Social Studies

Minimum Required to Graduate: 3 standard credits & 1 verified credit

SOL’s: World Geography, World History I, World History II, VA/US History

Level 2 = Average, .0 wt

Level 3 = Honors, .5 wt

Level 4 and AP (Advanced Placement) = 1.0 wt

WORLD GEOGRAPHY (2210)

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Study the world’s peoples, places, and environments, with emphasis on world regions

• Center on the world’s population and cultural characteristics, landforms and climates, economic development, and migration and settlement patterns

• Spatial concepts used to study interactions between humans and their environments

• Emphasis on application of geographic concepts and skills in daily life and application of geographic information to decision making

WORLD HISTORY I:

WORLD HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY TO 1500 (2215)

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Explore the historical development of people, places, and patterns of life from ancient times until 1500 AD

• Investigate the origins, beliefs, traditions, customs, spread and effects of major world religions

• Compare selected civilizations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas in terms of chronology, location, geography, social structures, forms of government, economy, and contributions

• Study the origins of our heritage using inquiry, research, and technology skills

• Challenge students to think like historians using primary and secondary sources

WORLD HISTORY II:

WORLD HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY, 1500 - PRESENT (2216)

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Explore the historical development of people, places, and patterns of life from ancient times from 1500 AD to present

• Compare the locations and culture of empires in Western Europe, India, China, Japan, sub-Saharan African and Central America

• Analyze patterns of social, economic, and political change in the late Medieval period, including the emergence of nation-states

• Analyze the historical developments of the Renaissance and the Reformation

• Analyze the impact of European expansion into the America, Africa, and Asia

• Analyze scientific, political and economic changes since 1500 AD

• Study the origins of our heritage using inquiry, research, and technology skills

• Challenge students to think like historians using primary and secondary sources

VIRGINIA & U.S. HISTORY (2360)

Grade 11

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Learn political, economic, social, and cultural development of the US

• Trace historical development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the present

• Examine American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people (individuals and groups), and events in US/VA history

• Emphasis on recent US history

• Challenge students to think like historians using primary and secondary sources

VIRGINIA AND U.S. GOVERNMENT (2440)

Grade 12

Levels: 2, 3-Honors

• Examine fundamental constitutional principles, rights and responsibilities of citizenship, political culture, policy-making process at each level of government, and operation of the United States market economy

• Identify personal character traits that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in the civic life of an increasingly diverse democratic society

• Discuss constitutional issues of governmental power and guarantees of civil liberties

• Engage in structured debates and simulations

• Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate news reports, advertisements, and election campaigns

SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES (2371)

Level 2

• One semester class (1/2 credit)

• Study the history and culture of early African civilization and empires

• Study the largest forced migration which sparked the creation of the New World

• Study African-American participation from the American Revolutionary War through the Civil Rights Movement

• Become familiar with the foundation of African American life today

PSYCHOLOGY (2900)

Level 2

• Explore basic theories and principles of psychology

• Gain understanding about personal capacities or growth

• Study individual and group behavior, the effect of internal and external stimuli, and the interactions of individuals

• Increase critical thinking and improve communication through demonstrations, experiments and simulations

• Emphasis on principles of learning, conditioning, memory and thought and stages of human development

SOCIOLOGY (2500)

Level 2

· One semester class (1/2 credit)

· Study of people and their activities in the social group

· Learn about pioneers in the field and their methodologies

· Emphasis placed on concept of socialization from infancy to adulthood centering on the growth of self and influences shaping that growth

· Study the impact of institutions upon society

SOCIAL STUDIES ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (2212)

• Students must take the SOL end-of-course test for World Geography

• This course can substitute for World Geography

• Systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use and alterations of Earth

• Apply spatial concepts and analysis to understand social organization and environmental consequences

• Identify and evaluate regions and the changing interactions between them

• Prepare for Advanced Placement examination

• Use advanced writing skills to analyze readings, maps, and spatial data

• Students have the option to take the AP Human Geography exam

AP WORLD HISTORY (2380)

Students must take the SOL end-of-course test for World History II

• This course can substitute for World History II (World History from 1500 to Present)

• Develop greater understanding of the growth and spread of societies from 8000 B.C.E. to present

• Examine the nature of changes in global history the causes and consequences, and comparisons among major societies

• Understand how culture, institutions, technology and geography have shaped world history

• Study the origins of our heritage using inquiry, research, and technology skills

• Prepare for AP exams

• Use advanced writing skills to analyze readings including primary resources

• Students have the option to take the AP World History exam

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY (2219)

• Students must take the SOL end-of-course test for Virginia and United States History

• This course can substitute for Virginia and United States History, which is required for graduation

• Trace historical development of American ideas and institutions from colonization to the present

• Read historical material critically, weigh historical evidence, and arrive at conclusions

• Students have the option to take the AP American History exam

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY (2399)

• Students must take the SOL end-of-course test for World History II

• This course can substitute for World History II

• Providing basic narrative of events and movements in modern European History since 1450

• Principle themes include cultural, economics, political, and social developments which impact present-day society

• Analyze historical evidence and interpretation

• Demonstrate the ability to express historical understanding in writing

• Students have the option to take the AP European History exam

AP US GOVERNMENT and POLITICS (2445)

Grade 12

• This course can substitute for VA/US Government

• Study concepts used to interpret American politics

• Analyze case studies

• Explore institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political reality

• Develop deep understanding of politics and government in the United States from different perspectives

• Prepare for AP exam

• Use advanced writing skills to analyze readings including primary resources, news reports, and election materials

• Students have the option to take the AP Government and Politics exam

AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS (2450)

Grade 12

• This course can substitute for VA/US Government

• Introduces students to fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes in a variety of country settings

• Students will compare their own political system to others

• Prepare for AP Comparative Government & Politics exam

• Emphasis on concepts of comparative politics

• Students have the option to take the AP Comparative Government & Politics exam

AP MICROECONOMICS/AP MACROECONOMICS ( 2802/2803)

• Offered on alternating years

• Analyze the principles of economics that apply to an economic system

• Emphasize the study of national income and price determination

• Develop familiarity with performance measures, growth, and international economics

• Understand the global marketplace

• Understand government, business, and individual interaction within the market economy

• Emphasize functions of product markets, factor markets, and the role of government in promoting efficiency and equity in the economy

• Prepare for AP exam

• Use advanced writing skills to analyze readings and graphs

• Students have the option to take the AP Micro or Macro Economics exam

AP PSYCHOLOGY (2902)

• Study biological basis of behavior, developmental psychology, personality, testing and individual difference, treatment of psychological disorders, and social psychology

• Examines basic principles and theories of psychology

• Emphasis on learning and cognitive process, human development, understanding of basic problems of relationships to self and others, and choice selection

• Prepare for AP exam

• Use advanced writing skills to analyze readings

• Students have the option to take the AP Psychology exam