MPS HS Program of Studies 2023-2024

SOCIAL STUDIES

Students in Social Studies will prepare to become informed and engaged participants in civic life.

The mission of the Social Studies Department is for students to learn and apply essential concepts, content, and skills of the four major disciplines in social studies—civics, economics, geography, and history. Elements of these four disciplines are found in all social studies courses so that students will develop a better understanding of themselves, their country, their own culture, other individuals, and other cultures of the world. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare students for the challenges of college and career as well as a thorough preparation for civic life.

All students must successfully complete a minimum of 3.0 credits including:

1.0 in United States History
0.5 in Global Studies
0.5 credit in Civics.

Note: Course descriptions state what courses qualify under each category (U.S. History, Global or Civics)

Social Studies Course Sequence

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

WORLD HISTORY

Grade 9 (1.0 Credits)

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

Aligned with the CT Social Studies Frameworks, students in World History will explore a variety of peoples, events, and movements from across the globe. In this inquiry-based course, students will explore cause/effect relationships within the context of history with special emphasis on the growth of political, economic, and social institutions across the globe. Students will consistently connect past and present and engage in collaboration, debates, and research on relevant topics such as Revolutions in Thought, Political Revolutions, Global Interactions, the World at War, Human Rights, and the Contemporary World.

UNITED STATES HISTORY

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

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

Aligned with the CT Social Studies Frameworks, students in the United States History course will explore people, events, and movements in U.S. History from the 1870s to the present with a focus on inquiry into the changes in society, economic development, and the emergence of the U.S. as a global power. An emphasis is placed on examining multiple perspectives on historical issues, and students will analyze and evaluate a variety of documents and sources.

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

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY

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. Students taking this course are required to take the AP exam given in the spring.

This course meets the U.S. History graduation requirement. Students may take either U.S. History OR AP U.S. History in Grade 10.

CIVICS AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Levels: 1-601210, 2-602210, 3-603210

Aligned with the CT Social Studies Frameworks, students in Civics & American Government will engage in the study of civic processes, rules, and laws, examine civic and political institutions, and apply civic virtues and democratic principles. In this hands-on, inquiry-based course, they will examine 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 encourage students to take informed action on issues and will emphasize civic engagement.

This course fulfills the civics graduation requirement.

AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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.

CRIMINOLOGY: Law, Justice & Human Behavior

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Levels: 2-602310, 3-603310

Students will examine the American criminal justice system as well as the nature and causes of crime and criminal behavior. They will explore elements of the justice system including the role of law enforcement, the courts system, the process of a criminal trial through sentencing, and the corrections system. Students will examine case studies, research, historical analysis, current events, and real world applications. They will engage in a study of criminal justice through current events. This course is well suited for students interested in pursuing a major in psychology, history, sociology, or the law.

ANCIENT HISTORY

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.

ANTHROPOLOGY

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.

ECONOMICS

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.

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

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 the global graduation requirement.

AP MACROECONOMICS

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.

AP PSYCHOLOGY

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.

AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

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 geo-literate, 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.

GLOBAL HUMAN GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURES

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.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

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.

AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK & PUERTO RICAN/LATINO STUDIES

Grade 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: ES - 60E321

The course is an opportunity for students to explore accomplishments, struggles, intersections, perspectives, and collaborations of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino people in the U.S. Students will examine how historical movements, legislation, and wars affected the citizenship rights of these groups and how they, both separately and together, worked to build U.S. cultural and economic wealth and create more just societies in local, national, and international contexts. Coursework will provide students with tools to identify historic and contemporary tensions around race and difference; map economic and racial disparities over time; strengthen their own identity development; and address bias in their communities.

HONORS HUMANITIES SOCIAL STUDIES

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.

CONNECTICUT CERTIFICATE OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

Students in Milford Public Schools can elect to pursue the Connecticut Certificate of Global Engagement. The Certificate of Global Engagement is bestowed by the Connecticut State Department of Education upon students who meet district-selected requirements that will demonstrate their critical thinking and real-world problem solving skills. Additionally, this sequence of requirements will give students the opportunity to demonstrate their preparedness for college, career, and civic life and serve as a validation of their deliberate pursuit of global education and awareness.

Successful completion of the Certificate of Global Engagement through the Milford Public Schools requires a minimum of 7.0 credits in globally-focused coursework including:

3.0 credits of high school World Language,
4.0 credits in English, Science, and Social Studies courses with a global focus.

In addition, students are required to:

Actively participate in at least one school-sponsored or endorsed globally-focused extra-curricular activity,
Complete a district-approved Global Service Learning Project.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Social Studies Course Sequence

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

WORLD HISTORY

UNITED STATES HISTORY

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY

CIVICS AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

CRIMINOLOGY: Law, Justice & Human Behavior

ANCIENT HISTORY

ANTHROPOLOGY

ECONOMICS

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

AP MACROECONOMICS

AP PSYCHOLOGY

AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

GLOBAL HUMAN GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURES

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK & PUERTO RICAN/LATINO STUDIES

HONORS HUMANITIES SOCIAL STUDIES

CONNECTICUT CERTIFICATE OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

Courses may include: