High School Social Studies Courses

World History provides students with opportunities to learn about the global nature and interdependence of various nations, their cultures, and history. The various components of the course include geographic relationships, regional and national histories, and cultural expressions of the world community. Emphasis is placed upon the development of research skills, interpretation of primary sources, and the further development of critical thinking and writing skills.

The Advanced Placement World History: Modern course enables students to develop the historical thinking skills that are requisite to explore trends and global processes. The course addresses historical periods from 1200 CE to the present as related to key concepts and course themes. Students study the civilizations of Africa, the Americas, and Asia that play a vital role in the shaping of the modern era. There is a focus on the analysis of concepts and themes rather than factual recall. Historical thinking skills include historical argumentation and evidence, chronological reasoning, comparison and contextualization, and historical interpretation and synthesis.

*Summer packets are provided to students by the teacher and will be available on the school website so that students may prepare for the course. The intent is for all students to take the Advanced Placement exam.

U. S. History I involves the student in the exploration and analysis of American history from the pre-Colonial period to the Progressive Era. Emphasis is placed upon the further development of research skills, interpretation of primary sources, and enhanced critical thinking and writing skills.

U.S. History II presents students with a variety of educational experiences in Twentieth and Twenty-First Century United States history, culture, and economic development. The course prepares students for further education and active citizenship. In this course students pursue the study of American history, politics, government, and culture. Emphasis is placed upon the refinement of research skills, interpretation of primary sources, critical thinking and writing skills.

Advanced Placement U.S. History is offered to students who qualify in lieu of U.S. History II. It emphasizes critical, analytical, and synthesis skills necessary for the college-level study of United States History. (Watch video at bottom of page for detailed course overview)

*Summer packets are provided to students by the teacher and will be available on the school website so that students may prepare for the course. The intent is for all students to take the Advanced Placement exam.

*This course is also offered for dual-enrollment credit through Seton Hall University

This course examines various global issues and actions that could be taken by countries and individuals to combat and rectify these problems. The course will examine the issues that fall within these themes of social studies: Political, Economic, Religious/Cultural, Militaristic, and Social. Special attention is paid to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and how different countries are addressing these goals. Students become more informed on what is occurring at the present time both domestically and globally, appreciate diverse perspectives, and understand the interconnectedness of our modern world.

*This course is also offered for dual-enrollment credit through Seton Hall University

This course is designed to introduce the students to the problems, causes of, and possible solutions to the actions/events that deny people their rights, human dignity, liberty and justice. It helps students develop awareness of the role of racism and prejudice through literature and history. Students engage in the analysis of fiction & non-fiction through the lens of class, race, ethnicity, gender, etc. An essential component of this course is the role and responsibilities of the individual within a given society, and the issues and dilemmas that do not have simple solutions.

This project-based course introduces the student to the vital role economics plays in society and in life through the choices consumers make. Students gain the skills to make important economic decisions, incorporating individual and social viewpoints, for the global economy. Through differentiated instruction, students learn how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and how they are distributed. Students learn how to write a business plan for a mock entrepreneurial business and develop a stock portfolio as part of a simulated stock market investment challenge.

The Economics course includes the concepts of both macro and microeconomics. The first half of the course is devoted to the study of Economics using total income, total employment, average level of prices, and the effects of the stock market on the economy. The second half of the year focuses on the individual business firm: what it is; how it works; how it allocates various resources; how it prices goods and services; how it reacts to competitive pressures and the effects of the stock market on company policy and planning.

This course is an elective for sophomores, juniors and seniors. It encompasses fundamental economic concepts, which includes: scarcity, opportunity cost, productivity, economic systems and institutions. Microeconomic concepts include markets and prices, supply and demand, competition and market structures and the role of the government. The macroeconomic concepts to be covered are GDP, unemployment, inflation, and monetary and fiscal policy. Lastly, international economic concepts, such as absolute and comparative advantage, exchange rates and growth and stability are analyzed. (Watch video at bottom of page for students' testimonials)

*Summer packets are provided to students by the teacher and will be available on the school website so that students may prepare for the course. The intent is for all students to take the Advanced Placement exam.

This course provides students with career focused educational opportunities in various law and justice fields. It examines the basic concepts of law related to citizens’ rights and the responsibilities of the individual, and students will receive instruction in critical skill areas including: communicating with diverse groups, conflict resolution, ethics, report writing, terrorism, civil and criminal law. Career planning and employability skills will be emphasized. This course will provide an opportunity for students to become familiar with the structure of the judicial and penal systems, explore and identify possible career paths and research society and the connections it has to the judiciary. This course is a requirement to continue participation as part of the GLP3 Pathway.

This is a service course in which students are taught the fundamentals of successful civic leadership qualities and provided with opportunities to apply those skills through various projects centered around self-improvement, school improvement, and community improvement. Through various partnerships with non-profit organizations and a strong emphasis on philanthropic work, students learn how to become productive members of society as well as good citizens who are active and energized agents of change in their school and community.

After-school community service is an integral requirement of the course. Students must apply to be accepted into this program.

LINK TO APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/LDTYEREMfMrbouki6

LINK TO RECOMMENDATION FORM (Students must ask at least two references to fill out this form: https://forms.gle/whhTNL5fUDQZ7qx87

Students are introduced to the development of specific attitudes and skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and an appreciation for the scientific method, as well as the core ideas and theories of psychology. As a result, students will gain an understanding of the complexities and diversity of human thought behavior. Students will be able to apply knowledge gained from this course to their daily lives.

This course focuses on the field of psychopathology and personality disorders. Through case studies, students examine the nature, causes, and various treatment approaches of these disorders.

*This course is also offered for dual-enrollment credit through Seton Hall University

A rigorous, academic course that exposes students to the scientific study and the mental processes of humans and animals, this course enables students to become knowledgeable of the methods psychologists use in their science and practice as well as principles associated with each of the major sub fields of psychology.

*Summer packets are provided to students by the teacher and will be available on the school website so that students may prepare for the course. The intent is for all students to take the Advanced Placement exam.

This course introduces students to the history of the European holocaust and addresses the wider questions of genocide in the modern world. Students examine these events in comparative context and discuss their impact on modern cultural, political, and intellectual developments. Students are exposed to some of the greatest moral and ethical dilemmas in modern history to examine the notion of humanity.

*This course is also offered for dual-enrollment credit through Kean University

This course deals with the major issues facing the United States, in crises at home and abroad from 1970 until the present. Students discuss what has worked, what has not, and possible reasons for these outcomes. An emphasis is placed on relating current events to past episodes in United States history—i.e., “Past is Prologue”.

The Sociology course provides the student with an understanding of the individual’s place in society. The course emphasizes the cultural developments of mankind and the research, which is conducted in sociology. This class helps students appraise the various family units, subcultures, etc. in American society.

This course is designed to present a survey of the development of the various cultures and nations of the western world. The course provides an in-depth examination of the elements that have shaped western civilizations. The goal of the course is to take students on an intellectual journey, to explore great ideas, significant themes and to be exposed to the great minds and most significant events that have impacted the world. Its interdisciplinary approach explores the human condition through a variety of conceptual lenses, which include: anthropology, mythology, art, theology and religion, philosophy, politics, history and literature.

This course provides an analytical perspective of government and politics in the United States. Students are afforded an in-depth understanding of American political culture, core political values, and the evolution of American political institutions. Integral topics for debate include United States Constitution; political beliefs and behaviors; political parties, interest groups, and mass media; institutions of national government; public policies; and Civil Rights and civil liberties. (Watch video at bottom of page for students' testimonials)

*Summer packets are provided to students by the teacher and will be available on the school website so that students may prepare for the course. The intent is for all students to take the Advanced Placement exam.

The Advanced Placement Human Geography course addresses five college-level goals that build upon the 2012 National Geography Standards. The College Board emphasizes that the purpose of the Advanced Placement Human Geography course is to introduce students to the systematic study, patterns, and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth’s surface. Throughout the full year course, students evaluate topics in geography, population, cultural patterns and processes, agriculture, industrialization, economic development, and urbanization. (Watch video at bottom of page for students' testimonials)

It is suggested that students take the Contemporary World Geography elective prior to this Advanced Placement course.

*Summer packets are provided to students by the teacher and will be available on the school website so that students may prepare for the course. The intent is for all students to take the Advanced Placement exam.

This course is designed to meet the objectives of similar courses offered in the freshman year of many colleges. The course begins with the Renaissance and continues to the World War II era. Emphasis in the course is placed on assisting students to achieve success on the Advanced Placement Test. The class focuses on interpretation of original documents, statistics, and on the writing skills necessary for historical research. The course provides an in-depth examination of the forces and personalities that have shaped western civilization from the time of the Renaissance.

NOTE: This course is offered every other year.

*Summer packets are provided to students by the teacher and will be available on the school website so that students may prepare for the course. The intent is for all students to take the Advanced Placement exam.