Social Science

(1.0 credit)

This course helps students know the world and understand how it arrived at its present condition. Students learn to view the world in various disciplines--as geographers, historians, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and sociologists. The course analyzes four regions of the world—Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America—and assesses their development from 1500 CE. As an introductory freshman course, students gain basic skills in analytical thinking, writing, public speaking, group and individual work, research and problem solving. 

(1.0 credit; Prerequisite: Honors World Studies)

This is a survey course that provides students with an investigation of important political, economic, and social developments in American history from the pre-colonial time period to the present day. Students will be engaged in activities that call upon their skills as historians (i.e. recognizing cause and effect relationships, various forms of research, expository and persuasive writing, reading of primary and secondary sources, comparing and contrasting important ideas and events, using technology, and verbal presentation). This course satisfies the US History graduation requirement.

(1.0 credit; Prerequisite: Honors World Studies)

This course provides a challenging and unique study of United States History at the college level. Students in this course should expect to spend a significant amount of time on homework and independent study. A typical week might include 40-60 pages (1-2 chapters) of textbook reading in addition to other primary and secondary readings. Throughout the year, students will see improvement in their reading, writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills.  As a result of this course, students will be prepared for the AP examination in May. This course satisfies the US History graduation requirement.

(.5 credit; Prerequisite: Honors World Studies and Honors or AP US History credit)

This semester-long course is paired with a semester of Sociology and fulfills the Civics graduation requirement. It will encourage active engagement in our community at both the local and national levels. Students will analyze how movements have caused change in the past and how they can become part of the change they want to see. The course will explore the design of our government and the rights provided but the focus will be more about how to be involved in creating or promoting positive change. One of the two CPS service learning requirements will be met in this course. 

(.5 credit; Prerequisite: Honors World Studies and Honors or AP US History credit)

This semester-long course is paired with Civics as the second half of the Civics requirement. This is an integrated course that covers the main topics of both psychology and sociology. It will focus on the psychological study of human behavior and its relationship to sociological topics. Students will develop an understanding of major core concepts of sociology, and apply these concepts to their own lives and modern day society. It will focus on the psychological study of human behavior such as personality, development and psychological disorders and its relationship to sociological topics. Students will learn how to become more reflective of themselves, their community, and their society. 

(1.0 credit; Prerequisite: World Studies credit, Honors or AP US History credit) 

In this course students focus on the philosophical and institutional foundations of the American political system. Particularly, students investigate the various roles that the Constitution, public opinion, political parties, campaigns and elections, interest groups, the media, and the various institutions of the federal government—the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches, as well as the bureaucracy—play in the development of federal public policy. Students assess the validity of various political theories by considering a range of historical and contemporary political events. Students participate in the American Constitutional Law Program, in which they investigate the numerous constitutional questions posed by a current U.S. Supreme Court case. Students write a persuasive appellate brief and defend their legal arguments in front of a panel of justices. As a result of this course, students will be prepared for the AP Examination in May. This course fulfills the Civics graduation requirement. 

(1.0 credit; Prerequisites: Honors World Studies credit; Honors or AP US History credit; Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) 

Why are malls placed near highways? Why do fewer people vacation in the Caribbean between June and September? Why are there Korean store signs along Bryn Mawr and Kedzie? So many decisions that humans make depend upon geography, which is about places, not just place names. In this course, students will look at how spatial patterns and processes reflect and shape human activity locally and globally. In essence, we will be asking three questions about the world: what is where, why is it there, and why should we care? As a result of this course, students will be prepared for the AP examination in May.

(1.0 credit; Prerequisites: Honors World Studies credit; Honors or AP US History credit; Open to Juniors and Seniors) 

This course introduces students to the modern history of the Western world. It is designed to help students develop their writing, reading, and analytical skills. Students are expected to show knowledge of a basic chronology from the Late Middle Ages to the very recent past. The areas of concentration include historical, political, and economic history coupled with an intense study of cultural and intellectual institutions and their development. During the year, AP European History students should anticipate 1-3 hours of textbook reading per week; in addition, students will also be expected to read primary and secondary source documents throughout the year in preparation for the DBQ portion of the AP Exam. As a result of this course, students will be prepared for the AP examination in May. 

(1.0 credit; Prerequisites: Honors World Studies credit; Honors or AP US History credit; Open to Juniors and Seniors) 

Does it make sense to design computer components in the United States but assemble computers in Asia? Is gasoline too inexpensive, even at $4.00 per gallon? Can a minimum wage cause more harm than good? If the price of Coca-Cola increases, why would you purchase more Coke? What’s the fundamental flaw of U.S. drug interdiction policy? AP Microeconomics, like all social science courses, examines human behavior. The course, in answering these and many other questions, will underscore that in the face of scarcity – resulting from limited resources coupled with, often, limitless demand on those resources – choices must occur. Students will examine how individual decision-makers—consumers, producers, organizations—behave when confronting scarcity. Using concepts of demand, supply, opportunity cost, efficiency, equity, comparative advantage, incentives, transaction costs, and property rights, students will explore methods by which economic decisions occur, and resources are allocated, in a world of scarcity. The course will place heavy emphasis on application of economic theory to practice through project-based and experiential learning. The state mandated Consumer Education credit is met by this course. As a result of this course, students will be prepared for the AP Examination in May. 

(1.0 credit; Prerequisites: Honors World Studies credit; Honors or AP US History credit; Open to Juniors and Seniors) 

This course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Major topics include the various perspectives from which psychologists view behavior and mental processes. They range from a study of the brain and child development to personality and psychological disorders. Students will be required to complete a summer reading assignment, a service-learning project related to a specific psychological perspective, and a year-long problem-based learning project concerning an abnormal psychological disorder. After the AP. exam, the course will focus on sociological concepts. As a result of this course, students will be prepared for the AP examination in May.