Human Geography - 1 Unit - Grade 9

College Preparatory or Honors

Geography allows students to gain an understanding of the spatial dimension [where things are located and why they are there] as well as the ecological dimension [how humans interact with the environment]. This course is designed to provide students a wide variety of geographical concepts to include current trends in human geography, map skills, and topography and how it affects human and economic behaviors. Students will stay informed of world events and how they affect our interdependent world.  Field trips and experiential learning experiences may be included.  

[CP: 330700CW, H: 330700HW]

American Government - ½ Unit - Grade 10

College Preparatory or Honors 

Honors Prerequisite: English 2 Honors or CP in Grade 9 or currently enrolled in Honors English Honors

Corequisite: Students must enroll in Human Growth and Development or Drivers Education to pair with the American Government course in the same semester. Students who have completed their health requirement and do not wish to take Drivers Education should speak with their counselor about other options.

This course is designed to give the student an understanding of how our democracy works and how it compares to other governments of the world. The federal, state, and local branches of government are studied in detail. The goal is to produce an informed and politically effective citizen.   

[CP: 333000CH, H: 333000HH]

US History - 1 Unit - Grade 11

College Preparatory or Honors

This course covers the periods of American history from colonial days to the present with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. Social, cultural as well as political economic developments, trends, and issues are included. Students use writing and researching skills to analyze primary sources such as political speeches, political cartoons and other documents to interpret their historical impact on the time period. Particular focus is on the United States Constitution. All US History students will take the South Carolina End of Course Exam which accounts for 20% of their overall grade.

[CP: 332000CW, H: 332001HW]

Economics - ½ Unit - Grade 12

College Preparatory or Honors

This course gives students an opportunity to study the American free-enterprise economic system and compare it to other systems in the world. It helps students relate to the real world economy as laborers, employers, consumers, taxpayers, and voters. During the last part of the semester, emphasis is on the personal finance issues faced by all citizens – credit, banking, saving, investing, and taxes. Students will become more aware of making choices, the costs of those choices, and the various possible repercussions of the decisions made daily in the economy. Requirements include out of class projects.  

[CP: 330800CH, H: 330800HH]

Personal Finance - ½ Unit - Grade 12

College Preparatory or Honors

This one-half unit (.5) Personal Finance course fulfills the new requirement for graduation credit beginning with the entering freshman class of 2023–24. It is designed to help students develop skills to make informed financial decisions, manage financial resources, and plan for future financial success. Using experiential activities, students will learn the basic principles of personal finance and how to manage their money in a global economy, which include budgeting, banking, insurance, mortgages, savings, investments, inheritance, retirement, tax, and estate planning. Students will also learn about consumer protection laws, internet safety, and cyber security, enabling them to safeguard financial information against technology-based attacks.

[CP: 514100CH, H: 514100HH]

Current Events - ½ Unit - and Law Education - ½ Unit - Grades 9-12

College Preparatory
Current Events is a 9 weeks Social Studies elective course structured to give the student an understanding of current issues in many areas of a political, social, and economic nature. The course will emphasize historical causes and perspectives, discussions, and additional research done by the student. The topics chosen are very fluid in their nature, meaning that the topics and the amount of coverage on the topics will fluctuate on any given day, week, or month depending on topics current in the media. 

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• show a greater understanding of political, social, and economic issues that dominate the news

• conduct research on current event topics using reliable websites and other sources  

[333700CH]

Law Education is also a 9 weeks Social Studies elective course that provides practical information and problem-solving opportunities that help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary for survival in our society. Both federal and state governments have topics discussed. Among these topics are the rationales, components, and history of the laws that govern our society. Case studies, mock trials, role-plays, small group exercises, and visual analysis activities encourage active participation by students. The goal of the course is to promote in students a willingness and capability to participate effectively in the legal and political systems. 

[333600CH]

Psychology - 1 Unit - Grades 10-12

College Preparatory 

This course exposes students to developmental psychology from conception to death, personality and learning theory, states of consciousness, and abnormal psychology.  

[334000CW]

AP Human Geography - 2 Units  - Grade 9

1 Unit of Honors Credit and 1 Unit of Advanced Placement Credit

Prerequisite: Qualifying students will be selected for enrollment prior to the end of the school year.

This year-long course is designed to give students an introductory level understanding of the comprehensive study of geography. Specifically, this course delves into patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and modifications of the world as we know it. The following topics will be covered in the course: Geography’s nature and perspectives, population, cultural patterns and processes, political organization of space, agricultural and rural land use, industrialization and economic development, and cities and urban land use. This course is very rigorous and requires a student to be hard working, independent, a good steward of time, and mature. Students take the Advanced Placement Human Geography exam in May and may receive college credit at additional colleges and universities, depending on the AP Exam score and on each college's policy.

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.

[H: 336979HW, AP: 337900AW]

AP US Government and Politics - 1 Unit - Grade 10

Advanced Placement
Prerequisite: 90% or higher in previous Honors Social Studies course or prior completion of an AP Course AND completed or currently enrolled in Honors English course

AP US Government and Politics is a college-level course that not only seeks to prepare students for success on the AP Exam in May, but also provide students with the political knowledge and reasoning processes to participate meaningfully and thoughtfully in discussions and debates that are currently shaping American politics and society. It is important to note that this course is not a history course; it is a political science course that studies the interconnectedness of the different parts of the American political system and the behaviors and attitudes that shape this system and are the byproduct of this system. Students take the Advanced Placement US Government exam in May and may receive college credit at additional colleges and universities, depending on the AP Exam score and on each college's policy.

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.

[AP: 337300AW]

AP US History/DE History 111 and 112 - 2 Units - Grade 11

1 Unit AP Credit and Two Half Units of Dual Credit (6 College Credit Hours)

Prerequisite: 90% or higher in previous Honors Social Studies course or prior completion of an AP Course AND completed or currently enrolled in Honors English course, and must meet college acceptance requirements

This course covers the periods of American history from colonial days to the present with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. Social, cultural, as well as, political and economic developments, trends, and issues are included.  The course is reading and research based, which requires considerable amounts of time to study both inside and outside the classroom. Outside reading and attendance in day-to-day seminars are integral parts of this course and are needed to prepare for the College Board AP Exam. Students receive credit through USC upon successful completion of the course. Students take the Advanced Placement US History Exam in May and may receive college credit at additional colleges and universities, depending on the AP Exam score and on each college's policy.  Summer work is also required. All US History students will take the South Carolina End of Course Exam which accounts for 20% of their overall grade.  

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.

Visit the USC Union page for more information about dual enrollment courses.

[AP: 337210AW, DE 111: 332100EH, DE 112: 332200EH]

DE History 111 and 112 - ½ Unit Each - Grades 11-12

1 Unit Total High School Dual Enrollment Credit (6 Credit Hours College Level)

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of 90% in previous Honors Social Studies course or prior completion of an AP Course AND completed or currently enrolled in Honors English course, and meet college requirements

This course covers the periods of American history from colonial days to the present with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. Social, cultural, as well as, political and economic developments, trends, and issues are included.  The course is reading and research based, which requires considerable amounts of time to study both inside and outside the classroom. Outside reading and attendance in day-to-day seminars are integral parts of this course an are needed to prepare for the EOC final exam. Students receive credit through USC upon successful completion of the first semester of the course. All US History students will take the South Carolina End of Course Exam which accounts for 20% of their overall grade. 

Visit the USC Union page for more information about dual enrollment courses.

[DE 111: 332100EH, DE 112: 332200EH]

AP Macroeconomics - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12

Advanced Placement
Prerequisite:  Minimum grade of 90% in previous Honors Social Studies course or prior completion of an AP Course AND completed or currently enrolled in Honors Math course

AP Macroeconomics is a college-level course that introduces students to the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination. It also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts. Students take the Advanced Placement Macroeconomics exam in May and may receive college credit at additional colleges and universities, depending on the AP Exam score and on each college's policy.

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.

[AP: 337400AW]

AP Psychology - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12

Advanced Placement
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of 90% in previous Honors Social Studies course or prior completion of an AP Course AND completed or currently enrolled in Honors English course

Psychology is the study of human and animal thought processes and behavior.  This is an exciting and interesting subject in which we will look into many aspects of human behavior from the biology of the brain and body to maladaptive behavior.  This course emphasizes real life applications of behavioral knowledge to give you a better understanding of the world.  This is a positive and active class where class participation and involvement is expected of every student and team building is developed to encourage necessary study skills needed in college and in the workplace. This is a college level course and you will be expected to do the work of a college level student in preparation for taking the Advanced Placement exam. Students take the Advanced Placement Psychology exam in May and may receive college credit at additional colleges and universities, depending on the AP Exam score and on each college's policy.

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.

[AP: 437100AW]

DE Sociology (SOCY 101) - 1 Unit  - Grade 12 - Virtual Only

Dual Enrollment
Prerequisite: English 4 and must meet college acceptance requirements

An introduction to sociological facts and principles: an analysis of group-making processes and products.  

Visit the USC Union page for more information about dual enrollment courses.

[DE: 334700EW]

DE European-Western Civilization (HIS 101)  - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12     

Dual Enrollment
Prerequisite: US History H and must meet college acceptance requirements 

The rise and development of European civilization from its Mediterranean origins through the Renaissance and Reformation.  

Visit the USC Union page for more information about dual enrollment courses. 

[DE: 336600EW]

DE Foundations of Leadership (PCAM 205) - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12 - Virtual Only

Dual Enrollment
Prerequisite: Must meet college acceptance requirements 

This course combines leadership theory with practical application, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to work more effectively with people, become better leaders, and reach their professional goals. 

Visit the USC Union page for more information about dual enrollment courses. 

[DE: 87510VEW]