Social Studies

Course Descriptions

World History: Freshman Humanities (Required)

Grade Level Placement: 09

1 Unit/Y Prerequisite: None Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

Using a multiple perspectives approach, students are introduced to the tools of social science. Students build connections within and across regions, time, and peoples as various themes unfold and as patterns emerge beginning with early River Civilization and Scientific Revolution. While students study primarily the events and people of the distant past, they continually relate and connect the understandings they glean from the past to the events and people of the present.

Honors Option Available (Students must inform their counselor and teacher if they are interested in enrolling in honors option.)

Sophomore World and American Studies: History (Required)

Grade Level Placement: 10

1 Unit/Y Prerequisite: Recommended to have completed World History: Freshman Humanities

Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

This class is required for all 10th graders. It provides an integrated approach to the study of American and world history from 1500 to 1900. The emphasis is U.S. and world history during the time period. This course stresses the importance of the interdependence of the entire world community.

Honors Option Available (Students must inform their counselor and teacher if they are interested in enrolling in honors option.)

20th Century American Studies (Required)

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1 Unit/Y Prerequisite: Sophomore World and American Studies Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

This problems-based history course allows students to explore major events in the 20th century from a variety of global and thematic perspectives. These global and thematic perspectives help students to gain an understanding of the historical development of the 20th century as well as an understanding the real world today. The course also focuses on improving historical thinking and writing skills.

20th Century American Studies meets American History credit requirement for high school graduation.

Psychology

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1/2 Unit/S Prerequisite: Sophomore World and American Studies Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

In this semester course, students learn to clarify and explain human development and behavior from infancy through maturity through research, discussion, debate, and role-play. Students explore human behavior through a study of its normal and abnormal manifestations. They discover and are able to explain the importance of applying the scientific method to the study of human behavior.

Contemporary Issues

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1/2 Unit/S Prerequisite: Sophomore World and 20th Century or instructor approval

Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

Contemporary Issues is a semester long course in which students will examine and analyze current events and contemporary issues. Major topics of study will include international relations and foreign policy, human rights, strengths and weaknesses of globalization, environmental threats, religion and violence, and terrorism.

Historiography

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1/2 Unit/S Prerequisite: Successful completion of all required courses

Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

Students will choose a topic of interest (with teacher approval). During the semester students will be introduced to the methods and philosophy of “doing history,” including: Learning how to research and evaluate sources online; Researching their topic utilizing a variety of historical sources/types; Conversing with other students, professors, and historians regarding their research; Reporting on a particular historical topic in-depth using a variety of mediums to show understanding. (Presentation, Panel Discussion, Research Paper, Senior Defense, etc…)

The University of Missouri-St. Louis offers 11/12th grade students with a 3.00 GPA or higher who take this course the opportunity to earn 3 college credit hours per year in College History. Students electing to earn college credit will need to pay a small fee to UMSL.

African Studies

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1/2 Unit/S Prerequisite: Sophomore World and American Studies Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

This semester course explores the 54 countries of the African continent and its different nations. Through group projects, lively discussions, and interactive lessons, students gain a deeper understanding of Africa, its geography, history, and culture. International relations, cultures of the continent, conflicts, cultural issues, impact on global history and culture from ancient times through modern day are addressed.

Personal Finance in Economics (Required)

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1/2 Unit/S Prerequisite: None Credit Type: Social Studies (SS), Personal Finance (PA)

NCAA Approved Course

Using a problem-based approach, students grapple with real economic problems and decisions, the same ones that have challenged people throughout history. Students continually simulate economic models, concepts, and principles in order to “experience” economics. Through authentic application in project-based assessments, students critically and creatively consider economics and its implications in the real world.

Meets Missouri “Personal Finance” requirement.

American Government (Required)

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1/2 Unit/S Prerequisite: None Credit Type: Social Studies (SS), Government (GOV)

NCAA Approved Course

The course includes an examination of basic American political principles and practices, the nature of democratic government, the U.S. Constitution, Missouri Constitution, federalism, civil rights, political dynamics, the presidency, Congress, and the judiciary. In addition, students examine important political documents, the dynamics of public policy, and the legal process. By the end of the course, students are familiar with the institutions, processes, actors, cultural dynamics, ideological spectrum, and controversies that make up the American political system.

Meets Missouri and United States Constitution Test requirement.

Students will take the Government End of Course Exam at the completion of this course. This required exam must be taken by all high school students prior to graduation.

This class is also offered for advanced credit through the 1818 ACC at St. Louis University. Students will earn 3 credit hours for this semester course. Students must have a 3.0 GPA in order to participate. Students electing to earn college credit will need to pay a small fee to SLU.

Advanced Placement World History (W)

Grade Level Placement: 11, 12

1 Unit/Y Prerequisite: 2 units of social studies credit with a grade of “C” or higher and must meet MRH AP requirements and expectations

Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

Advanced Placement World History is a college level course designed to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. The course emphasizes relevant factual knowledge deployed in conjunction with leading interpretive issues and types of historical evidence. The course builds on an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage. Periodization forms an organizing principle for examining change and continuity throughout the course. Specific themes provide further organization to the course, along with the consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis offers 11/12th grade students with a 3.00 GPA or higher who take this course the opportunity to earn 3 college credit hours per semester (6 credits are possible for the year). Students electing to earn college credit will need to pay a small fee to UMSL.

Advanced Placement Human Geography (W)

Grade Level Placement: 10, 11, 12

1 Unit/Y Prerequisite: social studies credit with a grade of “C” or higher and must meet MRH AP requirements and expectations

Credit Type: Social Studies (SS)

NCAA Approved Course

Advanced Placement Human Geography is a a yearlong course that contains seven units of study as outlined in the 2019 Course and Exam Description (CED) published by the College Board. The units in the CED focus on topics including thinking geographically, population and migration, culture, political geography, agriculture, urban geography, and development and industrialization. Students will have multiple opportunities to apply the information addressed in each unit in activities including note-taking, current events, projects, and formative and summative assessments.