Students must take and pass three credits in Social Studies to graduate from Meade County High School.
Human Geography and Human Geography Honors Grade 9
Examining current global issues that impact our world today, this course takes a thematic approach to understanding the development of human systems, human understanding of the world, and human social organization. This high school level course will challenge students to develop geographic skills, including learning to interpret maps, analyze data, and compare theories. Offering interactive content that will grow students’ understanding of the development of modern civilization and human systems—from the agricultural revolution to the technological revolution—this course encourages students to analyze economic trends as well as compare global markets and urban environments. This course replaced the previous 9th grade social studies graduation requirement, Survey of Social Studies. If you have earned credit in Survey of Social Studies, this course is not for you. The differences between honors and regular level work is the depth to which the material is covered and the expectations of performance.
AP Human Geography Grade 9
This is a college-level, yearlong course designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Exam. The goal of this course is to provide students with a geographic perspective through which to view the world. Through a combination of direct instruction, documentary videos, and online readings, students will explore geographic concepts, theories, and models; human-environment interactions; and interactions among human systems. Topics covered include population, culture, political organization of space, agricultural land use, industrialization, and urban land use. Students will also interpret maps and spatial data to analyze the organization of people and places, identify factors that affect the delineation of regions and the role that natural and political boundaries play in the regionalization process, analyze relationships and patterns that occur at different geographic scales, examine the effect of changing political, economic, cultural, and physical systems on the relationships among places, investigate ways the environment has influenced human inhabitance, and analyze the effect that human settlement and activity have had on the environment. Students will demonstrate their understanding and acquisition of skills through essays, document-based questions, collaborative activities, and practice AP Exams. Pre-approval for taking this level of course is required.
European History and European History Honors Grade 10
This interdisciplinary and chronological approach to European History examines the social, political, cultural, and economic evolution of Europe from the period of the late medieval world up to the post-World War II period. Our study focuses on the way the people of Europe lived and thought in the past through an examination of the multiple factors which shaped their history. During the year, consideration is given to such topics as: the individual’s changing view of self, the universe, and his or her position and role in that universe; the changing relationship between the individual and the government; the rise of the nation states of modern Europe; the movement from a pre-industrial to an industrial society; the changing role of the church; the expression in the arts of society’s values and ideals; and the impact of European influence on the rest of the world, particularly on our history. The difference in regular and honors level work is the depth to which the material is covered and the expectation of performance. Signature from a Social Studies teacher is required for the Honors level.
AP European History Grade 10
This is a companion course to the AP Prep English Class. This interdisciplinary and chronological approach to European History examines the social, political, cultural, and economic evolution of Europe from the period of the late medieval world up to the post-World War II period. Our study focuses on the way the people of Europe lived and thought in the past through an examination of the multiple factors which shaped their history. During the year, consideration is given to such topics as: the individual’s changing view of self, the universe, and his or her position and role in that universe; the changing relationship between the individual and the government; the rise of the nation states of modern Europe; the movement from a pre-industrial to an industrial society; the changing role of the church; the expression in the arts of society’s values and ideals; and the impact of European influence on the rest of the world, particularly on our history. The difference in AP level work is the depth to which the material is covered and the expectation of performance. Signature from a Social Studies teacher is required.
US History and US History Honors Grade 11
The course covers the time frame from the Industrial Revolution to the Present. Constitutional government is also covered in an introductory unit. Students will be involved in a thorough study of many aspects of our country including: industrial growth, rise of labor, the US becoming a world power, post war, Civil Rights Movement, and much more. Students are assessed on daily assignments, sectional quizzes, primary source information, video analysis, and chapter and unit tests. A portfolio assignment is also required. The difference in regular and honors level work in the depth to which the material is covered and the expectation of performance. Signature from a Social Studies teacher is required for the Honors level.
AP US History Grade 11, Dual Credit
The Advanced Placement course for United States history attempts to combine the two goals: comprehension of history and analyzing its meaning. Throughout this course, students will be required to learn and remember many historical facts, but will further be asked to analyze or evaluate its impacts during the time period it occurred as well as attempt to draw connections to modern issues. In truth, producing historians is the goal of this course. Additionally, this course awards students the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement Exam in United States History which will potentially allow them to earn college credit for this course. Signature from a Social Studies teacher is required.
Psychology Grades 11 and 12
This course is an elective offered to juniors and seniors who are interested in learning more about themselves. Class discussion and group activities will drive the class. Topics covered in psychology are the history of psychology, biology’s’ influence on our behavior, learning, personality theories, and ways to measure personality, personality disorders and their treatment.
American Government Grade 12
This course is a study of the origins, development, structure, and functions of American national government. Topics include the constitutional framework; federalism; the three branches of government, including the bureaucracy; civil rights and liberties; political participation and behavior; and policy formation. Students will also be asked to research and prepare political debates as individuals and part of a group.