Social Studies Electives

Full Year Electives 

9th – 10th Grade 

• Global Issues (SOC2071A/B) 

The purpose of this class is to teach students about the world around them in modern times. By using current events and media resources that relate to intercultural and international topics, students will learn about the diversity, complexity and interdependence of the world community.  This provides the necessary background to analyze the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of current world problems and issues in relation to the policies of the American government. This course helps students make connections to our global society. 

11th & 12th Grade 

• AP Psychology (SOC2069A/B)  

This college-level course prepares students for the AP exam. Students scientifically study behavior and investigate the psychological domains—methods of research, biopsychology, cognitive processes, lifespan development, and sociocultural dimensions of behavior, thinking and language, states of consciousness, individual differences, personality and assessment, and psychological disorders and their treatment. 

• AP Human Geography (SOC2068A/B)  

This college-level course introduces 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. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. 

• AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics (SOC2065/SOC2064)

 AP Microeconomics studies individual choices (households, firms, markets) focusing on supply/demand, elasticity, firm behavior, and government's role, while AP Macroeconomics examines the whole economy (GDP, inflation, unemployment, fiscal/monetary policy). Micro is more graph-heavy and analytical for business/finance, whereas Macro is conceptual/policy-focused for politics/policy, with both courses preparing students for college-level introductory economics and their respective AP exams, using data and graphs to understand complex economic concepts.

• AP African American Studies (SOC2101A/B)

 AP African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with rich and varied sources. Students explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment.

• Student Leadership A/B (NSS2005/NS2006) 

In this course, students are given many classroom and laboratory experiences in leadership training. Students build skills in communications, negotiations, organizational development, and activity design and execution. Students systematically study the student government organization, its internal workings, and its relationship to the school, school system, and school community. 

One Semester Electives:  

10th - 12th Grade 

• Regional Studies 

• Latin American (SOC2028, Fall Semester)  

This course provides an overview of the cultural background and historical development of the nations of Latin America, their role in the world today, and their future. Problems of population distribution, cultural and economic influences and ownership, and political and social change are studied. 

• Cultural Studies: 

• Law (SOC2059), Fall or Spring Semester  

This course is designed to help students understand the processes by which American society seeks justice and order through law, and ways in which people can participate in those processes. Students examine history and philosophy of law, how the law works and can be made to work in actual situations, and major substantive areas of law such as torts, property, criminal, and juvenile law. 

• Economics (SOC2059), Fall or Spring Semester 

This introductory course emphasizes choices and decisions people and nations make about the use of resources. Students study basic economic concepts—both national and international monetary and fiscal policies and the application of economic principles to everyday life. Detailed discussion is devoted to the roles played by banks, credit, principal, rent, wages, and consumer buying. 

• Psychology (SOC2053), Fall Semester  

Students are introduced to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. While learning how to apply psychological principles to daily life, students investigate the role of scientific inquiry into the major domains of psychology, including Methods of Research, Biopsychology, Cognitive Processes, Lifespan Development, and Sociocultural Dimensions of Behavior. 

• Peace Studies (SOC2086), Spring Semester

This course focuses on the study of nonviolent force as practiced by current and past peacemakers. Students examine the philosophy of nonviolent force, primary and secondary sources, and print and non-print sources to analyze the impact of the work of those persons devoted to nonviolent change. Skills and techniques involve students in the practical applications of ideas learned in class. 

• African American History (SOC2019), Spring Semester

This course is a survey of the individuals, forces, and events that make up the experiences of African Americans in the United States. By exploring those forces, and by highlighting those individuals who helped shape the development America, students learn the “Black Experience” can serve as the testing ground for American democratic ideas.  Emphasis is given to the impact of major events in US history on African Americans. 

• Women’s Studies A (SOC2051), Spring Semester

Students will examine how the political, economic, and social status of women has changed over time, in the United States and the world. Students will analyze how the experiences of women today often differ in a variety of cultural and socio-economic contexts. Students will examine how women have made advances in key areas of life, including employment, education, health, media images, and family roles. Examples of women in the United States and world will be used to analyze how women have made significant contributions in addressing issues of national and global concern. 

• Sociology (SOC2055), Spring Semester

Sociology 1 is concerned with human groups and factors that unite or divide them, including culture, values, social groups, social stratification, population, the family, socialization, propaganda, and social institutions. Focus is on the impact of change on mores, norms, and customs. Emphasis is placed on the application of the basic concepts of social change to American institutions, particularly education and the family. Research papers focus on community or on-site research. 

• Personal Finance / formerly Life 101 (SOC2102), Fall or Spring Semester

Students felt that there were gaps in the practical information and skills relating to life in and after high school.  In Life 101 we will investigate and continue to research these skills and information.  Successful completion of Life 101 will qualify as credit for the “Personal Finance” course which is being recommended by the MCPS Board of Education. 

• LGBTQ Studies (SOC2087), Spring Semester

This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) identities, histories, cultural expression, and contemporary topics. Topics include: identity, resistance and resilience, cultural expression, and media (mis) representation.