Civics is a course that is designed to give students an exploration into various subjects and topics that appear in the Social Studies curriculum. The course will present a narrative of world history from the roots of democracy through the Present. The course traces the development of civilizations throughout the world. Themes include political change, economic development, the growth of science and technology, the effect of contact between culture, and creativity in the arts. The course will also examine the major principles of the American political system. Special emphasis will be placed on helping the student understand his/her role within the American political system.

This course introduces students to human geography beginning with the use of maps and other geographic representations, geospatial technologies, and spatial thinking to understand and communicate geographic information. Students will examine patterns and processes of how human characteristics and activities vary across Earth's surface and how human characteristics and activities vary across Earth's surface and how humans understand, use, and alter the surface of Earth. Conceptual in nature rather than place specific, this course is organized systematically around the topics of population and migration geography, economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, and urban geography. Students will also learn to employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human patterns and processes and their environmental consequences.

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 socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. The curriculum reflects the goals of the National Geography Standards.

World History from 1300: The Making of the Modern World is designed to assist students in understanding how people and countries of the world have become increasingly interconnected. In the last six hundred years, population growth, demand for resources, curiosity, and technology have converged to draw the distant corners of the world closer together. Critical thinking is focal to this course, which emphasizes on why and how people, ideas, and technology have made an impact on diverse groups of people. Covers from the mid 15th century up to the present day.

Recommendation: Human Geography Honors; AP Human Geography

The objective of the course is to increase the students’ understanding and appreciation of European history since 1450, while also preparing them to succeed on the AP European History exam. Students will be introduced to the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have played a fundamental role in shaping today’s world. The goals of AP European History are to develop (a) an understanding of the principal themes in modern European history, (b) an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, and (c) an ability to express historical understanding in writing. Students take the AP European History exam in May to determine if college credit will be rewarded for the course. This is a year-long course.

Recommendation: Must be a junior with successful completion of honors or AP social studies course. 

AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan 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 study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project.

Prerequisite: Must be a junior/3rd year of high school; World History Honors

This honors weighted course is a rigorous study of major historical developments in the United States. Students examine major historical developments from the age of discovery to the present. This course is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with problems and materials in United States history.

Prerequisite: Must be a junior/3rd year of high school

U.S. History and Constitution credit This survey course covers the social, economic and political developments in the United States from the earliest settlement of North America to the present. This span includes the Native Americans, establishment of colonies, creation of a new nation, the U.S. Constitution, territorial expansion to the West, Civil War and Reconstruction, industrialization and immigration of the late nineteenth century, and our nation’s role in world affairs in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Students will analyze historical documents, understand varying viewpoints, and evaluate the historical interpretation of others.

In AP U.S. History, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills 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. The course connections among historical developments in different times and places: American and national identity; work, exchange, and technology; geography and the environment, migration and settlement; politics and power; America in the world; American and regional culture; and social structures. 

Prerequisite: U. S. History

American Government covers institutions, people, processes, policies and powers at the national, state and local levels of government, and is linked with Economics. It provides a framework for understanding the origins and functions of government, the foundations of American democracy, and the basic principles of the American political system. This course is designed to encourage responsible and effective civic participation. Economics is the study of the American free enterprise economic system and helps students effectively use economic reasoning as workers, consumers and citizens. Emphasis is placed on the use of analytical and interpretive skills to make informed decisions based on evaluation of economic data, understanding of economic issues and knowledge concerning public policy. This course is to be completed during the senior year.

Prerequisite: US History Honors; AP US History

American Government covers institutions, people, processes, policies and powers at the national, state and local levels of government. It provides a framework for understanding the origins and functions of government, the foundations of American democracy, and the basic principles of the American political system. This course is designed to encourage responsible and effective civic participation. It emphasizes the use of analytical and interpretive skills so that students are able to evaluate and defend political positions with sound reasoning and evidence.

Economics is a study of the American free enterprise economic system and is linked with American Government Seminar. It covers microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. This course helps students effectively use economic reasoning as workers, consumers and citizens. Emphasis is placed on the use of analytical and interpretive skills to make informed decisions based on evaluation of economic data, understanding of economic issues and knowledge concerning public policy.