Advanced Placement European History is a college-level survey course that challenges students to think critically about the intellectual, cultural, economic, political, diplomatic, and social events that have shaped Europe from the Renaissance to modern day. The course allows students the opportunity to earn college credit upon passing a three-hour exam offered by the College Board in May. Although eligibility to earn college credit is available, the emphasis of the course is to develop skills for each student’s academic future. A.P. European History aims to further refine the students’ analytical skills, examine conflicting historical interpretations, promote historical scholarship, and develop sophisticated research, essay, and document-based essay writing skills. During the course of the year, students will be expected to analyze commonly accepted historical arguments and explain how an argument has been constructed from historical evidence. Students will also develop meaningful and persuasive new understandings of the past by applying and combining varying, sometimes contradictory, evidence from primary sources and secondary works in order to create a persuasive understanding of the past. Moreover, students will apply insights about the past to other historical contexts or circumstances, including the present. Students are required to take the AP exam. Many colleges will grant credit and/or appropriate advanced placement to students who score well on the AP exam.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY

Full Year | 5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Teacher Recommendation + Structured summer reading assignment; Requirement(s): Students are required to take the AP exam

Advanced Placement Psychology is a full-year course designed for students interested in taking a course taught at a college level. It provides an in-depth understanding of the principles and theories of psychology. Students also learn about the methods psychologists use to explore the processes involved in normal and abnormal perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Students will be expected to complete extensive college-level reading outside of class, and be prepared to demonstrate their knowledge through weekly assessments. Students will also be assigned intensive projects, along with in-class essays, and out-of-class reading/writing assignments in addition to their normal reading from the textbook. There are also readings, projects, and essays, and objective tests similar to those on the AP Psychology exam. Students are required to take the AP exam. Many colleges will grant credit and/or appropriate advanced placement to students who score well on the AP exam.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Full Year | 5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Teacher Recommendation + Structured summer reading assignment; Current Honors Social Studies: Grade of B or higher; Current College Prep Social Studies: Grade of A or higher; Requirement(s): Students are required to take the AP exam

This course provides an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. It involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific case studies. Students enrolled in this course will learn about the operation of government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties and interest groups, political processes, and civil rights and civil liberties.

Students will be expected to spend several hours per week reading and outlining the textbook as well as staying abreast of current political events, and taking unit exams and frequent quizzes, typically unannounced. All reading in this course is at the college level. Students will also be assigned a minimum of one major, intensive project per marking period. Students will also participate in numerous debates, investigations, and presidential and congressional decision-making activities. Students are required to take the AP exam. Many colleges will grant credit and/or appropriate advanced placement to students who score well on the AP exam.

AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): IEP recommendation only

This course examines teen rights in the legal system and highlights include: motor vehicle laws, school, home, job and personal laws by which teenagers must abide. Additionally, the course also includes learning elements of the American Criminal Justice System, with a focus on the history of the system, how it has changed over time and its weaknesses and strengths. Course requirements focus on in-class activities, hands-on assignments, and group discussions

AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE I HONORS

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

This course is a comprehensive study of the American Criminal Justice System, with a focus on the history of the system, how it has changed over time, and its weaknesses and strengths. The course details the roles that crime and criminals, victims, lawyers and judges play in the system and how these roles affect the final outcome of justice.

AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE II HONORS

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Criminal Justice Honors I

In Criminal Justice Honors II, concepts learned in Criminal Justice I will be greatly expanded upon. For example, during the unit on the American Court System, students will take on the roles of lawyer, witness, plaintiff, defendant, and members of the jury engaging in a mock trial offering them an invaluable real-life learning experience. Students may also participate in field trips to the Bergen County Investigative Unit and the Hackensack Court House.

ASIAN STUDIES

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

This course will offer a survey of the history, art, literature, political and economic aspects of the East Asia region comprising China, Japan, and Korea. The teacher and students will use primary sources to investigate the history of the region and its present-day role in the world. The use of technology, from researching examples of art to finding current articles, will be integral to the course.

Dual Enrollment Opportunity: For this course, students have the option to register for the Bergen Community College dual enrollment program. The tuition is approximately $220.00 for three college credits through Bergen Community College. Dual credit is awarded to those students who successfully complete the course.

CIVICS & GOVERNMENT

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

This course is designed to give students a greater understanding of the American political system. The course will cover both major concepts and institutions of the American government as well as specific case studies. Students will gain awareness of public issues as well as an understanding of their own agency as citizens in a Democratic Republic. Students will approach civics through a study of current events.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): IEP recommendation only

Focusing on current and future issues and national and international events, students examine present and emerging dilemmas that influence personal, national, and international conditions and decisions. Students have opportunities

to study in-depth contemporary issues that they believe are important including Human Rights, Political Issues, Economic Issues, and International, Regional and Local Issues.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES HONORS

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

Focusing on current and future issues and national and international events, students examine present and emerging dilemmas that influence personal, national, and international conditions and decisions. Students have opportunities to study in-depth contemporary issues that they believe are important including Human Rights, Political Issues, Economic Issues, and International, Regional and Local Issues.

HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE & MODERN HUMANITY HONORS

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

This course will introduce the history of the European Holocaust and address the wider questions of genocide in the modern world. Examination of these events in a comparative context (including such events as Armenian, Stalinist, and Cambodian massacres and the Rwandan and Darfur genocides) and discussion of their impact on modern cultural, political, intellectual developments will be explored. Students will be exposed to some of the greatest moral and ethical dilemmas in modern history. How does an understanding of the origins and virulence of genocide challenge societies to be more tolerant, pluralistic and open?

Dual Enrollment Opportunity: Enrollment in this program through Kean University at a reduced cost of $300 yields three (3) college credits for those students who successfully complete the class.

PHILOSOPHY

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

Philosophy is a survey course that explores the ideas of the great thinkers and belief systems of the world. The primary goal is to understand ideas and beliefs that shape behavior and institutions. Students explore politics, education, religions, and social beliefs in order to develop their own philosophy and learn how to apply the work of well-known philosophers to the contemporary world. Instructional techniques include group work, interviews, seminars, and oral presentations.

PSYCHOLOGY

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): IEP recommendation only

This course follows the same curriculum as Psychology 1. Psychology I stresses the basic comprehension of the scientific study of human behavior. The emphasis is on applying theories and ideas to students’ experiences and lifestyles. Some topics covered are subfields of psychology, learning, personality, brain development, mental disorders, drugs and alcohol, and stress and health. The theories of outstanding psychologists are examined and related to student experiences. Techniques include lecture, group work, experimentation, research papers and visual projects.

PSYCHOLOGY I

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

Psychology I stresses basic comprehension of the scientific study of human behavior. The emphasis is on applying theories and ideas to students' experiences and lifestyles. Some topics covered are subfields of psychology, learning, personality, brain development, mental disorders, drugs and alcohol, and stress and health. The theories of outstanding psychologists are examined and related to student experience. Techniques include lecture, group work, experimentation, research papers and visual projects.

PSYCHOLOGY II HONORS

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Psychology I

Psychology II is an in-depth investigation into social psychology, interpersonal relations, psychotherapy, applied psychology, and the scientific approach to psychology. Techniques of instruction include lectures, group work, independent study, experimentation, guest lecture series, seminars, and field trips. There are readings in psychology, essays, and a comprehensive research paper utilizing the basic concepts of behavioral research.

SOCIOLOGY I

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

Sociology is a study of human relationships with a distinct focus on the theoretical perspectives of sociological imagination, conflict, functionalism and interactionism. Through these perspectives, students will explore cultural values, norms and laws. Students will discover how and why cultures change and explore cultural meanings through language, paralanguage and pop culture. Key elements in this course include the development of personality, socialization, and contemporary issues that affect students’ lives in the present culture.

SOCIOLOGY II

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Sociology I

Sociology II will continue to view society and human relationships through the major sociological perspectives and will explore the social construction of deviance, gender, media, education, religion, and social stratification, particularly in relation to socio-economic status and minorities.

SOCIOLOGY HONORS (SUPA)

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 12

Prerequisite(s): None

Sociology is a study of human relationships with a distinct focus on the concepts surrounding culture, cultural change, cultural values and norms. This course emphasizes analytic reading and conceptual analysis. It is a writing-intensive course. This course introduces C. Wright Mills’ classic notion of “the sociological imagination” and the promise of sociology, and encourages students to see and think about the social world, themselves, and the relations between themselves and the social world in new ways. As the course progresses, students should obtain increasing skill in analytic reading and writing, sociological reasoning, empirical investigation, and in the ability to make empirical and conceptual generalizations about self and society in an increasingly global world.

Dual Enrollment Opportunity: Enrollment in the Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) program at a cost of approximately $345.00 yields three (3) college credits for those students who successfully complete the class.

SPORTS & AMERICAN CULTURE

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of U.S. History I

This course is designed to allow students to explore the impact of sports on American history from a social, political, economic, and cultural perspective. While study of the course will be conducted thematically, an emphasis will be placed on the dynamic relationship between sports and gender, class, race, ethnicity, religion, and region. Students will be expected to complete an extensive research paper assignment in which they will explore the main focus of the class in a way that is unique to them. It is recommended that students enrolled in this course have, at the least, a background in the first half of American history.

TERRORISM TODAY HONORS

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): World Studies

The world changed on September 11, 2001, with the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Since then, students have grown up in an Age of Terror where security checkpoints, limitations on privacy, and war have become the norm. This course will explore the aim and allure of terrorism in the 21st century through the examination of international and domestic terrorist organizations. In addition, students will examine and evaluate the constitutionality and effectiveness of counterterrorist tactics.