Social Studies

The Social Studies curriculum has been developed to enhance student appreciation of the arts and sciences. We do this through a comprehensive look at history, government and social sciences. Students are required to take US History (1.0), American Government (1.0), World History (1.0) and Modern World History (.5) along with one semester (.5) history oriented elective class.

UNITED STATES HISTORY (9TH GRADE REQUIREMENT)

United States History II is an overview of American History and culture from 1877 to present. The course will be split into multiple academic levels and requires strong reading, writing and analytical skills. Additionally, the course will follow a chronological approach and will develop an understanding of political, economic, social and intellectual themes.

1503 CAREER PREP UNITED STATES HISTORY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 1 (CRP)

Grade 9

Pathway: All

Selection of the Career Prep level is permitted only with administrative and teacher approval based on academic performance and standardized test scores.

1505 TECH PREP UNITED STATES HISTORY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 2 (TP)

Grade 9

Pathway: All

United States History is designed for the students who plan to attend a vocational/technical school or a 2-year college program after graduation. This course stresses American historical development from the late 1800’s to present. There will be ongoing applications of historical precedence to current events.

1506 COLLEGE PREP UNITED STATES HISTORY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 9

Pathway: All

College prep United States History is designed for the student who is planning to attend a college or university following graduation. The class will center on United States History from 1877 to present. Emphasis will be on the skills needed to excel in a college academic environment.

1507 HONORS UNITED STATES HISTORY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 4 (H)

Grade 9

Pathway: All

For the advanced student who desires an in-depth study of American history from 1877 to present. Emphasis will be placed on firsthand accounts and in depth reading of secondary sources. Additionally, there will be a strong writing component to prepare students for an eventual movement to AP courses. This class will be designed to be a pre-AP class.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

(10TH GRADE REQUIREMENT)

American Government & Economics is an in depth study of our Federal, State, and Local governments. This curriculum allows the student to look at the way government functions through the social, political, and economic aspects of our unique system. Included in the course will be a mock political campaign as well as a strong emphasis on the current political issues of today. The economic aspect of this course will survey the basic economic systems, which exist throughout the world. However, the major emphasis will be placed on the free enterprise system developed from the teachings of Adam Smith through today’s private enterprise system.

1553 CAREER PREP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 1 (CRP)

Grade 10

Pathway: All

Selection of the Career Prep level is permitted only with administrative and teacher approval based on academic performance and standardized test scores.

1555 TECH PREP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 2 (TP)

Grade 10

Pathway: All

This class is designed for the students who plan to attend a vocational/technical school or a 2-year college program after graduation.

1556 COLLEGE PREP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10

Pathway: All

This class is designed for the student who is planning to attend a college or university following graduation.

1558 AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 5 (AP)

Grade 10

Pathway: All

PREREQUISITE: 93% or greater in CP US History

The Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute U.S. political reality. Since it is an Advanced Placement class, it must follow certain topics that are generally covered in college courses. The Advanced Placement U.S. Government & Politics course is the equivalent of a one-semester college level course.

WORLD HISTORY (11TH GRADE REQUIREMENT)

This course will engage students in the history of our world from 1450-1914. The main trend of the course will be how these events helped shape future events and the world’s current state. There are four main scopes that students will analyze these events: through culture, economics, politics and religion. During the year, students will learn to take reliable notes, participate in group discussions and think/write independently. Also, we will critically analyze various texts and events in order to discern the motives and repercussions of specific actions.

1523 CAREER PREP WORLD HISTORY I

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 1 (CRP)

Grade 11

Pathway: All

Selection of the Career Prep level is permitted only with administrative and teacher approval based on academic performance and standardized test scores.

1525 TECH PREP WORLD HISTORY I

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 2 (TP)

Grade 11

Pathway: All

This class is designed for the students who plan to attend a vocational/technical school or a 2-year college program after graduation.

1526 COLLEGE PREP WORLD HISTORY I

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 11

Pathway: All

This class is designed for the student who is planning to attend a college or university following graduation.

1528 ADVANCED PLACEMENT WORLD HISTORY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 5 (AP)

Grade 11

Pathway: All

AP World History is the systematic study of major events from the post-classical era to the present. AP World History is structured around analysis and interpretation, but will mainly be presented in chronological format. Students will study World History through five major themes throughout the course. The course requires students to interpret historical documents, analyze key historical events, and study cultural changes through time. This course fulfills all of a student’s World History requirements.

MODERN WORLD HISTORY (12TH GRADE REQUIREMENT)

This course will engage students in the history of our world from 1914- Present. The main trend of the course will be how these events helped shape future events and the world’s current state. There are four main scopes that students will analyze these events: through culture, economics, politics and religion. During the year, students will learn to take reliable notes, participate in group discussions and think/write independently. Also, we will critically analyze various texts and events in order to discern the motives and repercussions of specific actions.

*If a student has taken AP World History, then s/he will take a full credit of other Social Studies electives listed. It is not necessary to take a semester of Modern World History.

1583 CAREER PREP MODERN WORLD HISTORY

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 1 (CRP)

Grade 12

Pathway: All

Selection of the Career Prep level is permitted only with administrative and teacher approval based on academic performance and standardized test scores.

1585 TECH PREP MODERN WORLD HISTORY

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 2 (TP)

Grade 12

Pathway: All

This class is designed for the students who plan to attend a vocational/technical school or a 2-year college program after graduation.

1586 COLLEGE PREP MODERN WORLD HISTORY

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 12

Pathway: All

This class is designed for the student who is planning to attend a college or university following graduation.

SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVE COURSES

1539 AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 5 (AP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

For the advanced junior or senior student who desires an in-depth study of European history. This course gives the opportunity to prepare for the Advanced Placement test in European History. Writing and critical thinking skills are stressed throughout the year. The course will deal with European History from the 14th century to present. The Advanced Placement European History course is the equivalent of a one-year college level course.

1538 AP UNITED STATES HISTORY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 5 (AP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

For the advanced student who desires an in-depth study of American history with the opportunity to prepare for the Advanced Placement test in American History. A.P. test scores fulfill freshman course requirements at many colleges and universities. The Advanced Placement U.S. History course is the equivalent of a one-year college level course. Critical thinking and writing skills are stressed throughout the year. The course will deal with American History from exploration to the present day. Students will prepare for the A.P. examination by emphasizing their writing and analytical thinking skills.

1547 AP PSYCHOLOGY

Length of course: Full Year

Credit: 1.0

Weight: 5 (AP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: Human Services (HS); Science & Health (SH)

PREREQUISITE: Grade of 80% or higher in Biology.

This course is elective only – it will not fulfill the Social Studies graduation requirement. This course is designed for the student interested in the study of the basic principles of human behavior. The course will cover the theories of personality formation, biological basis of learning, the biological basis of sense and perception, development, intelligence and mental illness. A.P. Psychology is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Psychology test administered annually in May. The Advanced Placement Psychology course is the equivalent of a one-semester college level course.

1581 PSYCHOLOGY

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: Human Services (HS); Science & Health (SH)

This course is elective only – it will not fulfill the Social Studies graduation requirement. This course explores the basic principles and theories of psychology with topics such as research methods, sensation and perception, consciousness, personality, intelligence, history of human behavior, learning, and psychological disorders.

1582 SOCIOLOGY

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: Human Services (HS); Science & Health (SH)

This course is elective only – it will not fulfill the Social Studies graduation requirement. This course is designed to explore the basic principles and theories of sociology with topics such as culture, social stratification, social structure, socializing the individual in society, population and urbanization, crime, social institutions, and social change.

1584 CULTURAL TRENDS IN MODERN AMERICA

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

This course is designed to explore specific topics such as music and fashion and how these factors impacted social change throughout American history. Topics will be discussed such as the Victorian Era, Prohibition, women’s evolvement and advancement of music in the 1920s, teenage culture and the influence of Rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s, anti-war movement of the Vietnam Era with the counterculture and music of the 1960s, and influence of music on gang violence in the 1980s.

1590 YOU AND THE LAW

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 2 (TP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: Arts & Communications (AC); Business, Finance, & Information Technology (BFIT)

You and the Law will explore the basic elements of the United States society and how people interact with the law from a practical standpoint. Students will learn how to be actively engaged citizens in their communities through the skills and knowledge of local, regional, state, and federal government. Exploration of legal obligations, responsibilities, and citizen rights will allow students to discover why rules and laws exist.

1592 UNCERTAINTY, REVOLUTION AND IDEOLOGY

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

This course will be geared towards the college prep senior seeking to refine their analytical and critical thinking skills through the tumultuous events of post-World War One European society through the Second World War. It will include the rise of several totalitarian states, namely Soviet Russia, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany and how their violence, revolutions and ideologies culminated in World War Two. Ultimately, the goal is to link why this happened in history with current trends taking shape in the world today. As such, the emphasis will be placed on the social and political forces that grew into these dictatorships, and not necessary the war component. Students will be expected to communicate historical and current social trends, as well as collaborate to find solutions to present issues based on historical trends. The course will conclude with a synthesis paper linked to trends in worldwide society today.

1593 HISTORY AND SPORTS

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

In this course students will examine the development of sports through various historical perspectives. There will be an emphasis on helping students gain a better understanding of the inner relationship that sport has on social, economic, cultural, and political forces that are at work in the United States as well as the world. Students will examine the historical context as well as the significance of gender, race, ethnicity and social class through readings, primary sources, audio and visual materials as well as class discussions.

1597 POP CULTURE AND HISTORY (TP)

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 2 (TP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

In this course students will critically analyze eras of history and focus on the culture of the times. Students will progress through American History in an effort to determine how society reacted to events and how movies, fads, music, and culture impacted daily lives. We will determine what pop culture is, why people care about it, and how it truly is a reflection of the values of society.

1598 POP CULTURE AND HISTORY (CP)

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

1599 ERRATIC AND EXCELLENT EMPERORS OF ROME

Length of course: Semester

Credit: .5

Weight: 3 (CP)

Grade 10-12

Pathway: All

Go back in time on a journey with Frau Ronald as we delve into the world of Ancient Rome! We will study the events leading up to the collapse of the Roman Republic and the Julio-Claudian line of Emperors as well as other emperors, good and bad, who have made their mark on Ancient Roman society and whose fascinating tales, ideas and perspectives have trickled down through the ages to the present day.

1549 INDEPENDENT STUDY SOCIAL STUDIES

Independent Study is offered to provide individual students with the opportunity to explore special talents or interests. Students will work with a classroom teacher to set personal learning goals and to determine the type of project or learning experience they would like to pursue. The classroom teacher and student will agree upon and determine the credit value (.5, 1.0) and how a grade will be determined (percentage grade or Pass/Fail). Independent study is designed to supplement a student’s educational pathway but cannot exempt a student from Board approved core graduation requirements. Students must complete Independent Study paperwork and be approved for the course by a building administrator.