Social Studies Program
SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies
Standard 6.1 U.S. History: America in the World - All students will acquire the knowledge and skills to think analytically about how past and present interactions of people, cultures, and the environment shape the American heritage. Such knowledge and skills enable students to make informed decisions that reflect fundamental rights and core democratic values as productive citizens in local, national, and global communities.
Standard 6.2 World History/Global Studies - All students will acquire the knowledge and skills to think analytically and systematically about how past interactions of people, cultures, and the environment affect issues across time and cultures. Such knowledge and skills enable students to make informed decisions as socially and ethically responsible world citizens in the 21st century.
Standard 6.3 Active Citizenship in the 21st Century - All students will acquire the skills needed to be active, informed citizens who value diversity and promote cultural understanding by working collaboratively to address challenges that are inherent in living in an interconnected world.
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PLEASE NOTE:
Students MUST successfully complete three years of Social Studies (World History, US History 1 & 2) in order to fulfill graduation requirements.
SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM
Course Offerings
Academic Courses Grade Level Credits
World History 9 5.0
US History I 10 5.0
US History II 11 5.0
Honors Grade Level Credits
World History Honors 9 5.0
US History I Honors 10 5.0
US History II Honors 11 5.0
AP US HISTORY
Pre-AP US History 10 5.0
AP US History 11&12 5.0
Elective Courses Grade Level Credits
American Economic System 11-12 2.5
Anthropology 9-12 2.5
Contemporary Issues 11-12 2.5
Introduction to Sociology (CAP Course) 11-12 2.5
American Government 11-12 2.5
General Psychology (CAP Course) 11-12 2.5
Geography 9-12 2.5
Crime and Punishment in the US 10-12 2.5
History through Film 10-12 2.5
History of Sports 9-12 2.5
Conspiracy Theories & Media Literacy 9-12 2.5
World History - Grade Level: 9
Prerequisite: None
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
World History is an academic course which studies historical lessons and trends from the Renaissance to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the social political and economical developments that have led us to our present situation. Skills, materials, and technology addressed in this course will prepare students for higher education and/or workplace training. Inherent in the study of world history is a grade-appropriate focus on reading and writing skills necessary for students to develop their English language literacy.
World History Honors - Grade Level: 9
Weighted Course
Prerequisite: See Course Prerequisite Section
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
Honors World History/Cultures is an accelerated academic course covering the expanse of time from prehistory through the modern era for students reading above grade level who demonstrate the maturity and intellectual curiosity to study the material via primary source documents and scholarly texts. A combination of exercises and student independent projects will provide additional hands-on experience in the classroom. The emphasis of the course is on the development of critical thinking skills and superior academic skills required for advanced study. Students will have daily homework assignments and a larger number of independent readings/writings to supplement the course. A major research paper is required for completion of the course.
US History I - Grade Level: 10
Prerequisite: World History
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
This academic course begins with a review of Reconstruction following the U.S. Civil War and continues with an in-depth study of US history through the Presidential Election of 1936. An overt effort will be made to relate America's past to contemporary America and its problems. Emphasis will be placed on the active involvement of each student in the learning process through the use of a variety of appropriate techniques and materials. Beyond content mastery, this course stresses the development and use of application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills. Students will be challenged through reading, researching, thinking, public speaking and writing. Skills, materials, and technology addressed in this course will prepare students for higher education and/or workplace training. Inherent in the study of United States history is a grade-appropriate focus on reading and writing skills necessary for students to develop their English language literacy.
US History I Honors – Grades 10-11
Weighted Course
Prerequisite: See Course Prerequisite Section
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
Honors US History I is an accelerated academic course covering the expanse of time from the Reconstruction Period following the US Civil War through the Presidential Election of 1936. The course is designed for those students whose reading is above grade level and who demonstrate the maturity and intellectual curiosity to study the material via primary source documents and scholarly texts. A combination of exercises and student independent projects will provide additional hands-on experience in and beyond the classroom. The emphasis of the course is on the development of critical thinking skills and superior academic skills required for advanced study. Students will have daily homework assignments and a larger number of independent readings/writings to supplement the course.
US History II – Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: US History I
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
US History II is an academic course which begins with a review of the Presidential Election of 1936 and continues to the 21st century and current events, with a focus on relating America’s past to contemporary America. Emphasis will be placed on the active involvement of each student in the learning process through the use of a variety of appropriate techniques and materials. Beyond content mastery, this course stresses the development and use of application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills. Students will be challenged through reading, researching, thinking, public speaking and writing. Skills, materials and technology addressed in this course will prepare students for higher education and/or workplace training. Inherent in the study of United States history is a grade-appropriate focus on reading and writing skills necessary for students to develop their English language literacy.
US History II Honors - Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: US History I Honors or AP US History I
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
Honors US History II is an accelerated academic course begins with the impact of the great depression in the 1930's and moves through modern United State's History. The course is designed for those students whose reading is above grade level and who demonstrate the maturity and intellectual curiosity to study the material via primary source documents and scholarly texts. A combination of exercises and student independent projects will provide additional hands-on experience in and beyond the classroom. The emphasis of the course is on the development of critical thinking skills and superior academic skills required for advanced study. Students will have daily homework assignments and a larger number of independent readings/writings to supplement the course.
Pre-AP United States History – Grade Level 10
Weighted Course
Prerequisite: See Course Prerequisite Section
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
Students enrolled in Pre-Advanced Placement U.S. History will explore economic, cultural, social, and militarily significant events of U.S. history from the time period of American Exploration through 1865. This in-depth and intensely rigorous college level course focuses on the reading and analysis of a wide variety of primary sources. Students will also gain a greater understanding of complex geopolitical issues that helped to shape our American identity and our role in the world.
AP United States History – Grade Level 11-12
Weighted Course
Prerequisite: See Course Prerequisite Section
Duration: 200 minutes/week
Credits: 5
Students enrolled in Advanced Placement U.S. History will explore economic, cultural, social, and militarily significant events of U.S. history from the time period of 1965 to Present. This in-depth and intensely rigorous college level course focuses on the reading and analysis of a wide variety of primary sources. Students will also gain a greater understanding of complex geopolitical issues that helped to shape our American identity and our role in the world. Students who successfully complete both Pre-AP US History and AP US History should be fully prepared for the Advanced Placement Exam.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Electives
American Economic System - Grade Level: 11-12
Prerequisite: A minimum final average of 78% in preceding history course
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This academic course is the study of macro economics, micro economics, international economics and the fundamentals of economics. The course features the concepts of supply and demand, markets and prices, inflation and deflation, income distribution, scarcity and choice and employment. (Meets financial lit graduation requirement).
Anthropology - Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This academic elective program is designed to increase a student's awareness of humankind's ability to adapt to varying physical environments. Anthropology studies the similarities in human behavior throughout all societies and the means developed to meet common needs.
Contemporary Issues - Grade Level 10-12
Prerequisite: A minimum final average of 78% in preceding history course
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This academic elective course is designed to analyze and investigate the global issues. There will be a constant updating of political and world leaders, social problems, foreign relations, and cultural problems and their impact on our country. Students will be expected to maintain a daily awareness of current events as they relate to all of the above areas.
Introduction to Sociology - Grade Level: 11-12
Prerequisite: A minimum final average of 85% in preceding history course
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5 (DUAL CREDIT COURSE)
This DUAL CREDIT COLLEGE LEVEL course covers the fundamental concepts and methods of the scientific study of group behavior: institutional foundations of group life; social roles and interpersonal relations, and values and social processes. Students also relate sociological principles to current social issues and to comparable principles in other cultures.
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY - Grade Level: 11-12
Prerequisite: A minimum final average of 85% in preceding history course
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5 (DUAL CREDIT COURSE)
This DUAL CREDIT COLLEGE LEVEL course is an introduction to the basic foundations of behavior. Major topics are drawn from developmental psychology, motivation, emotion, learning, perception and the basic concepts of personality and adjustment.
American Government - Grade Level: 11-12
Prerequisite: A minimum final average of 78% in preceding history course
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
Students enrolled in American Government will receive a working knowledge of the governmental system under which they will live and in which they will play a vital role. Students will be given in-depth information on the history of our system of democracy, the Constitution, Federalism and the division of power, political parties and the electoral process. Students will gain a greater understanding of our unique system of government by exploration and examination in a classroom environment. The course will focus on the three branches of our government as set up within the framework of our Constitution. The objective of this course will be to educate students of their civic responsibility to play their part in assuring that our form of government functions both properly and impartially.
Crime and Punishment in the US - Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisite: A minimum final average of 78% in preceding history course
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This academic law-focused educational program emphasizes our legal system and its operations. A survey of the types of crimes and judicial procedures are incorporated in the course of study.
Geography - Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: A minimum final average of 78% in preceding history course
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This one semester academic elective is designed for students who have an interest in examining how physical land forms interact with the environment and the effects these interactions have on the U.S. and world economy. The course examines the physical features of planet earth (global land and water forms, climate and resources) and an analysis
of people and the environment by studying population distribution, land use, urbanization, and the boundaries of world regions. Emphasis will be placed on North America and its interrelationship with the rest of the world.
History Through Film – Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: none
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This academic course will examine movies as historical evidence. Many movies portray historical events inaccurately in order to entertain the viewer. In this course, students will be challenged to pursue the truth behind the films. A range of topics in American and World history will be covered as students will be required to critically analyze the film's accuracy, research the events surrounding the films, and to question the motives of the makers of the films.
History of Sports – Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: none
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This history elective class will examine the development of sports in America. Our historical study will focus on helping students gain a better understanding of the inner relationship that sport has on social, economic, cultural, and political forces that are at work in the United States as well as the world. We will examine the historical context as well as the significance of gender, race, ethnicity, and social class.
Conspiracy Theories & Media Literacy– Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: none
Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)
Credits: 2.5
This course will empower students to be active learners in our media-rich environment and to think critically about how media shapes and influences culture. Students will examine the rise of conspiracy theories and how the media in its various forms can serve to promote theories that have little basis in reality. The primary focus of this course is to examine various forms of media in popular culture and to understand their impact in terms of both their advantages and their limitations.