Social Studies

This is a non-credit course specifically designed for students who are in jeopardy of not passing or who have to retake the Global History and Geography Regents Exam or US History Regents Exam. Students will receive individualized instruction that focuses on skill development and the content areas needed to be successful in the class or on the Regents Exam.

This course is the first of two years of Global History and Geography that students take in high school. New York State requires two credits of Global History as a graduation requirement. This course is based on the New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies and the Social Studies Framework adopted by the Board of Regents in 2017.  The class is taught through a regional format organized around themes and concepts beginning with prehistory and continues to the present day with the study of Africa, Latin America and Asia. Students will also be introduced to European History prior to AD 1750. The course requires the continued development of the following skills: note taking, outlining, researching, technology integration, world geography, and critical thinking with a focus on historical terms.  Essay writing, reading comprehension and analyzing historical documents are all major components of the course.  Special emphasis is placed on writing Enduring Issues Essay.

This is an honors level course that is designed to prepare students for the Global History & Geography Regents exam as well as the AP European History course. Students study themes and concepts beginning with prehistory and continuing to the present in the study of Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Students will also be introduced to European History prior to 1750 CE. The course requires extensive independent reading and research. There is emphasis placed on critical analysis and research. Special emphasis will be placed on the Enduring Issues Essay.

Global History and Geography 2R is the 2nd social studies credit required by New York State for graduation. This course is based on the New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies and the Social Studies Framework adopted by the Board of Regents in 2014.  This class is a study of world history starting in AD 1750 and continues to modern times. This course is taught chronologically and by theme and region. Several concepts and Enduring Issues will be woven throughout the course including industrialization, nationalism, imperialism, conflict, technology, and the interconnectedness of the world. Special emphasis will be placed on the Enduring Issues Essay. The Global History & Geography Regents Exam will be administered in June.

Advanced Placement European History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and developments in European history. In great depth and rich detail, students will study the history of Europe by examining secondary and primary sources. This course requires extensive reading and writing. Heavy emphasis is placed on developing critical writing skills, particularly document analysis. In May, AP students are required to take the AP European History exam. In June, students will take the Global History & Geography Regents exam.  This course may be substituted for Global History and Geography 2 (R).

This course focuses on the understanding of the basic structure, function, and operation of the American government. Our constitutional foundations and the many ways it has been tested in the past and present are primary concerns.  All aspects of the United States, as a developing industrial and post-industrial nation, are explored. This course culminates with the US History & Government Regents Exam that is administered in June.

This is an in-depth study of American History from colonial times to the present. Students will use new factual knowledge and will build on analytical skills developed in AP European History to assess and interpret original sources. This course demands that students are more self- disciplined in regards to their reading and research. In May, all enrolled students are required to take the AP US History exam. In June, students will take the United States History and Government Regents exam. This course may be substituted for United States History & Government (R).

This course is a study of the economic structure of the United States, its operation in this country, and its interdependence in the world today. The major economic concepts will be explored including an emphasis on personal finance and entrepreneurship. The elements of microeconomics and macroeconomics will also be discussed.

This course provides an introduction to modern Western (neoclassical) economic thought. Beginning with the individual in the simplest of situations, a one-person society, the course moves step by step to develop a model of a complex society based on division of labor and exchange through markets. The process takes students from the microeconomic to the macroeconomic level, emphasizing the connection between these two perspectives. Students will examine the benefits, as well as the problems, inherent in a market- oriented economy. The course prepares students to analyze and understand the ongoing economic policy debate between interventionists and non-interventionists. Students will also develop a strong foundation in neoclassical analysis that is applicable to other academic fields as well as to students’ everyday experiences. The course is rigorous, but not heavily mathematical.  This is a college course offered through Syracuse University, and students paying the (discounted) fee for SU credit will have the opportunity to earn three college credits.

In Participation in Government, emphasis is placed on the interaction between citizens and their government on every level. Students will develop policy analysis skills and techniques, and will apply these to important issues. Students will also be required to complete citizenship projects.

This course focuses on the history of major domestic policies: welfare, civil rights, economic policy, environmental policy, education, criminal justice, and health policy. Students assess the relevance of history to current political debates and analysis of public policy. Group workshops and debates will enable students to engage in active learning while grappling with these larger questions.  This college course is offered through SUNY Albany and students paying the (discounted) fee for SUNY Albany credit will have the opportunity to earn three college credits.

This elective is a modern European and world history course covering 1860-1946. The main focus of the class is World War II from a global standpoint. The causes, famous leaders, generals, political systems, military battles, tactics, weapons, technologies, and the results of these conflicts are studied. Other major topics include World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, the Russian Revolution, Communism, Fascism, Appeasement, Blitzkrieg, the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Stalingrad, Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the atomic bomb, and the Nuremberg Trials. This course includes movies, maps, pictures, historical documentaries, and actual combat footage to help students understand some of the biggest events in human history. Assessments include short essays, class participation, movie reports, unit exams, and a presentation which counts as the final exam for the course.

This course will offer students the opportunity to explore the Vietnam War within the context of the Cold War era, with emphasis placed upon the issues in the United States and in Vietnam.  During the semester, students will examine the origins of American Cold War policy and diplomacy, the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, the escalation and progression, the anti-war movement, personal experiences of the Vietnam veteran, media coverage, the peace process, and the legacy of the war.  As America's first "television war", film and video will bring alive the issues. Active participation is required (no essays!). In lieu of a final exam, students will prepare and present a research project of their choice.

This course provides an overview of sociological concepts through the analysis of theatrical and documentary films including The Breakfast Club, Mean Girls, Pretty in Pink, The Truman Show, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and many more. Sociology is the scientific study of social structure, examining human social behavior from a group, rather than an individual, perspective. Sociologists focus on the patterns of behavior shared by members of a group or society. The sociological perspective enables us to develop a sociological imagination—the ability to see the relationship between events in our personal lives and events in society.

This course provides an overview of the scientific study of human behavior. Some of the topics covered include patterns of behavior, developmental psychology, principles of learning, personality theory, dreams and their meaning, and abnormal psychology. This course is primarily a discussion driven class (no essays!) which culminates with a final exam paper on a topic of the student’s choosing.