Social Studies
Required Courses
2115: Freshman Social Seminar (Required)
Grade Level: 9
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Students will learn and practice how to proficiently apply introductory civic skills through a variety of opportunities over the course of this seminar. Students will participate in critical thinking, reading and discussion activities to develop their understanding of the roles of the three branches of government, the role of various levels of government (Federal, State and Local) as well as various social issues relevant to the six Preamble goals. This course will include media literacy skills, digital citizenship, civic values, learning strategies, dialogue, collaboration and presentation skills.
2120: American Civics (Required)
Grade Level: Beginning with class of 2025 this will be a 12th grade required course
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Students will be introduced to the concept of democracy and citizen engagement as well as a brief review of the creation of our government by our founding fathers. Students will learn the components of the Constitution and its history, the Amendments and the three branches of government. The class includes a Mock Congress, weekly current events and a service learning requirement.
2132: World History (Required)
Grade Level: 9
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Students will gain an understanding of important events and individuals throughout world history. Students will leave this class with a greater understanding of the world around us and how world events have influenced present times.
2140: Growth of America (Required)
Grade Level: 10
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Study of American History from the Jeffersonian era leading up to the Roaring ‘20s. Study will include primary source document reading and analysis. Students will complete an ancestral interview project.
2141: Modern America (Required)
Grade Level: 10
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Study of American History from The Roaring ‘20s to the War on Terror. Study will include primary source document readings and analysis. Students will complete a major research documentary project.
2143: Economics (Required)
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This course is an introduction to Economics. Students will explore the decision-making process and learn about how groups and individuals make choices to meet their wants and needs. The purpose of this class is to look at the framework of our national economic system (macroeconomics) and see how all of us individually play a role in the system. During the semester, students will learn about globalization, international trade, supply/demand, banking/credit, taxes, and more.
2143H: Economics Hybrid (Required)
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: See course description above and Hybrid Learning description on page 5.
2154: Human Geography (Required)
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Human geography focuses on how people make places, how we organize space and society, how we interact with each other and how we make sense of others and ourselves in our region and world. This course will examine the location of different aspects of geography, the reason for the observed patterns and the significance of the distribution. Topics will include Population, Migration, Folk and Pop Culture, Language, Religion, Political Geography, Development, Agriculture, Industry, Services, Urban Patterns, and Resource Issues.
Social Studies Elective Courses
2155: Current Social Issues
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: CSI investigates contemporary social issues that impact the United States now and in the future. Students demonstrate mastery through the development and completion of a required academic portfolio, and by creating multiple episodes of their own podcast. Writing essays, learning the research process and working in small group situations are important components of the course.
2156: Sociology
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Sociology is the study of human behavior and individuals’ relationships with various human groups. The course will study human cultures, the individual’s integration into culture and contemporary cultural problems. Students will create an original research project in which they will use various research techniques (surveys, observations, statistical analysis).
2157: Psychology
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This introductory psychology course studies the science of the human brain and its functions, especially those affecting behavior. Course material will help students begin the process of being able to better understand themselves and other people. Major units of study include the history of general psychological theories, brain structure and functions, the learning process, brain development and behavior, psychology of personality and abnormal psychology. This course requires consistent reading and use of critical thinking and analysis skills. Students will be responsible for individual coursework outside of the classroom setting as this class may meet as few as 2 days per week or as many as 5 days per week in person. *THIS CLASS IS OFFERED AS A HYBRID ONLINE COURSE. SEE PAGE 4 FOR GUIDELINES.
2157H: Psychology Hybrid
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: See course description above and Hybrid Learning description on page 5.
2159: Diverse Perspectives
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This course will examine the many diverse groups within Minnesota and in the United States (racial, ethnic, gender and religious). Through the various readings, lecture and research students will understand the many issues surrounding minorities in the United States, i.e. prejudice and discrimination. This course will give both a contemporary and historic view of the minorities and will complement the student’s background in United States History. Students are expected to be open-minded and have a respectful attitude.
2164: Minnesota History
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: This course will examine Minnesota’s history from pre-European exploration to the 21st Century. There will be an emphasis on local history.
College-Level Social Studies Courses
2165: College In the Schools (CIS) - Psychology
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Students must be in the top 30% of their class OR completion of appeal process.
Credits: Upon successful completion of this course, students will earn 4 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities credits in Psychology 1001 and 1 NPHS social studies elective credit.
Course Description: This hybrid course is an introduction to the scientific study of human behavior. It introduces the problems, methods, and findings of modern psychology. Lectures are presented online by professors from the University of Minnesota Department of Psychology and the Institute of Child Development, then discussed in class with the high school instructor for further comprehension. Students see the same lectures as college students, use the same text, review the same discussion material and are given the same exams as students at the U of M. Extensive individual work outside of the classroom setting will be required as this class may meet as few as 2 days per week or as many as 5 days per week in person. There will be a field trip to the U of M campus to meet online faculty members.
2166: College Political Science
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Juniors must have a 3.0 GPA and be in the top 1/3 of their class OR completion of appeal process.
Seniors must have a 3.0 GPA and be in the top 1/2 of their class OR completion of appeal process.
Credits: Upon successful completion of this course, students will earn 3 Southwest Minnesota State University credits in Political Science 120 and 1 NPHS social studies elective credit.
Course Description: This college-level course is an introduction to politics and government in the United States: constitutional origins and development, major institutions, parties, interest groups, elections, participation and public opinion. Recent trends in political science are emphasized. Students have the opportunity to track a bill through the MN Legislative Session, and attend a field trip to the MN State Capitol including a MN Supreme Court Oral Argument. Assessment will include short written essays, current event analysis, weekly discussions, presentations, two summative midterms, and a final exam. Most weeks meet in person 3 days per week with the other 2 days being non-mandatory time built in for reading the chapter and discussion prep.
2176: College in the Schools (CIS) US History I
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Students must be in the top 30% of their class OR completion of appeal process.
Credits: Upon successful completion of this course, students will earn 3 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities credits in History 1307 and 1 NPHS social studies elective credit.
Course Description: This course surveys the political, economic, and social history of the republic through Reconstruction. It examines the beginnings of American history from the early colonial period through the Civil War. The course offers a broad and innovative survey of three tumultuous centuries of conflict and change by exploring such as: How did the diverse peoples on the North American continent envision and struggle for a new world order? Whose hopes were realized, and whose were thwarted? Students will investigate those questions by exploring several recurring topics throughout the semester: the concept of freedom and its’ changing meanings, the transition to capitalism; native peoples’ negotiation of the European presence, the diverse meanings of “liberty” and “democracy,” and the ongoing existence of slavery in American life.