Social Science Courses
The mission of the Camanche High School Social Science Department is to educate the young citizen-leaders in & for our society. We do this through our commitment to the transformative power of a social sciences education. In the classroom, we will expose students to new ideas, new ways of understanding, and new ways of knowing. Our hope as a department is that students will begin to transform intellectually by developing their own intrapersonal beliefs as well as by beginning to assess their values and interests, and learning how they can best serve the world.
WORLD CULTURES (2 semesters) Required for Graduation
Credit: 1
Grade Placement: 10th, 9th with administrator approval
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This class is designed to give students a geographical and cultural understanding about a variety of different cultures throughout the globe. While investigating different cultures students will examine the landforms, traditions, laws, and ways of life each region has to offer. Students will make connections between characteristics and the development of cultures within the area. Students will gain knowledge of specific regions from a historical and modern day perspectives. This class will be centered around Iowa Core Curriculum and be standards driven.
UNITED STATES HISTORY (2 semesters) Required for Graduation
Credit: 1
Grade Placement: 11, 10th with administrator approval
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This course provides a basic history of America’s social, economic, and political development from post-Civil War to present day America. From settling the West to immigration to the World Wars to the Cold War, you will be able to see how Americans' lives were transformed over time. The United States policies and laws were established and refined over this period and they will become evident throughout this year-long course.
AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (1 semester) Required for Graduation
Credit: 0.5
Grade Placement: 12, 11th with administrator approval
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: US Government is designed to give students a basic understanding of the workings of our government here in the United States and one's responsibilities as a US citizen. Topics to be covered include, our country's governmental history, the Constitution, the three branches of government and the responsibilities of each, as well as other general US government topics.
PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (1 semester) required for graduation
Credit: 0.5
Grade Placement: 12, 11th with administrator approval
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Economics is designed to give students a basic understanding of the workings of our economic system in the United States and one's economic responsibilities as a US citizen. Topics to be covered include, supply, demand, investing, the US labor force, different economics around the world, and many other general economic topics.
Social Science Electives
Human Geography (1 semester)
Credit: 0.5
Grade Placement: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This 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 human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. It is an excellent course for preparing students to become geo-literate youth and adults.
Contemporary U.S. Issues (1 semester)
Credit: 1
Grade Placement: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: Contemporary U.S. Issues is an elective course designed to give a basic understanding of life in 20th century America. Students will learn about important moments and aspects of each decade of the 20th century beginning with the early 1900’s up to the present time and everything in between, beginning with the labor movement of the 1900’s and ending with the turn of the 21st century.
Sociology (1 semester)
Credit: 0.5
Grade Placement: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: Sociology is an elective course that studies human society and social behavior. Positive human relationships are an essential part of a civilized society and how we interact with each other is important so that we can find answers to questions and solve problems in our world. “Sociology teaches us to look at life in a scientific, systematic way.” The way that we view the world comes from what we learn in our everyday activities. “The values, beliefs, lifestyles of those around us, as well as historic events help to mold us into unique individuals who have varied outlooks on social reality.” This course deals with the social atmosphere that helps to make us who we are and how we behave. Sociology will cover topics such as culture, violence, deviance, social control, socialization and personality, group behavior, social class, and social institutions. The key component of this course is to study ourselves and the society that influences our behavior.
Psychology (1 Semester)
Credit: 0.5
Grade Placement: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: None
Psychology is the systematic study of individual human behavior and experience. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the content, terminology, methodology, and application of the discipline. Students will explore various aspects of human behavior including theories of personality, aspects of thought processes, states of consciousness, motivation and emotion, and the basic areas of mental illness.