Social Studies
SOCIAL STUDIES PHILOSOPHY
The aim of the Social Studies Department is to give students an understanding of their place in society based on an historical, cultural and contemporary perspective. Social Studies hopes to develop in students the skills that will help them become an active citizenry and effective leaders.
SOCIAL STUDIES OBJECTIVES
Students will be exposed to a variety of courses that help them learn how to learn.
Students will learn to conduct inquiry.
Students will learn to make choices and decisions.
Students will become more aware of themselves and others.
Students will be exposed to the value of living with change and becoming agents of change.
In accordance with the History and Social Studies Curriculum Frameworks, students will achieve knowledge of the academic content and skills in the areas of history, geography, economics, civics and government.
COURSE PLACEMENT
Our goal in the Social Studies Department is to challenge students at a level that fits their individual needs. All required history courses follow the same curricula but the pacing, delivery methods, level of independence, type of homework and assessments vary between levels. Core courses in grades 10, 11, and 12 are offered at the AP, Honors, C1, and C2 level. All grade 9 students will take either World History CP or World History Honors. All Honors classes are designed for students who have already demonstrated superior analytical writing and critical thinking skills.
Social Studies Placement at the high school is a complex process that examines students' classroom performance , exam grades, MCAS scores (when appropriate), placement and assigned essays designed to measure analytical writing and critical thinking skills, and teacher recommendation are all evaluated in order to find the appropriate level for your child. If a student is interested in moving beyond the recommended placement level, students and families should talk with their teacher. Any appeal of the placement recommendation must take place by April vacation by reaching out to the Social Studies department chair.
WORLD HISTORY
Grade 9
Full Year - 5 credits
This course includes a look at the rise of the nation state in Europe, the French Revolution, and the economic and political roots of the modern world. Students study the origins and consequences of the Industrial Revolution, 19th 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 World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the Russian and Chinese revolutions. Finally, students will look at the era of globalization and conflicts among peoples including genocide and terrorism. Individual and group projects, primary and secondary readings, videos, discussions, debates and research will be the major methods of instruction.
World History (Honors) - Course #634
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
Superior critical thinking and analytical writing skills are necessary.
Summer work is required.
World History (College Prep) - Course #635
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
UNITED STATES HISTORY I
Grade 10
Full Year - 5 credits
This course includes a look at the Revolutionary and Constitutional eras. Students learn about the important political and economic factors that contributed to the outbreak of the Revolution as well as the consequences of the Revolution, including the writing and key ideas of the U.S. Constitution. They also study the basic framework of American democracy and the basic concepts of American government such as popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights. Students study America’s westward expansion, the establishment of political parties, and economic and social change. Students will learn about the causes and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction and the growth of the US due to immigration and industry. Finally, students will study the Progressive Era and WWI. Individual and group projects, primary and secondary readings, videos, discussions, debates and research will be the major methods of instruction.
US History I (Honors) - Course #637
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
A “B” in World History Honors, or an “A” in World History CP
A writing sample may be required.
Summer work is required.
US History I (College I) - Course #638
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
US History I (College II) - Course #639
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
UNITED STATES HISTORY II
Grade 11
Full Year - 5 credits
This course covers American history from 1920-present. Students will study the role of economics in modern US history. In addition, students will study the various ways Americans responded to new ideas in society. Students will also study the causes and consequences of the Great Depression and the New Deal as well as the impact of WWII and the Cold War which followed. Lastly students will learn about civil rights efforts at home and the US response to increasing globalization. The course has been designed around the Massachusetts Social Studies Frameworks. Social, geographical, economic and political themes and trends will be examined. Individual and group projects, primary and secondary readings, video, discussions, lectures, debates and research will be the major methods of instruction.
US History II (Honors) - Course #632
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
A “B” in United States History I Honors, or a “B+” in United States History I C1 class.
Summer work is required.
Additional assigned readings may be required throughout the school year.
US History II (College I) - Course #631
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
US History II (College II) - Course #633
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY
Course #622
Grade 11-12
Full Year - 5 credits
The goal of the A.P. U.S. History course is to give students a solid grounding in U.S. History and in major interpretive questions that derive from the study of selected themes. In addition to the textbook, supplementary readings in the form of documents, essays, or books on special themes will be used. The course will train students to analyze and interpret primary sources, including documentary materials, maps, statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic evidence of historical events. This course can be taken in place of US History II. Students are required to complete a summer assignment as a component of this course. Students enrolled in this AP course are expected to take the AP exam.
Prerequisites:
Approval of the Social Studies teacher and approval of the department chair.
An “A” in United States History I or an “A-” in United States History I Honors class.
Advanced Placement level writing sample according to rubric.
Strong reading, writing and communication skills.
Due to the rigorous and demanding nature of the course, only after course selection has been completed for those who have met the prerequisites, will appeals be considered.
Summer work is required.
SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES
QUARTER COURSES
Quarter courses are available to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Courses will run for the duration of a term. Students must select a minimum of two quarter courses, totaling 2.5 credits. Students can select two or four quarter courses within their schedule.
HISTORY OF SPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES
Course # 646
Grades 10-12
Quarter - 1.25 credits
Professional sports today are a multi-billion dollar industry. The NFL alone had revenues of over $13 billion in 2018. How did this come to be? Did George Washington roll out of bed in the morning with nightmares of his missed foul shots from the night before? From Native American and colonial ball games to the modern world of both recreational and professional sports, this course will explore the historical, cultural, and economic roots and impact of sports in the US.
ROOTS OF TERRORISM
Course #647
Grades 10-12
Quarter - 1.25 credits
Terrorism is a word that is much used but litte is understood in the world today. Events like 9/11 attacks come to mind, but at its root, what is terrorism? Who uses it? Why? How has this impacted the U.S. and world from the 20th century to the present? This course will examine the concept of terrorism with a focus on state sponsored and insurgent groups, including the rise of domestic terror groups in the U.S. during the 1960s and culminating with the study of the recent rise in Islamic Jihadi groups.
FINANCIAL LITERACY (A YEAR, 2024-2025, 2026-2027)
Course # 650
Grades 10 - 12
Quarter - 1.25 credits
This course will help students understand credit,loans and interest and interest accrual, credit card debt, online commerce and the rights and responsibilities of renting or buying a home. Units will include the benefits of saving, investing and planning for retirement; the role of banking and financial services and balancing a checkbook. In addition, students will learn about the impact of taxes; charitable giving, and the importance of evaluating media content. Lastly there will be a focus on paying for post secondary education and the impact of educational debt.
NEWS AND MEDIA LITERACY (B YEAR, 2025-2026, 2027-2028)
Course # 651
Grades 10 - 12
Quarter - 1.25 credits
How can one become a thoughtful consumer of news and information which is so essential to democracy? What are the principles of responsible journalism? Topics include freedom of the press and the challenge of being news and media literate. This course will use case studies and examine documentaries to learn how the public gets news. How are historical scandals described? What is spin? What is the impact of withholding information? Students will understand the importance of sourcing, bias, verification and inference in social media.
SEMESTER ELECTIVE COURSES
AMERICAN POP CULTURE
Course # 601
Grades 9-12
Semester-2.5 credits
What is a mood ring? What does “far out” mean? Why did teenage girls wear “poodle skirts” in the 1950s? This course will examine the impact of pop culture in the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries. Mass media, music, literature, film, radio, tv, language, sports, fads, fashion and advertising will be some of the areas of study. Often influenced by events or movements, pop culture and US history intersect. This class will give students an opportunity to investigate a variety of different pop culture influences that have become part of the American identity.
MODERN WORLD CONFLICTS
Course #628
Grades 11-12
Semester - 2.5 credits
Students are coming of age at an extraordinary moment in human history. Unrelenting technological advancements are shrinking the world at a rapid pace, causing cultures to collide and giving individuals and institutions unprecedented power and influence over each other. The Modern World Conflicts course is designed to help students navigate this ever-changing world and create a better future for the current generation and those who will follow. With an emphasis on the interests of the members of the class, students will explore the underlying causes, impacts, and potential solutions to the most compelling and important challenges facing humanity today.
PRACTICAL LAW (A YEAR 2024-2025, 2026-2027)
Course #720
Grades 11-12
Semester - 2.5 credits
This course will give students a practical understanding of the American legal system. The objective of the course is to inform students of their legal rights as individuals and their responsibilities in observing the law. Videos, case studies, and mock trials are some of the activities included. Emphasis will be on juvenile justice, criminal and civil law.
SOCIOLOGY
Course #642
Grades 11-12
Semester - 2.5 credits
Sociology is the study of groups and the actions of individuals within groups; how groups are formed and changed. Students will look for patterns of interactions among persons in social situations. This course relies heavily on discussion about topics including the nature of culture, family and education, conformity and deviance, group behavior, minorities, stereotyping and discrimination, and gender roles among others. Students enrolled in this class will be expected to participate in classroom discussions, administer surveys, conduct interviews, run experiments and analyze the resulting data. Class members will read a variety of primary and secondary sources and will be responsible for completing class and homework designed to deepen their comprehension of social issues and the methods used by sociologists to gain understanding.
FULL YEAR ELECTIVES
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
Grades 11-12
Full Year - 5 credits
General Psychology is a full-year course that deals with the psychologist's attempts to understand human and animal behavior. Topics include the psychological and physiological processes; biological foundations of behavior; biological base for integrated behavior; methods of psychology, tests and measurements, experimental design; intelligence; segments of the psychological process including motives, emotions, sensation and perception, processes of learning; personality and adjustment; and neurosis, psychosis, and psychotherapy. This course will utilize lectures, outside reading, discussions, and class activities/projects to increase the students' understanding of psychology as a science. To achieve this understanding, students will need to apply critical thinking in their exploration and comprehension of psychology's multiple personalities. History, theoretical perspectives, basic concepts and research findings will be presented, analyzed and critiqued to help students develop a fundamental introduction to the field of psychology.
General Psychology (Honors) - Course #605
General Psychology (College I) - Course #607
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY
Course #600
Grade 11-12
Full Year - 5 credits
AP European History is a course designed to study European history since 1450. It is intended to introduce students to cultural, economic, political, and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live. Without this knowledge, students would lack the context for understanding the development of contemporary institutions, the role of continuity and change in present-day society and politics, and the evolution of current forms of artistic expression and intellectual discourse. The goals of AP European History are to develop an understanding of some of the principal themes in modern European history, an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, and an ability to express historical understanding in writing.
In addition to the textbook, supplementary readings in the form of documents, essays, or books on themes of European History will be used. Students will be required to read additional assigned works during the summer and throughout the school year. The course will train students to analyze and interpret primary sources, including documentary materials, maps, statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic evidence of historical events. Students enrolled in this AP course are expected to take the AP exam.
Prerequisites:
Approval of the student's U.S. History teacher and approval of the department chair.
A minimum grade of a “B” in AP US History, a “B+” in honors 10th or 11th grade history class, or an "A-" in C1 10th or 11th grade history class.
Advanced Placement level writing sample according to rubric.
Strong reading, writing, and communication skills.
Motivation and commitment to the course and its rigorous requirements.
Summer work is required.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT MACROECONOMICS
Course #615
Grade 11 & 12
Full Year 5 credits
The Advanced Placement Economics program is designed as a full year course focused primarily on macroeconomics public finance, fiscal and monetary policy, inflation, unemployment, economic growth, international trade. These concepts will be studied in depth and paired with real life examples and applications. This course will incorporate interpretive skills, analytical thought, and complex concepts in the study of economics. The study of economics is the foundation for business, the market economy and global interaction. Within a market economy, students will examine various roles between consumers, producers, and governments. The national and global economy become the context for macroeconomics, as students apply individual and aggregate tools to measure economic welfare and evaluate the decisions made by economic leaders and institutions. Students will be required to read additional assigned works during the summer and throughout the school year. Students enrolled in this AP course are expected to take the AP exam.
Prerequisites:
Approval of the 10th or 11th grade Social Studies teacher and/or approval of the department chair.
A minimum of “B” in the previous year’s history (Honors) class, or a minimum of a “B+” in the previous year’s history (College) class.
Strong reading, writing and communication skills
Summer work is required.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY
Course #608
Grade 11 & 12
Full Year - 5 credits
(Preference given to Grade 12; If there is room in the course for Grade 11 students, a lottery will be conducted among students who have signed up)
The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of humans and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Summer reading and research is an expectation of this course. Students will be asked to complete challenging cumulative assessments. They will be required to not only know each concept, but also be able to apply each principle in proper context. Students will learn all major theorists and understand each one’s contribution to psychology. Students who take Advanced Placement Psychology will be prohibited from taking General Psychology. Students will be required to read additional assigned works during the summer and throughout the school year. Students enrolled in this AP course are expected to take the AP exam.
Prerequisites:
Approval of the 10th or 11th grade Social Studies teacher and/or approval of the department chair.
A minimum grade of “A-” in the previous year’s history (Honors) class, or a minimum of a “A“ in the previous year’s history (College I) class.
Strong reading, writing and communication skills.
Summer work is required.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Course #609
Grade 11 & 12
Full Year - 5 credits
(Preference given to Grade 12; If there is room in the course for Grade 11 students, a lottery will be conducted among students who have signed up)
The AP American Government and Politics course is a unique college level political science class that examines the complex and fascinating inner workings of the government "of the people". It looks at the foundations and origins of our democratic government as well as the important role of constitutional principles in protecting our treasured civil rights and liberties. This class also pays close attention to the current political climate we live in by examining pressing current events shaping our very world today, in particular crucial elections such as the pivotal and somewhat heated one looming in 2024. Lastly, as political scientists and active citizens, we will try to understand the increasingly polarizing political environment that we now live in and understand the implications of it in shaping not only important laws but also social behavior that influences us one and all. Students will be required to read additional assigned works during the summer and throughout the school year. Students enrolled in this AP course are expected to take the AP exam.
Prerequisites:
Approval of the 10th or 11th grade Social Studies teacher and/or approval of the department chair.
A minimum grade of a “B” in the previous year’s history (Honors/AP) class, or a minimum of a “B+” in the previous year’s history (College) class.
Strong reading, writing and communication skills
Summer work is required.
Social Studies & Business Department Chair
Kathleen Emerson
kemerson@email.medfield.net
kemerson@email.medfield.net