Social Studies

Human Geography - CP (330700CW)

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Strongly recommended for all 9th graders

In Human Geography CP emphasis is placed on providing the student with an understanding of the major world regions and their relationship with the US.  The course follows the guidelines established by the National Geography Standards.  The first segment will focus on map skills, internal and external global forces, the earth’s structure, climate patterns and population patterns.  The remaining portion of the course will involve exploring the political, cultural and physical make-up of each of the world’s major regions including North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australia.  The ultimate goal is to stimulate interest in world events while fostering an attitude of tolerance. 

Human Geography - H (330700HW)

Grade: 9

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation 

This course provides academically talented students an opportunity to experience a more in-depth survey of Human Geography.  This course emphasizes the study of the five themes of geography through research and analysis of the modern world.  Students will study the physical, economic, political, social and environmental factors that shape our world today.  The students will examine the world by looking at current events and global trends through the use of primary and secondary source documents, multimedia, essay writing, debates, and other assigned projects.  

Human Geography - AP (337900AW)

Grade: 9

Prerequisite: “A” average in English 1 and Social Studies in 8th grade, teacher recommendation OR students must have the highest rating on their most recent SC Ready reading score (or equivalent from another state).   

AP Human Geography presents high school students with the curricular equivalent of an introductory college-level course in human geography.  Content is presented thematically rather than regionally and is organized around the discipline’s main subfields:  economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, and urban geography.  The approach is spatial and problem-oriented.  Case studies are drawn from all world regions, with an emphasis on understanding the world in which we live today.  Historical information serves to enrich analysis of the impacts of phenomena such as globalization, colonialism, and human-environment relationships on places, regions, cultural landscapes, and patterns of interaction. 

Modern World History - CP (330600CW)

Grades: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Strongly recommended for all 10th graders

Modern World History CP involves the study of major civilizations of the past and their contributions to the world as it exists today.  Students will analyze why, when and where civilizations developed, declined and influenced culture in the modern world. 

Modern World History – Honors         (330600HW)

Grades: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: C or higher in previous social studies course

Modern World History Honors is a comprehensive study of world history and human interaction from the Roman Empire through the problems of the present day.  The course includes the development and evolution of politics, economics, and cultures in the emergence of the modern world.  Students will be expected to read supplemental literary selections and to engage in critical analysis of primary sources and cultural comparisons. There is a strong analytical writing component and research skills are expected.  This is a required course for students who plan to take AP European History.

AP World History: Modern         (337700AW)

Grades: 10 

Prerequisite: Requirements set by the Social Studies Department. 

In AP World History: Modern, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from 1200 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change over time. The course provides six themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation. 

AP European History          (337600AW)

Grades: 11, 12

Prerequisite: Requirements set by the Social Studies Department.

In AP European History, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from approximately 1450 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change over time. The course also provides seven themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: interaction of Europe and the world, economic and commercial development, cultural and intellectual development, states and other institutions of power, social organization and development, national and European identity, and technological and scientific innovations.

United States History - CP   (332001CW) 

Grade: 11

This course provides a general survey of the major political, diplomatic, economic, and social developments in the United States since the settlement of North America.  Current events in domestic and foreign policy are developed within the context of the American experience. This course emphasizes the use of historical documents and developing the analytical writing skills that are needed for college level work. U.S. History is required by the state for graduation.  Students are required to take the state End-of-Course exam. This exam counts 20 percent of the student’s final grade.

United States History – H               (332000HW)

Grade 11

Prerequisite: B or higher World Geography Honors or World History Honors

United States History and Constitution is a semester-long course in which students will study the major people, places, events, and ideas in United States History as well as the organization and function of our government and Constitution.  The course is designed to give students an understanding of the historical events that have shaped the nation and the ideas and people behind them. This course is also designed to give students the necessary information and skills to be successful on the South Carolina End of Course Examination that will be given upon completion of the course. This exam is worth 20% of the student’s overall grade for the year in the course. The Honors level course will involve a more in depth and writing intensive study of American History. Students will be expected to read and analyze primary and secondary sources, utilize research and writing skills to complete projects, use historical thinking skills to evaluate evidence relating to various events in history and be able to communicate thoughts and opinions well with fellow classmates and the teacher.

United States History - Pre-AP H/AP        (339910HW, 337220AW)  

Grade: 11

Prerequisite: Requirements set by Social Studies Department. Pre-AP and AP must be taken in consecutive semesters.

This course provides an opportunity for academically talented students to experience a survey history course taught at a college level.  An examination of political, social, economic, cultural, and foreign policy trends in America’s development is emphasized.  The students will examine the interpretation of historical events and trends, through the use of documents, essay writing, and special projects.  This is a college level and not a college preparatory course.  Success on the AP exam may render college credit.  Students are also required to take an End-of-Course exam provided by the SC Department of Education.  This exam counts 20 percent of the student’s final grade.

United States Government/Economics and Personal Finance- CP               (333000CH and 330800CH)

Grade: 12

Students will take U.S. Government for 9 weeks and Economics for 9 weeks. Students will earn .5 credit for each.

Government/Economics deals with the unique relationship between a democratic government and a capitalist economic system. Federal, state and local governments are closely examined to determine how our federal system works in the United States. Strong emphasis is placed on South Carolina government and the local government in York County. Economics takes an in-depth look into the workings of the capitalist system that is used in the United States. Supply and demand, labor, taxation, money and banking, the Federal Reserve: Investments and the markets, unemployment and inflation, and international trade are units that are covered extensively. A thorough understanding of the relationship between government and economics is conducted through each unit of study. 

United States Government/Economics and Personal Finance- H                 (333000HH and 330800HH)

Grade: 12

Students will take U.S. Government for 9 weeks and Economics for 9 weeks. Students will earn .5 credit for each.

Prerequisite: B or higher in U.S. History Honors or U.S. History AP

Honors Government and Economics is a semester-long course which satisfies the state graduation requirement as well as serving as a platform for college bound students.  It also is the pre-requisite for students wishing to move on to AP Economics and/or AP Government.  The Government portion of this course is designed to give students an understanding of the foundations of the Federal Government, individual rights, political participation, and the structure and function of the three branches of government.  The Economics portion of this course is designed to give students an understanding of different Economic systems, supply, demand, pricing, and market structures. The Honors level course will involve a more in-depth and rigorous study of both subjects, preparing the students for higher level learning. Students will be expected to read and analyze political primary and secondary sources as well as create and interpret Economic graphs and charts.  Students will learn higher level problem solving, critical thinking, and analytic skills in this course.

United States Government – AP            (337300AW)

Grade: 12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of U.S. Government/Economics Honors

AP United States Government and Politics is a one semester class taught as a college-level introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States.  Students will read and analyze U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions between political institutions and behavior.  They will read and interpret data, develop evidence-based arguments and engage in an applied civics or politics research-based project.

Macroeconomics - AP   (337400AW)

Grade: 12

Prerequisite: Government/Economics Honors successfully completed in first semester

AP Macroeconomics is a one-semester course offered during second semester.  The course focuses on a college level study of Macroeconomic concepts, including international trade, currency exchange, production possibilities and trade-offs, supply and demand, measures of economic performance, the circular flow of goods and services, fiscal and monetary policy, money and banking, productivity and unemployment, budget deficits and inflation, and the supply/demand side economic policies.  Students will have the opportunity to obtain possible college credit for Macroeconomics by passing the AP exam. Students will also have the opportunity to obtain possible college credit for Microeconomics if the student chooses to take and passes the Microeconomics AP exam. 

Psychology - CP (334000CW)

Grades: 11, 12

This course is designed for the college-bound student.  The students are introduced to a variety of topics including the study of the physiological foundations of behavior, learning, motivation, emotions, perception, human development, personality and abnormal behavior. Projects and readings are required.

Psychology - AP   (437100AW)

Grades: 11, 12  

Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation, honors level English or Social Studies recommended

Advanced Placement Psychology is a general overview of the field of psychology. This rigorous college-level course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each major subfield within psychology. Students also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Success on the AP exam may render college credit.

Criminal Justice - CP         (CP 339991CW)

Grades: 11, 12

Criminal Justice CP is the study of criminal law with an emphasis on the study of police, courts and theprison system. Criminal Justice CP involves the in-depth examination of people, institutions and

important societal issues.

Sociology - CP   (334500CW) 

Grades: 10, 11, 12

This course is designed for the college-bound student. The students will examine the interaction of social groups within various societies. Group projects, open forum discussions, and scientific research are utilized in studying social issues and problems. Students will apply their sociological skills to understand current social issues. There are required readings and writing assignments.

The History of Sport         (339940CW)

Grades: 11, 12      

The History of Sport will analyze the development and impact of sport(s) in America. Students will interpret research-based texts about the historical origins and development of sports in America as well as worldwide, political, social, cultural, economic, and intellectual concepts through the history of sport.  Students will understand why and how sports have become a popular cultural phenomenon and be able to develop products that will exhibit higher cognitive levels in the process.  Students will also learn a greater appreciation for the issues that have affected sports such as gender, discrimination, race, bias, and class economics and develop an awareness of these implications in their own lives. Last, students will also be able to communicate the influence that commercialization has within and outside the sports world.

Mock Trial - CP   (339920CW)

Grades: 10, 11, 12

The Mock Trial course includes the fundamentals of arguing a case in a court of law. Students will learn how to present evidence to a jury by following rules of evidence and trial procedures as a real lawyer would in a South Carolina courtroom. Students will have the opportunity to perform the roles of witness and attorney. This course also serves as a companion to the Mock Trial Team (students in the course are not required to join the Mock Trial team), and will use the case materials from this as the primary text.

Model United Nations/Debate – H                 (339930HW)

Grade: 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation

This course is designed around the structure and purpose of the United Nations.  It provides the student an opportunity to debate global issues from the perspective of another nation.  The course introduces the students to research, writing resolutions, debating skills, global issues, and the rules of procedure used at the UN.

Dual Credit Courses

FMSD offers “Dual Credit American Criminal Justice System and Dual Credit Introduction to Sociology” and “Dual Credit Government and Economics” through the University of South Carolina - Lancaster.  See Dual Credit page for more information.