it will be taught will reflect the curriculum and standards set by the College Board- not on the performance level of the class.

AP U.S. Government: 

2 term-2 credit 

Grades 11, 12

The AP course in United States Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret the United States Government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute United States government and politics. While there is no single approach that an AP United States Government and Politics course must follow, students should be acquainted with the variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. The pace and content of the material will reflect college level work. Additionally, course content and how it will be taught will reflect the curriculum and standards set by the College Board- not on the performance

level of the class.

Psychology

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 10, 11, & 12

Students will study the development of scientific attitudes and skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, and scientific methodology. Students will also examine the structure and function of the nervous system in human and non-human animals, the processes of sensation and perception, and life span development.

Sociology 

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 10, 11, & 12

Students will explore the ways sociologists view society, and also how they study the social world. In addition, students will examine culture, socialization, deviance and the structure and impact of institutions and organizations.

Modern History

1 term-1 credit 

Grades 10, 11, 12

This course is a study of world events contained within the era of the World Wars through to the Cold War, as well as their impact on the present and their implications for the future. In addition to standard requirements for World and US Histories, students will gain a more in-depth understanding of the political, economic, and cultural relationships among the nations of the world both present and past through firsthand accounts.