social sciences

• AP Human Geography (10th history credit OR elective credit in 11/12)

The purpose of the Advanced Placement Human Geography is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to analyze human social organization and its environmental consequences. Students also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHG) students will learn to think geographically and ask critical geographic questions. Students will be expected to complete the majority of the reading and the writing assignments outside of class. Reading assignments from the texts will serve as a foundation for developing higher level thinking skills. Through the use of primary sources students will work to identify point-of-view, bias, and content, and then to apply that knowledge to support an argument. In the immediate future, these skills will help to prepare students for the free-response portion of the AP exam.

• AP World History (10th grade history credit)

A college level course, AP World History is designed as a year-long study intended to provide the student with an understanding of how the modern world was constructed by looking at change over time relating to the broad themes of trade, religion, politics, society, and technology. An emphasis is placed on determining how change concerning these themes has happened and continues to happen in different arenas of the world. Students will develop and hone analytical skills necessary to understand and draw conclusions using historical evidence and will be able to effectively communicate their understanding and analysis both verbally and in writing. In addition, students will be able to trace specific trends through periodization and discuss events, people, ideas, society and economic conditions concerning specific themes.Students will be expected to complete the majority of the reading and the writing assignments outside of class. Reading assignments from the texts will serve as a foundation for developing higher level thinking skills. Through the use of primary sources students will work to identify point-of-view, bias, and content, and then to apply that knowledge to support an argument. In the immediate future, these skills will help to prepare students for the free-response portion of the AP exam, specifically the document-based question (DBQ).

• AP US History (11th grade history credit)

AP U.S. History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university U.S. history course. In AP U.S. History students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical comparisons; and utilizing reasoning about contextualization, causation, and continuity and change over time. The course also provides seven themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places.

• AP US Government - 1st Semester & AP Comparative Government - 2nd Semester

AP U.S. Government and Politics is a college-level year-long course that not only seeks to prepare students for success on the AP Exam in May, but also provides students with the political knowledge and reasoning processes to participate meaningfully and thoughtfully in discussions and debates that are currently shaping American politics and society. It is important to note that this course is not a history course; it is a political science course that studies the interconnectedness of the different parts of the American political system as well as the behaviors and attitudes that shape this system and are the byproduct of this system. AP U.S. Government and Politics accomplishes these goals by framing the acquisition of political knowledge around enduring understandings and big ideas about American government and politics that can be applied to a set of disciplinary practices by using a set of reasoning processes.

AP Comparative Government is a course that will be approached thematically. Accordingly, students will be required to examine systemic themes among the six main countries of study: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. As we move through each unit, material on each of the six AP countries will be introduced via lectures, activities, and handouts and news articles. In addition, AP Comparative Government and Politics has five big ideas that drive instruction throughout the course: Power and Authority (PAU); Legitimacy and Stability (LEG); Democratization (DEM); Internal/External Forces (IEF); and Methods of Political Analysis (MPA). These big ideas will be taught explicitly across multiple units and will be revisited continually during instruction to make meaningful connections among course concepts.

• AP Economics (elective, can replace Economics & Personal Finance graduation requirement)

AP Economics is a year-long college level economics course that encompasses both AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. Students who complete this course will be prepared to take the AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics Exams that are administered by the College Board.

Microeconomics is the study of the economic principles concerning individual decision makers within an economy. The main areas of concentration include basic economic concepts; the nature and functions of product markets; factor markets; and, efficiency, equity, and the role of government. Students are expected to apply critical thinking and analytical skills to the understanding of the content. In addition, the use and understanding of charts and graphs related to microeconomic concepts and principles is highly important to the student’s success in mastering the content.

Macroeconomics is the study of the principles of economics which apply to an economic system as a whole. The main areas of concentration include a review of basic economic concepts; the measurement of economic performance; national income and price determination; the financial sector; inflation, unemployment, and stabilization policies; economic growth and prosperity; and international trade and finance. As with the microeconomics portion of the course, students are expected to apply critical thinking and analytical skills to the understanding of the content. In addition, the use and understanding of charts and graphs related to macroeconomic concepts and principles is highly important to the student’s success in mastering the content.

• AP Psychology (elective)

The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. Students learn about some of the explorations and discoveries made by psychologists over the past century.Students assess some of the differing approaches adopted by psychologists, including the biological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, and sociocultural perspectives. Most important, students come to an appreciation of how psychologists think (or at least an appreciation of the kind of critical analysis that psychologists espouse and hope to model in their words and actions).

• AP Seminar (elective)

AP Seminar is an inquiry-based course designed to engage students in cross-curricular conversations that explore real-world topics and issues from multiple perspectives. Students are empowered to collect and analyze information for relevancy, credibility, and validity, and to synthesize this information into crafted, evidence-based arguments presented in a variety of formats (written, multimedia, oral).

Students will write an Individual Research Report and put together a group presentation. They will also write an individual written report and give an individual presentation on stimulus material provided by College Board. There is an exam part in May. Most of the class is practicing writing skills, not content to learn. Work outside of class involves working on their written reports. Both presentations include an oral defense.

• AP Research (elective)

The AP Research course allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. In AP Research, students cultivate the skills and discipline necessary to conduct independent research and inquiry in order to produce and defend their scholarly work. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question they have generated, developed and revised. Through this inquiry, they learn research methods, employ ethical research practices, and access, analyze, and synthesize information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio (PREP). The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense component.

Please take a look at our AP Curriculum page for more information about AP Courses in Loudoun County Public Schools and at Lightridge High School.