Social studies and history classes are essential for developing critical thinking, civic awareness, and a deeper understanding of the world. Through these courses, students explore the complexities of societies, cultures, and historical events. By taking four years of social studies, students build the skills necessary to analyze current events, engage in thoughtful discussions, and make informed decisions as active citizens. These classes also prepare students for success in college, careers, and community leadership. To meet graduation requirements, students must earn 4 social studies credits.
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CORE COURSES
0211 Global Studies Academic
0211 Global Studies Academic
Grade Level(s): 9
Credit: 1
Length: Year
The Global Studies Academic course will introduce students to the interdependent nature of the modern global community. Students will explore the culture, political structure, and history of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. Modern issues facing each part of the world will be examined. Students will work on developing historical thinking skills in comparison, causation, continuity and change. Historical reading and writing will also be emphasized.
0215 Global Studies Honors
0215 Global Studies Honors
Grade Level(s): 9
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Recommended for students with a grade of “B” or higher in 8th grade Social Studies
This honors course will analyze the interdependent nature of the modern global community. The course is designed to explore the cultures of Africa, Southwest Asia (the Middle East), South Asia, and East Asia. Students will investigate the geographic, political, social, and economic aspects of the non-western world. Students will synthesize information to recognize historical and current patterns and what makes each region or nation unique and significant. An emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking, writing, and communication skills. Regular class discussions require active participation. This course includes independent homework, supplemental text readings and research to explore concepts in greater depth and complexity.
0203 American History Academic
0203 American History Academic
Grade Level(s): 10
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Completion of Global Studies
This course in modern American History will use a chronological cause and effect approach to the political, economic, and social history of the United States from the early 1900’s to the present day. The course focuses on the decisions, events, and people that shaped the nation’s history in the 20th and early 21st centuries. Areas of concentration include U.S. diplomacy and involvement in foreign wars, the increasing role of government in American life, the changing status of women and minorities, and areas of significant social and economic change. The skill focus in this course is analysis of primary source documents. Students will be assessed on both content and skill development.
0221 American History Honors
0221 American History Honors
Grade Level(s): 10
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Completion of Global Studies
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in Global Studies
This honors course in modern American history emphasizes the political, economic, and social history of the United States from WWI to the present day. The course focuses on the decisions, events, and people that shaped United States’ history from the 20th century to the present. Areas of concentration include U.S. diplomacy and involvement in foreign wars, the increasing role of government in American life, the changing status of women and minorities, and areas of significant social and economic change. Students will analyze the past to inform and analyze the present. The course includes nightly homework and reading assignments with a skill focus on high-level writing/research assignments and document-based question analysis. Regular class discussions and debates require students to apply critical thinking skills.
0205 Advanced Placement United States History
0205 Advanced Placement United States History
Grade Level(s): 10
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Completion of Global Studies
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in Global Studies Honors or “A” in Global Studies Academic
This course is a comprehensive survey of American history and culture comparable to introductory college courses. The course extends chronologically from early Native American society to the present. It will require and foster a strong interest in the development and application of historical thinking skills central to the practice of being a historian. There are extensive reading assignments from a college text, selected literature, primary sources, and collections of historical viewpoints. This course also focuses on writing which includes assigned document based and thesis-based essays. Additional assessments include standardized college tests and various debates and historical simulations. Students who complete this course are expected to take the AP examination in May at the student’s expense.
0200 American Government Academic
0200 American Government Academic
Grade Level(s): 11
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Completion of American History
This introductory course explores the creation and history of the American system of government. Topics include the foundations of the American Government (Constitution and Bill of Rights), the three branches of the national government, rights of individuals, participation in government, and state/local government systems. This course will emphasize the development of critical thinking, writing, and application of knowledge skills.
0219 American Government Honors
0219 American Government Honors
Grade Level(s): 11
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Completion of American History
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in American History Honors/AP United States History or an “A” in American History Academic
This honors course provides both an introduction and an analytic perspective to the foundations, principles and processes that shape and direct the function of American government. This course includes independent reading, outlining, research questions, and active participation in class discussions. This course will emphasize the development of critical thinking, writing and application of knowledge skills. By the end of this course, students will be expected to explain and analyze the institutions and practices of American democracy, the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the relationship between the three branches of government at the national, state, and local levels.
0204 Advanced Placement United States Government & Politics
0204 Advanced Placement United States Government & Politics
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Completion of American History
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in American History Honors/AP Unites States History or an “A” in American History Academic
This challenging political science course is designed to provide students with an analytical perspective of the institutions of American government, democracy, and political behavior. In addition to acquiring an understanding of basic political institutions, students will closely analyze concepts and theories used to interpret U.S. government and politics. This course utilizes an AP- level textbook, political science essays and primary source documents, and resources from various approved online sources (news and political-based websites). A foundation in the basics of American government (the three branches, the Constitution, citizenship, and participation) is recommended but not required. Students are strongly encouraged to read any book which provides a basic, foundational view of these elements in the summer preceding their junior year (see teacher for examples). Students who successfully complete the course are strongly encouraged to take the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam given in May of each school year.
0202 Economics Academic
0202 Economics Academic
Grade Level(s): 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: Completion of American Government
This course is designed as an introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of economics with an emphasis on the American economic system. Students will develop a foundational understanding of both micro and macroeconomics and learn the basics of economic thinking, supply and demand, and other economic concepts. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze economic problems and make choices based on the consideration of costs and benefits.
0225 History of Western Civilization Academic
0225 History of Western Civilization Academic
Grade Level(s): 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: American Government
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in a previous Social Studies honors course or an “A” in an academic course
This survey course covers the history of western civilization and its significance to both American culture and other civilizations around the world. The course begins with an overview of the age of Greco-Roman civilization and continues through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the turn of the 20th century. Students will engage in higher-level writing/research assignments, analyze social, economic, and political events, evaluate primary sources, and participate in group discussions or historical simulations.
0222 Economics Honors
0222 Economics Honors
Grade Level(s): 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: Completion of American Government
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in a previous Social Studies honors course or an “A” in an academic course
This honors course will introduce students to the basics of both micro and macroeconomics. By analyzing economic markets, models, systems, and terms, students will begin to understand the economic way of thinking. This includes the study of business and investment, the role of the government in the economy, and performance indicators used to evaluate the health of the economy. Students will be expected to demonstrate high level critical thinking, reading, and writing skills through assignments, class participation in discussions, group activities and document/resource question analysis.
0227 Advanced Placement Micro and Macroeconomics
0227 Advanced Placement Micro and Macroeconomics
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in a previous Social Studies honors or AP course or an “A” in an academic course
This university level course will provide a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of micro and macroeconomics. Students study economics that applies to the function of individual decision makers within a society and the function of an economic system. Students are encouraged to think critically about economics, promote an awareness and understanding of internationalism in economics and encourage students’ development as independent learners. Assessments include multiple choice, free response, and data-based tests, in addition to projects and presentations. Students who successfully complete this course are encouraged to take two Advanced Placement Exams administered in May of each school year.
SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVE COURSES
0223 History in the Headlines
0223 History in the Headlines
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
Students will develop a historical perspective through inquiry and analysis of current social, political, economic, and technological world, national, and regional events. This course will be taught using mainstream news sources. Students enrolled in this course will increase their knowledge of the world, national, and regional issues. They will enhance their ability to observe events from a critical perspective and improve their global awareness.
0212 Leadership
0212 Leadership
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
The main emphasis of this course will be to help students become personal leaders. Students will develop skills and study the components of personal mastery. Also, students will analyze the positive and negative aspects of historical and contemporary leaders. This course is excellent for students interested in leadership roles in the family, school, or community environments.
0229 Philosophy
0229 Philosophy
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
Have you ever asked yourself questions that you weren’t sure how to answer? Is the death penalty justice? Will a good person ultimately live a happy life? Are love and attraction the same thing? Philosophy is a course that looks at these difficult questions about human nature and the world around us and teaches you how to think critically about them. This class will explore some of the major philosophical questions such as love and beauty, morality and ethics, truth and reality, self and the universe. Students will apply logic and reason to seek answers to these questions and investigate how these questions have been answered by the great philosophers throughout time. Philosophy is a participation centered class. Students who take this course should enjoy contributing to class discussions and engaging in lively debates.
0228 Psychology
0228 Psychology
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
This course is designed to give students an introduction to the study of human behavioral and mental processes with particular emphasis on how course content connects to greater personal understanding of ourselves. The course will focus on a brief foundation of biopsychology, sensation and perception, consciousness, memory, learning, cognition, motivation, emotion, stress, personality and psychological disorders. Students taking the course should enjoy engaging in class discussions, guided lectures, group projects, and independent and collaborative learning activities. Students should anticipate an average of two homework assignments each week to support initial learning or reinforcement of course material.
0214 Sociology
0214 Sociology
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
Students taking sociology will be provided with a greater understanding and appreciation of the theoretical background, content, and research methodology of the field of sociology. The course is designed as an introductory survey addressing topics such as: cultural diversity, social structure, group dynamics, adolescence, deviance, and socialization. In this course, students will examine socially transmitted beliefs, values, institutions, behaviors, traditions and way of life of a group of people and their interaction with one another through group and individual projects and class participation. Special focus will be placed upon the student recognizing his/her relationship to peers, social groups, and institutions. Students will be assessed through summative evaluation and project-based assessment.
0241 Advanced Placement Psychology
0241 Advanced Placement Psychology
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1
Length: Year
Recommended for students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in a Social Studies honors course or an “A” in an academic course
The goal of this rigorous course will be to promote a greater understanding of the methodology, theory, and research of psychology. This course will introduce the principle subject areas that make up the scientific study of human behavior. Students will have extensive required reading, many analytic writing assignments, and formal assessments in a seminar classroom setting. Students who successfully complete the course are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Examination (at their own expense), administered in May of each school year.
0206 American Legal Systems
0206 American Legal Systems
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
American Legal Systems is designed to provide students with a realistic understanding of law and the legal system in the United States. Emphasis will be on practical, participatory education concerning the law, legal rights and responsibilities, engagement in the democratic process, and the criminal justice system. The course is designed to improve basic skills, including observation, problem solving, critical thinking, and reasoning. The curriculum includes a balance of legal knowledge and application of this knowledge through discussion and activities such as legal case studies and a mock trial. This course also exposes students to real-life situations related to law by providing field trip opportunities to local courts. This course will give students an introduction to the knowledge and skills that are required for a legal career, but it is not limited to those considering such a vocation.
0207 Community Service Learning
0207 Community Service Learning
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Credit: .5
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: A valid driver’s license, be able to provide transportation to and from the site, be in good standing with attendance and grades and have no disciplinary suspensions
Students enrolled in community service will engage in active participation in community service at delegated, local, non-profit or for-profit community agencies/sites. These sites include but are not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, libraries and day- care centers. After an orientation period, students will meet weekly for one period of classroom instruction and four periods of field experience at the community service site. Evaluations will be based on the completion of a set of competencies, including, but not limited to: 54 hours of documented community service, a daily journal, weekly class attendance, individual/group projects and online proficiency. This course may not be repeated.
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