Syllabus

MODERN WORLD HISTORY COURSE SYLLABUS 

2025-2026

Course Description:  This course is aligned with the 2019 South Carolina Social Studies College and Career Standards for Modern World History and is designed to assist students in understanding how people and countries of the world have become increasingly interconnected beginning with the time period of 1300 to present. The creation of the Modern World developed through a series of global affairs and interactions (1450-1815), the rise of new governments and competition in the global community (1815-1918), the emergence of new world powers (1885-1950), and the world from World War II to present day (1933-present).  Inquiry is critical to this course in order to study the Modern World through trade, interactions of cultures, the creation of ideas and innovations along with revolutions that provide insight to create a citizen who has a global perspective. Historical thinking skills are necessary for studying periods of Modern World History.  Instruction should utilize the historical thinking skills for the twenty-first century that are listed with the content standards in each unit map:  Comparison, Causation, Periodization, Context, Continuities, Change, and Evidence.  These standards represent a continuum of tools, strategies, and perspectives that are necessary for the student’s understanding of social studies material and are aligned with the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate.

Course Units & Tentative Pacing:

3rd Quarter

Unit 1:  Foundations of Modern History

Unit 2: Networks and Exploration

Unit 3: Enlightenment and Revolution

Unit 4: Industrialization

Unit 5: Nationalism and Imperialism

4th Quarter

Unit 6 WWI and Aftermath

Unit 7 : World Power Struggle

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization

Unit 9: Globalization

Quarter Assessments:

40% Homework/Classwork/Quizzes

60% Test/Projects

Final Grade:

45%     1st/3rd Quarter 

45% 2nd/4th Quarter 

10% Final Exam 

Grading Scale

A 90-100 

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 59-0

Recommended/Required Reading

Textbook: Savaas World History Interactive.  This is a digital textbook provided through the student backpack and Google Classroom.  In addition, students will be supplied with content readings and information while textbook adoption decisions are pending.  All content will be available to students in the Google Classroom or printed by request. 

Please see your teacher’s website for lesson plans, contact information, and any class updates.