Social Studies

Designed for students with average reading and writing skills

This course will examine world history from the development of empires through World War I.  It will help students to develop an understanding of the forces of history that led to the dominance of Europe, the development of Asia, and the causes of global conflict.  Topics studied will include the Renaissance & Reformation, the development of nationalism, the industrial revolution and WWI.

Designed for students with above-average reading and writing skills

This course will examine world history from the development of empires through World War I.  It will help students to develop an understanding of the forces of history that led to the dominance of Europe, the development of Asia, and the causes of global conflict.  Topics studied will include the Renaissance & Reformation, the development of nationalism, the industrial revolution and WWI.

Designed for students with high reading speed and comprehension skills as well as above average writing ability

This course will examine world history from the development of empires through World War I.  It will help students to develop an understanding of the forces of history that led to the dominance of Europe, the development of Asia, and the causes of global conflict.  Topics studied will include the Renaissance & Reformation, the development of nationalism, the industrial revolution and WWI.

Designed for students with above average reading and writing skills. 

The 10th grade history class will introduce students to the broad themes in the history of America, including the foundations of our government, immigration, race and ethnicity, social and political reform, major conflicts, contested meanings of freedom, cycles of prosperity and recession, popular culture, modernity, and rights movements.  The class will start with a review of the Constitution and end at the start of WWII. Students will also develop ways of thinking historically through critical analysis of primary and secondary sources; identifying and evaluating perspectives in history; and formulating and defending an educated opinion on historical and modern events. 

Prerequisite: A grade of A-or above in Modern World or a B or above in Honors Modern World and the recommendation of the Modern World teacher. Designed for those students with strong reading comprehension and writing skills. 

The 10th grade history class will introduce students to the broad themes in the history of America, including the foundations of our government, immigration, race and ethnicity, social and political reform, major conflicts, contested meanings of freedom, cycles of prosperity and recession, popular culture, modernity, and rights movements.  The class will start with a review of the Constitution and end at the start of WWII. Students will also develop ways of thinking historically through critical analysis of primary and secondary sources; identifying and evaluating perspectives in history; and formulating and defending an educated opinion on historical and modern events. 

Designed for students with above average reading and writing skills

America in the Modern World is a blend of modern American and World history that picks up where the 9th and 10th grade history classes left off. Students start with the Great Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe and follow the path of history all the way up until current day. Topic will include: WWII, the Cold War, civil rights movement around the world, genocide and terrorism. 

Prerequisite: A grade of A-or above in American History or a B or above in Honors American History and the recommendation of the American History teacher. Designed for those students with strong reading comprehension and writing skills.

America in the Modern World Honors is a blend of modern American and World history that picks up where the 9th and 10th grade history classes left off. Students start with the Great Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe and follow the path of history all the way up until current day. Topic will include: WWII, the Cold War, civil rights movement around the world, genocide and terrorism. Students will also develop ways of thinking historically through critical analysis of primary and secondary sources; identifying and evaluating perspectives in history; and formulating and defending an educated opinion on historical and modern events. 

Prerequisite: 11th and 12th graders only

The goal of this course is to make students aware of the general functioning of government at the local, state and national levels and how students may assume an active role as citizens. Responsible citizenship and decision –making processes will be emphasized.

Prerequisite: A- average in the latest honors Social Studies course and approval by the Social Studies Department faculty. 

This course is designed as a college level course to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials of United States History. Students will be prepared to enter college prepared for intermediate and advanced college courses. Students will learn to assess historical materials — their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability and their importance — and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. This course will develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informal judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement U.S. History examination.

Prerequisite: A- average in the latest honors Social Studies course and approval by the Social Studies Department faculty. AP Psychology is only open to 12th grade students. 

The Advanced Placement course in Psychology is designed similarly to an introduction to psychology course in college. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior. The topics covered will be similar to those in an introductory college class: social psychology, history, careers, theories, and research methods, biological bases of behavior, sensation/perception, consciousness, learning, memory, cognition, development, personality, stress, disorders and treatment. The course will include nightly rigorous reading assignments accompanied by critical thinking questions. Numerous assessment methods will be used, including vocabulary quizzes, unit exams, research assignments and free-response writing questions. Various class demonstrations and activities will also be incorporated to encourage student participation and application of psychological concepts in the “real world.”

Prerequisite: A grade of A- or higher in your latest social studies course and the recommendation of the department.

If you are interested in exploring the foundation and development of the world we live in today, enjoy reading and are a good writer, AP World History may be the course for you. The course is a college level examination of major concepts in world history from approximately 1200 CE to the present that helps students develop historical thinking skills as they learn about the past. Five themes of equal importance — focusing on the environment, cultures, state-building, economic systems, and social structures — provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation throughout the course. AP World History encompasses the history, politics, and cultures of the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with special focus on historical developments and processes that cross multiple regions.

Prerequisite: A grade of A- or higher in your latest social studies course and the recommendation of the department. AP Government is only open to 11th & 12th grade students..

Advanced Placement US Government and Politics provides a college level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, institutions, policies, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. More specifically, we will learn about institutions such as Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the courts, public opinion and the media, political participation and voting behavior, political parties, interest groups, civil liberties and rights, and policy making.  To explore these subjects, we will have debates, seminars, lecture and discussion, cooperative learning activities, and independent research. By the end of the course, you will be able to analyze current and historical political events like a political scientist, develop accurate, well-reasoned, thoughtful arguments that acknowledge and grapple with alternative political perspectives, and participate meaningfully and thoughtfully in discussions and debates that are currently shaping American politics and society. 

Prerequisite: 10th, 11th and 12th graders only

In this course, students will examine the social science of criminology. The course will incorporate materials for studying crime, criminals, criminal behavior, and corrections. Utilizing criminal justice statistics, current conceptual theories, and a wide array of primary sources, students will explore the history of criminology and how criminologists influence the world around us. Students will evaluate social patterns to identify trends of crime in the United States. After developing the framework of criminology, the course will include topics related to the impact of crime on victims and methods for applying statistical data in crime prevention, and ways to prevent crime. Ultimately, students will identify the forces that cause crime and develop a model for applying criminological theories to modern day issues.

Prerequisite: 10th, 11th and 12th graders only

Current Events/Current Issues is a course structured to give the student an understanding of the events and issues (primarily political, social, and economic) that are having an impact on the world in which we live. In addition to studying current events and current issues, students will also study the context (primarily geography, individuals, IGOs, and NGOs) of the events and issues that are shaping the world we live in.

This course invites students to explore their identity, values, and role in shaping a more equitable world. Through relevant readings, dynamic discussions, and collaborative community-building activities, students will deepen their understanding of social justice issues and develop practical skills for advocacy and change. The course culminates in a capstone project where students will design and implement a social justice initiative, turning their learning into meaningful action in their community.

A survey of psychology through its theories and theorists. The course features studies of the history of psychology, psychological research methods, the brain, body and behavior, state of consciousness, dream theories and human development.  Students will be required to prepare a major project or paper as a part of the course.

Prerequisites: Chemistry with a C average or better. Open to Juniors and Seniors. 

Dual listing as Science and Social Studies Department (2.5 credits from each department). Please note that this course does not count towards the core requirement in social studies.

In this course, offered jointly by the Social Studies and Science Departments, students will explore criminal justice theories and examine forensic science. Utilizing statistics, characteristics of criminal behavior, chemistry, biology and other scientific fields of study, students will apply the core knowledge of the course to actual criminal cases. Students will become skilled at such analytical methods as securing crime scenes, collecting and preserving evidence, fingerprinting and DNA analysis. This course will cover the various biological, psychological and sociological aspects of crime in U.S. society. Students will be provided with an ability to perform basic forensic techniques and use appropriate scientific procedures that follow established guidelines for admissible evidence. Students will document results and draw conclusions employing criminology and forensic terminology. Students will explore such topics as juvenile justice and capital punishment. Within a lab setting, students will gain hands-on experience in the use of current investigative techniques. Participating in a mock crime scene and trial will be the capstone project for the course.

An Honors contract is available with approval of the teachers. Students who have taken Criminal Justice are also eligible to enroll.

In this course, students will explore the American legal system. Using the U.S. Constitution as a foundation, students will investigate landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases related to subjects found in the Bill of Rights. Coursework will emphasize individual rights and the influence laws have on our world today. Students will gain a greater understanding of the inner workings of our legal system through a wide array of activities and lessons. We will debate Supreme Court decisions, experience mock trial settings, and discuss the scope and meaning of the Constitution as it affects our daily lives. Topics for the course include gun rights/gun control, religion freedoms, questions of free speech, civil rights, and other matters facing the United States in current times. The course includes a Capstone project, the Government Action Plan (GAP). We will work collaboratively to define a problem, propose, build and implement a solution strategy, and communicate the results to our broader community. Students may take this course for College Prep, or Honors Credit. 

The objective of this course is to offer students greater insight and knowledge into the various areas of abnormal psychology including: addiction, stress, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, organic and behavior disorders. 

Students will examine the roots of hate and acts of hatred in an attempt to understand history not as a series of inevitable events, but as a sequence of events resulting from individual actions and decisions through time. Students will examine their roles and responsibilities as American and global citizens and the potential for the wide reaching impact that every individual has daily. These themes will be examined through a series of readings, videos, activities and reflections. Activities will incorporate technology, include guest speakers and enable students to demonstrate expertise through a wide array of projects. The foundation of the course will be historical case studies of the genocides in Armenia, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Sudan, and the Holocaust. By examining acts of genocide, students will have the opportunity to reflect not only upon the universality of racism and social injustice, but also upon the importance of global awareness. Students may take the course for honors credit. 

Prerequisite: 11th and 12th graders only

This course will explore the history, culture, politics, and economics of the Middle East from 1850 to the present. Students will explore several historical topics through primary and secondary resources. Topics include: the role of religion in the region’s history; the role of oil and other economic issues in the development of the modern middle-east; Pan-Arab movements, foreign involvement in the region since the decline of the Ottoman Empire; the role of the Zionist movement and the formation of Israel; the wars and conflicts in the region since 1947; and recent developments in the region. 

This course will focus on the social, economic, political, and intellectual developments in Europe from the beginning of the Cold War to the present day. Students will discuss practical questions about the forces that have shaped Europe since the end of World War II. Particular attention will be paid to the disintegration of the Soviet Union, efforts to build a European Union, and the role of modern European nations in a rapidly changing world. In addition, students will explore Europe’s quest for international security in the emergence of the nuclear age. While investigating broader issues, the course will also draw attention to localized European issues, including civil war in Bosnia, the troubles in Northern Ireland, and other events that have impacted Europe since 1945.

The major goal of this course is to introduce the student to the way in which nations and non-government entities operate, compete, and cooperate with each other. This goal will be accomplished by looking at international laws, international organizations, multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, and threats to international security. A significant amount of time will be dedicated to the foreign policy of the United States with regard to other countries (Russia, China, Middle East and North Korea) and the foreign policies between other countries (Pakistan and India).

For students who want to incorporate more independent study and technology into their learning experience, this interdisciplinary course will help them to achieve their goal. This course is designed to look at various historic events, philosophies, and trends and create presentations that will allow others to both understand what happened and why these events are important. Projects may include, but are not limited to, the rise of Darwinism, the influenza epidemic of 1918 and its effects on Ipswich and the North Shore, the validity of Ipswich’s claim to be the “Birthplace of American Independence, and other topics of interest to the class. The course will focus on the research process and will create projects that will incorporate video, audio, Internet/web, podcast and other relevant and appropriate technologies.