Social Studies

Grade 9 (1.0 Credits)

Levels: 1-601101, 2-602101, 3-603101

This course will focus on world events from the 14th to 20th centuries with special emphasis on the growth of political, economic, and social institutions in Europe. A constant focus will be on connecting past events to the world we live in today. Individual/group projects, discussions, debates, and research will be the primary methods of instruction. Themes include: Political/Social Revolutions, Conflict/Wars, Various Religious & Cultural Interactions.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Levels: 1-601200, 2-602200, 3-603200

Students will examine opposing viewpoints using various activities such as debates, simulations, and discussions as they reflect on major themes from modern American history through today. Themes include domestic and foreign policies and major cultural movements dealing with reform, war, Civil Rights, race, economics, and power. Students will gain a broad perspective using critical thinking and evaluation of past events.

This course meets the U.S. History graduation requirement.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: AP-600300

Students in this course will develop a variety of college-level historical thinking skills, such as change over time, causation, and periodization, as well as increasing their factual knowledge of United States history. The course provides a broad overview of the entire scope of United States history with a close examination of time periods with heavy emphasis on primary sources, conflicting viewpoints on historical questions, and the interpretations of various United States historians. Course offered for UCONN ECE credit at Foran HS. This course also meets the U.S. History graduation requirement. Students taking this course are required to take the AP exam given in the spring. This course meets the U.S. History graduation requirement.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Levels: 2-602210, 3-603210

Civics will provide students with background knowledge and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship. Additionally, students will study the founding documents, structure, and systems of the American Government through simulations of the executive, judicial and legislative processes. Students will apply this knowledge to tackle problems related to current events in the world around us. The course will emphasize civic participation and civic life. This course fulfills the civics graduation requirement.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES - 60E220

Students will examine the three branches of state and federal government, the bill and law making process and the role and importance of state and local governments in the daily lives of our citizens. Students will develop debate and oral argument skills through participation in several governmental simulation activities. Instructional activities in this course include a mock election campaign, mock criminal and/or civil case trials and a mock United States Senate simulation among other hands-on learning opportunities. Students will be provided the option to participate in the YMCA Youth and Government State Program usually held during a weekend in March or in a similar conference when available. This course fulfills the civics graduation requirement.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: AP-600200

The Advanced Placement course in U.S. Government and Politics is intended for students interested in developing an analytical perspective on government and politics. This course examines the various institutions, groups, ideologies, and beliefs, but most importantly, the ideas that constitute United States government and politics. Topics include constitutional underpinnings such as federalism, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups, polling, mass media, institutions of national, and state government, public policy, civil rights, civil liberties, foundational documents, and landmark Supreme Court cases. Students taking this course are required to take the AP exam given in the spring. This course fulfills the civics graduation requirement.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Levels: 2-602310, 3-603310

Students will examine the history of American crime and violence and its nature and causes. Questions regarding the criminal justice system will be discussed through case studies, projects, and videos that relate to current events. This course aims to cause students to re-examine their present attitudes about themselves and society and the degree to which violence permeates American life. Topics studied include gun control, organized crime, prisons and alternatives to prison, capital punishment, policing, crime scene analysis, cults, and mass murder. The Milford School Resource Officers will visit and co-teach multiple classes.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Levels: 2-602335, 3-603335

This course will explore the ancient world of forgotten civilizations, the famous pyramids of Egypt, and the very first empires. Students will examine the culture, progress and achievements of the early river civilizations of Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, China, and Egypt while also introducing students to the great empires of Greece and Rome.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: 2-602340

Anthropology studies the contemporary theories of the origins of man, with emphasis placed on both physical and cultural development. Comparative analysis of modern cultures and subcultures will also be discussed. Major topics include the relationship between biology and culture; cultural diversity; and the cultural evolution of communication, religion, art, and political organization, as well as foods from different cultures of the world.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Levels: 2-602350, 3-603350

This course will present an overview of American economics, focusing on the following topics: economic systems, supply and demand, the measurement and causes of growth, employment, price stability, the securities market and international trade.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: AP-600310

This course exposes students to a variety of analytical skills as well as factual knowledge of European history. The course will provide a broad overview of European history and cultures from the 1450s to the present. There will be emphasis on primary sources, historical research, conflicting viewpoints on historical questions and historical interpretations of major events and figures. Students taking this course are required to take the AP exam given in the spring. This course will fulfill he global graduation requirement.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: AP-600305

This course includes a thorough study of the major features of the American economy. Such macroeconomic topics as GDP, the business cycle, monetary and fiscal policy, the banking system, international trade, budgets and taxes will be carefully considered. This course will allow students to develop an understanding of how governments and businesses make economic decisions as well as how the different parts of the economy interact with one another. Students taking this course are required to take the AP exam given in the spring.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: AP-600100

Students in this course will be introduced to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes. Included is a consideration of the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing & individual differences, treatments of psychological disorders, and social psychology. Students will employ research methods and ethical guidelines as they use the scientific method to evaluate claims and ideas to collect data. Students taking this course are required to take the AP exam given in the spring.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: AP- 600315

AP Human Geography introduces high school students to college-level introductory human geography or cultural geography. The content is presented thematically rather than regionally and is organized around the discipline’s main subfields: economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, and urban geography. The approach is spatial and problem oriented. Case studies are drawn from all world regions, with an emphasis on understanding the world in which we live today. Historical information serves to enrich analysis of the impacts of phenomena such as globalization, colonialism, and human–environment relationships on places, regions, cultural landscapes, and patterns of interaction.The goal for the course is for students to become more geoliterate, more engaged in contemporary global issues, and more informed about multicultural viewpoints. They will develop skills in approaching problems geographically, using maps and geospatial technologies, thinking critically about texts and graphic images, interpreting cultural landscapes, and applying geographic concepts such as scale, region, diffusion, interdependence, and spatial interaction, among others. Students will see geography as a discipline relevant to the world in which they live; as a source of ideas for identifying, clarifying, and solving problems at various scales; and as a key component of building global citizenship and environmental stewardship. Students taking this course are required to take the AP exam given in the spring. This course fulfills the global graduation requirement.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES - 60E325

Students will learn how to play the role of a United Nations delegate and will participate in a prestigious Model United Nations conference attended by peers from across the globe. Class experiences will encompass mock conferences, an online foreign policy simulation, and debates on relevant international issues. Students are expected to be active class participants and are required to become delegates at the selected Model UN conference. This course fulfills the global graduation requirement.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Levels: 2-602300, 3-603300

The Global Human Geography and Cultures course will explore major interrelated themes that drive various foreign nations as they develop and position themselves globally. An understanding of the connectedness between physical and human geography will be embedded throughout. Various aspects of human geography will be explored; world religion, political geography, as well as human rights issues and individual aspects of culture will help students gain a richer understanding of the world climate. Students will be able to understand globalization from various perspectives, analyze current world situations, and compare and contrast nations around the world. The Global Human Geography and Cultures course will expose students to major themes throughout the world, helping them formulate a comparative understanding amongst various cultures and nations. This course fulfills the global graduation requirement.

Grade 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: 1 - 601420

This Gr. 12 Level 1 course is an exploration of the past 100 years of culture through the examination of seminal texts and art from the 1920s to present. In student-led discussion, guided inquiry, and student investigations, the course evaluates the art, history, myths, culture, music, poetry, and drama that have helped shape the past 100 years. Students will demonstrate their understanding and mastery through graded written response and frequent collaborative creative projects. Summer reading with a written assignment is required to prepare for the course and must be completed for entrance to the course in the fall. This course must be paired with the corresponding English course. Successful completion of both courses will result in two credits.