Social Studies

Administrator:  Donna Marie Norton  | (315)-218-2121 | Department Chair NSJHS: Phil DeAugustine | Department Chair CNS: JoAnn Leach

Requirements for Graduation: 

A student must complete four (4) credits of social studies to successfully meet requirements for graduation for a local or Regents diploma.  These four (4) credits include Global 9, Global 10, US History  and Government (11), Participation in Government (1/2 credit) and Economics (1/2 credit). Students may substitute AP U.S. Government and Politics/Economics or AP Economics/U.S. Government and Politics for Participation in Government and Economics.

Students must also pass BOTH the 10th and 11th grade Social Studies Regents exams to fulfill state requirements for graduation.

Elective courses are offered for students who wish to take five (5) credits in social studies.  Also, a student may wish to experience a course as a prelude to a particular college course or career.

For more information please visit the Social Studies Graduation Requirements Table

Courses:

9 GLOBAL HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grade 9      |  Course Number: 0552J

Global History and Geography 9 is the first part of a two-year 9-10 course. Each student will be required to pass a New York State Regents Exam on 9-10 Social Studies at the end of the 10th grade. Through a study of geography, history, and political and economic systems, students will be taken chronologically across time from the period of Early Humans to the Age of Revolution. After a review unit, a school Final Exam in the format of a Regents Exam will be administered at the end of 9th grade. 

Concepts related to geography, history, sociology, political science and economics will be taught through skill development focused on critical thinking; essay writing, using library resources, reading, map and chart interpretation, oral presentation and cooperative learning. Topics include Ancient and Classical Civilizations, Beliefs Systems, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Exploration, Reformation, and Absolutism. 

This course is NCAA approved.

WORLD HISTORY

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grade 9      |  Course Number: 0578

Prerequisite: Social Studies 8H, maintaining 90 average with recommendation, English 8H. Students must be enrolled in ELA 9H.

This class is a college/ high school co-credit course for the serious academic student. 9 th grade AP is the first of a two year World History course that will cover Beginnings of Man to c.1450 CE. An AP Exam will occur at the end of 10 th grade, which can earn college credit. 

Students will: 

● Analyze primary and secondary source documents and formulate point of view and purpose references. 

● Learn to critically analyze information through nine historical thinking skills and apply that information in multiple formats: Document Based Questions (DBQ’s), Long Essay Questions (LEQ’s), Short Answer Questions and Multiple Choice 

● Be expected to keep up with a rigorous schedule of reading and assignments 

● Take the AP Exam and Global History Regents Exam at the end of 10th grade. 

This course is NCAA approved.

10 GLOBAL HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grade 10      |  Course Number: 0557

This course explores key events and movements in global history from 1750 to the present, focusing on how the world has become increasingly interconnected. Major topics include industrialization, nationalism, imperialism, conflict, and technological advancements. Students will also dive into significant historical periods such as the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the world wars, and the Cold War. The course emphasizes critical thinking and historical analysis, helping students develop the skills needed to interpret evidence, recognize patterns, and draw connections between historical and contemporary issues. By the end of the course, students will be well-prepared for the New York State Global History and Geography Regents exam. Both the New York State Regents and the course are requirements for graduation.

This course is NCAA approved.

AP WORLD HISTORY*

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grade 10     |  Course Number: 0560

Prerequisite:  World Grade 9 with at least an 85 average and teacher recommendation.

AP World History is a rigorous college/high school co-credit course designed for students with a strong academic drive. This course builds upon the Pre-AP World History foundation from Grade 9 & dives into advanced World History, covering the period from the 17th century to the present.

Course Highlights:

● Historical Analysis: Examine significant changes in world history, exploring their causes, consequences, and comparing major societies.

● Critical Thinking: Develop and apply critical thinking skills using AP History methodologies, addressing various formats including Document-Based Questions (DBQs), Long Essay Questions (LEQs), Short Answer Questions (SAQs), and multiple-choice questions.

● Historical Investigation: Explore multiple historical periods to identify and analyze themes of change and continuity.

●Effective Communication: Enhance your ability to draw informed conclusions and communicate findings clearly and effectively in writing.

Course Requirements:

● Skills Needed: Strong reading and independent work habits are essential, reflecting the demands of college-level coursework.

● Exams: Students are required to take the AP World History Exam in May and the NYS Regents Exam in Global History and Geography in June.

Exam Fee $105 

This course is NCAA approved.

 11 US HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grade 11    |  Course Number: 0561

Grade 11 - US History  begins with the colonial and constitutional foundations of the United States and explores the government structure and functions written in the Constitution. The development of the nation and the political, social, and economic factors that led to the challenges our nation faced in the Civil War are addressed. Industrialization, urbanization, and the accompanying problems are examined, along with America’s emergence as a world power, the two world wars of the 20th century, and the Cold War. Students explore the expansion of the federal government, the threat of terrorism, and the place of the United States in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world.

This course will build upon previously learned skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and geography.  Some independent study will also be expected and essay writing will be a major focus.  The final exam is the 11th grade US History and Government Regents exam that is required for graduation. 

THIS COURSE WILL NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS 

This course is NCAA approved.

AP US HISTORY*

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grades 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0563

Prerequisite:  Teacher recommendation and minimum 85% on the Global Regents.

The AP US History course is designed to provide students with analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to think critically when studying US History. This program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses.

Students will:

● Learn to assess historical materials and their relevance

● Interpret problems and to weigh historical evidence

● Present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in written and oral format

● Study political institutions, public policy, social change, cultural and intellectual developments, diplomacy and international relations and economic developments

● Utilize and develop historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparison and contextualization, historical interpretation and synthesis and crafting historical arguments)

Students will take the Advanced Placement exam in May for college credit.  Credit will be determined on the achieved score on the exam.  Juniors will also take the US History and Government Regents exam, which is required for graduation.  A fee is required for the AP exam.

Exam Fee $105 

*STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO STAY IN AP CLASSES THE FIRST FIVE WEEKS OF THE COURSE. 

This course is NCAA approved.

AP US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS*

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grade 12  |  Course Number: 0575

Prerequisite:  Successfully passes U.S. History Regents and courses with an 85 average or an 80 average for AP and honors classes.

This course focuses on the institutions of government, political behavior, and the dynamics of U.S. politics. The units of study are Foundations of U.S. Government, Interactions among the Branches, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Political Ideologies, and Political Participation. Students will learn about these topics through an in-depth analysis of 14 required Supreme Court Cases and 9 foundational documents. 

Incorporating current events enriches instruction, providing students with a deeper understanding of these topics. This course is an alternative to the half-year Participation in Government (PIG) and Economics courses. It is designed to prepare students pursuing Political Science or other fields in the social sciences, and those looking to engage actively and knowledgeably in the political system.

Students will:

● Understand the Constitutional foundation of the U.S. government.

● Gain a comprehensive understanding of how the U.S. political system functions, including its strengths and challenges.

● Develop college-level reading, writing, and analytical skills.

● Be prepared to succeed on the AP Exam in May as a pathway to earning college credit.

Students may concurrently take this course for OCC credit.

Exam Fee $105 

*STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO STAY IN AP CLASSES THE FIRST FIVE WEEKS OF THE COURSE. 

This course is NCAA approved.

AP ECONOMICS*

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grade 12  |  Course Number: 0576

Prerequisite:  Successfully passes US History Regents and courses with an 85 average or an 80 average for AP.

From the College Board: 

“The AP Macroeconomics course provides students with a thorough understanding of the principles of economics and how economists use those principles to examine aggregate economic behavior. Students learn how the measures of economic performance, such as gross domestic product (GDP), inflation and unemployment are constructed and how to apply them to evaluate the macroeconomic conditions of an economy. The course recognizes the global nature of economics and provides ample opportunities to examine the impact of international trade and finance on national economies. Various economic schools of thought are introduced as students consider solutions to economic problems. 

Students will: 

● Learn to “think like an economist” when analyzing and solving everyday problems. 

● Learn to use data, formulas and graphs to explain economic successes and shortcomings. 

● Be able to recommend policies to solve problems like unemployment, inflation and recession. 

● Understand and evaluate the role of government in modern economies. This course fulfills the local and state requirements for credit in Economics and Participation in Government. Students will take an AP exam. A fee is required to take the AP exam in May.

Exam Fee $105 

*STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO STAY IN AP CLASSES THE FIRST FIVE WEEKS OF THE COURSE. 

This course is NCAA approved.

PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grade 12  |  Course Number: 0567

This course is designed to assist students in becoming active citizens in their local, state, and federal government.  This will prepare students to become more informed, involved, and interested in their communities - local, state, and federal and to understand the need for them to actively participate in their government.

The Participation in Government (PIG) class is a one-semester (20 week) course, and is a New York State requirement for graduation.  Besides the daily and weekly assignments that will be given,  students will also be required to actively participate in some type of Service Learning Activity.  

We currently have the CNS Snack Pack (Food Bank) program in which PIG students pack food bags for delivery to our guidance offices and to outlying NSCSD schools.  The program is for students/families who suffer from food insecurity and is open to all.

This course is NCAA approved.

ECONOMICS

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grade 12  |  Course Number: 0569

This required course of study is patterned after the new state mandate for 12 th grade social studies. Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of how the United States and other societies develop economic systems and associated institutions to allocate scarce resources, how major decision-making units function in the U.S. and other national economies, and how an economy solves the scarcity problem through market and nonmarket mechanisms. Units covered in this subject area will include economics and economic systems, marketplace economics, components of economic systems, international trade, the stock market and the major variations of world trade. Academic “macro” economics is the primary curriculum core for this subject.

This course is NCAA approved.

Elective Social Studies Courses:

FOUNDATION OF CIVICS

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grade 9 |  Course Number: 0554AJ

This class is designed to focus on the importance of civics focusing on civic dialogue, media literacy, and a baseline understanding of citizens’ role in preserving American democracy. This would give students .5 credit toward their Seal of Civic Readiness.  

● Learn the foundations of Civic Knowledge

● Learn Civic Skills of media literacy; vetting news sources and spotting misinformation on social media

● Practice Civic Dispositions by using discussion strategies around controversial issues

CURRENT EVENTS

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0587

In this course we will be looking at a variety of current issues.  Having students become informed citizens in our global society is the primary goal.  The current events of the moment will determine the main focus of each class.  Specific recurring issues, such as politics, media bias, and problems of mass society are the framework of this class.  This course will give students the opportunity to analyze the forces that are affecting our lives now and in the future.  The Current Events course offers ideal opportunities for cooperative-group instruction, classroom discussions and debates, purposeful follow-up writing, and so much more.

Students will:

● Be introduced to a wide range of subjects and be able to connect them to all areas of the curriculum.

● Develop into informed citizens and lifelong newsreaders.  Studying current events helps students to understand the importance of people, events, and issues in the news; it stimulates students to explore and learn more about the news, and to pay attention to the news they see and hear outside of school.

● Learn media literacy skills

This course is NCAA approved.

GEOGRAPHY

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0571

The main focus of this half-year course will be the five themes of Geography: location, place, human environmental interaction, regions and movement.  As members of the Global Community in the 21st century, a better understanding and appreciation of other cultures will be a vital asset.

Students will:

● Explore the earth, its natural phenomena and its weather patterns, by doing Web based projects

● Analyze the culture in which people live and compare this to other cultures around the world

● Examine different facets of world culture by use of National Geographic materials

● Gain significant understanding of the global community of which we are a part of

● Develop a greater appreciation for the world they live in

This course is NCAA approved.

OCC DIVERSE POPULATIONS (EDU-230)

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0584A

Per OCC: This course engages students in an examination of diversity in domestic and global contexts. Primarily, we will explore the impact of ethnicity, race, gender, ability/disability, socioeconomic class and sexual orientation on our lives.  Students will develop self-awareness regarding their own feelings, assumptions and behaviors in relation to others different from themselves and how these impact their personal values and belief systems.

Students will;

● Develop an appreciation of one’s own ethnicity, self-insight and empathy and extend the appreciation to a diversity of other people.

● Develop an understanding, utilizing introspective and critical thinking, of dominant and nondominant groups in the global and historic contexts that impact behavior.

● Describe & illustrate the nature and impact of assimilation and acculturation processes in the lives of non-dominant group members

● Identify processes that contribute to our cultural layers (racial ethnic, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion and age) and their impact on identity formation

● Demonstrate recognition of the universality of expressive and instrumental functions of families and their ways in which racial, ethnic, social class, sexual orientation and gender identities influence the family's fulfillment of these functions

● Identify how one’s own prejudices influences thoughts, feelings, actions and interactions with persons from various racial, ethnic, social class, gender, age, disability, and sexual orientation groups

● Develop and document insights about the influence of one’s own ethnic, racial, social class, gender, religion, and sexual orientation identifications upon one’s own profession

AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH FILM

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades 10, 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0566

This course will provide students with an opportunity to explore important topics in American history through the lens of film and television by viewing and analyzing historically accurate and critically acclaimed films about and from American history.  In some instances grossly inaccurate films or excerpts might be used to demonstrate the often misleading portrayal of people, groups and events in American history.

Students will:

● Increase their content knowledge

● Better understand the “inter-thematic” relationship between patterns and trends in American history

● Understand the causes and effects of bias and perspective in popular media representations of historical content

● Evaluate the accuracy of various depictions of historical events

● Analyze the relationship between historiographic changes and popular media of various individuals and groups

● Evaluate whether changing television content is a result of or the cause of changing societal attitudes

This course is NCAA approved.

MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY (1900 - Present)

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0565

Modern European History is designed to show the history of Europe over the past 100 years through the use of key historical writing and foreign film. Students will also gain more insight into lesser studied but significant European events such as the Conflict in Northern Ireland and the Bosnian genocide. 

Students will: 

● Learn about Europe’s recent history from the European perspective 

● Gain insight into European culture 

● Take a unique look at familiar topics by studying them from a different point of view, i.e. WWII through the eyes of a German submarine crew or the Cold War from England’s perspective 

● Develop critical thinking skills 

● Expand their analytical and writing skills

This course is NCAA approved.

PSYCHOLOGY

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades  10, 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0573

Travel into the human mind and gain a greater understanding of human thought, emotion and behavior as you delve into the seven perspectives of Psychology and study leading Psychologists of the day! This course will examine the basic concepts of psychology as a Social Science.  Students will examine major ideas, theories of personality, psychological disorders, and social psychologists.

Students will:

●  View and analyze films

●  Participate in discussion and debates

●  Execute real life applications and projects

●  Challenge their perspectives on psychological disorders and other aspects of human behavior

This course is NCAA approved.

AP PSYCHOLOGY*

40 Weeks |  1 Credit |     Grades  11, 12  |  Course Number: 0574

The prerequisite for this course is an 80% or higher on either the Global History or US History and the Living Environment Regents exam. Need teacher recommendation.

AP Psychology is a challenging, but rewarding course, which is the equivalent of college psychology 101. The course follows the curriculum laid out by the College Board, covering psychological perspectives, research methods, biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, thought, learning and memory, human development and personality, psychological and intelligence testing, motivation and emotion, social psychology, stress, as well as psychological disorders and treatment. 

Students will:

●  Participate in class discussions and debates

●  Design and conduct their own psychological experiment

●  Analyze films

●  Participate in class demonstrations of key concepts

●  Read and analyze original research studies

●  Participate in group and individual activities

This is a college freshman level course.  Students will work at an advanced AP Level and will take an Advanced Placement exam in May. College credit may be available if the exam score meets college requirements.  A fee is required for the AP examination Exam Fee $105

*STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO STAY IN AP CLASSES THE FIRST FIVE WEEKS OF THE COURSE. 

This course is NCAA approved. 

SOCIOLOGY 

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades  10, 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0572

Sociology is the study of human social behavior. This course is an opportunity to explore the causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociology will help you see the world around you from a completely new perspective and prepare you for life after CNS. 

Students will study: 

● Culture, social norms and socialization 

● Gender roles and sexism 

● Deviance 

● Inequalities of race and ethnicity 

● Institutions and media literacy 

● Conformity and authority 

● Important social issues and current events

This course is NCAA approved.

SUPA SOCIOLOGY 

20 Weeks |  1/2 Credit |     Grades 11, 12  |  Course Number: 0570

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. This course will investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these situations. 12th graders will get preference in the scheduling of this class. Students who successfully complete this course have the option of earning three or four credit hours through Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) Program. 

Students will: 

● Participate in class discussions and debates 

● Design and conduct their own sociology experiment 

● Analyze films 

● Participate in class demonstrations of key concepts 

● Read and analyze articles and write article summaries

● Participate in group and individual activities 

*Must register for SU credit and pay the current rate of tuition ($345/ $460/ course). 

**In order for any students to receive Syracuse University Project Advance Credit (SUPA), more than 50% of the students in the class must be registered for credit which needs to be done within the first two weeks of class in September. 

This course is NCAA approved.