Social Studies Department

Year Credit 1        Grade: 9  

This course completes a chronological study of world history from 1750 to the present. This study includes not only history but integrates each of the other six social studies standards. As students study each historical event, they consider the geographic setting, the cultural perspectives, the economic implications and the role of the governments. They develop a deeper understanding of their role as citizens and continue to expand their command of social studies skills and methods.

Year Credit 1    Grade: 9  

The Honors course requires students to learn concepts from the age of Enlightenment to the post Cold War era in greater depth.   Students will complete extended reading and writing assignments and focus on document analysis skill building and argumentative writing. A recommendation from 8th grade English and Social Studies teachers is required as well as an A or B in both courses. Students will be expected to complete a considerable amount of reading in this course. 

Year     Credit 1     Grade: 9

AP World History focuses on developing students’ abilities to think conceptually about world history from approximately 8000 BCE to the present and apply historical thinking skills as they learn about the past. Five themes of equal importance — focusing on the environment, cultures, state-building, economic systems, and social structures — provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation throughout the course. AP World History encompasses the history of the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with a special focus on historical developments and processes that cross multiple regions."

Year     Credit 1     Grade: 9

The AP European History course focuses on developing students' understanding of European history from approximately 1450 to the present. Students will investigate the content of European history for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in four historical periods, and develop and use the same thinking skills and methods (analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparison, chronological reasoning, and argumentations) employed by historians when they study the past. The course also provides six themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places. 

Year 1       Credit 1    Grade: 10 

This course will count toward the Citizenship graduation requirement 

This course completes the chronological study of the history of the United States began in eighth grade. This study includes not only history from 1877 to the present, but integrates each of the other six social studies standards. As students study historic events, they consider the geographic setting, the cultural perspectives, the economic implications and the role of the government. They develop a deeper understanding of their role as citizens and continue to expand their command of social studies skills and methods.

Year 1     Credit Year 1     Grade: 10

This course will count toward the Citizenship graduation requirement

Honors American History will cover historical topics from 1865 to the present. It will align its curriculum with the State of Ohio teacher standards for American History. Honors American History will take a deeper dive into historical topics discussed in the class, it will seek to develop students' historical writing skills and pre Advanced Placement skills based upon analysis of pertinent historical documents, images or cartoons."

Year     Credit      Grade: 10

This course will count toward the Citizenship graduation requirement

Prerequisite: Overall GPA of 3.0 and teacher recommendation. 

AP United States History is a survey course offering that is more rigorous than regular American History. The course is designed to provide upper level achievers with the analytic skills and factual knowledge to deal critically with the problems and materials in American History. Extensive individual reading will be required as the content gives an in-depth consideration by means of chronological and/or topical approach. Students will evaluate relevant materials to draw conclusions and synthesize meaning.  Students should be able to demonstrate oral and written skills to articulate ideas clearly to be successful with the college level course. Summer reading is a requirement and supports the rigorous pacing required by College Board. 

Year   Credit 1     Grade: 12

This course will count toward the Citizenship graduation requirement

American Government is meant to give students a broad overview of the politics of local, state, and national government in the United States. Students examine the three branches of government from a historical as well as contemporary viewpoint. An in-depth study of voter behavior and political campaigns will be examined in relation to primary and/or general elections being held at the same time. Students will leave the class understanding governing systems.

Year      Credit 1     Grade: 12

This course will count toward the Citizenship graduation requirement

Prerequisites: AP American History and an overall student GPA of 3.0  

AP Government is a survey study equivalent to the demands of an introductory college course in American Government. It is designed to give students a critical perspective on the development of the American political system. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret United States government and comparative government review to promote greater depth of comprehension. Active political participation will be encouraged to instill familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that make up the American political reality. At the conclusion of the course, students will have the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement Examination with the goal of qualifying for college credit. Students should be able to demonstrate oral and written skills to articulate ideas clearly to be successful with the college level course. Summer reading is a requirement and supports the rigorous pacing required by College Board. 

Year     Credit 1     Grade: 10-12

Prerequisite: Algebra I 

AP Economics is designed to teach students the basics of both Micro and Macroeconomics. 

The course is offered in one year; however, it is broken up into two separate units that are tested separately. Each test is the equivalent of a college semester course. The course begins with basic economic concepts before moving into more specific information. The course typically begins with Microeconomics and focuses on the personal and business level decisions that all of us must make in our lives. Once students have a proper understanding of economics at the smaller scale, the course moves to Macroeconomics, where the focus is on the large scale aggregate of all the decisions made at the Micro level. Macroeconomics also examines how countries make the economic decisions that they do, and how governmental policies can impact the nation and the entire world.

Year      Credit 1     Grade: 11-12

Prerequisites: Overall GPA of 3.0 and/or teacher recommendation. 

AP Psychology is designed to prepare students for the AP National Psychology Exam. It is equivalent to an introductory college course in psychology. All areas of psychology are covered. This includes but is not limited to; history and methodology, biological basis of behavior, states of consciousness, learning and cognition, memory, personality, sensation and perceptions, motivation, social psychology abnormal psychology and child development. Students are expected to complete a considerable amount of reading in the text and supplemental materials. This course requires students to synthesize and evaluate all material presented in both oral and written formats. There is a heavy emphasis on study skills and genuine class participation in activities and discussions.

Semester     Credit .5     Grade: 11-12

Prerequisite: American History, Honors American History, AP US History, or Equivalent 

This one-semester course leads students to critically examine the use of film in telling the history of the United States. In an ever more technology-driven society, many Americans use film dramatizations as their primary source of knowledge about our country’s past. Sometimes, these films present a distorted view of the facts. This course will allow students to examine this phenomenon through both a chronological and thematic approach to determine historical accuracy. Each week will begin with activities to introduce the historical era on which the film is based. Two to four days will be spent viewing key scenes of the film. The viewing of each film will be followed by a weekly film analysis assignment. Each quarter will end with an independent research project that will allow students to examine themes from the films previously viewed. The second independent research project will serve as the final exam.

Semester  Credit .5 Grade: 11-12

Contemporary Law is a semester practicum in law-related education. Students will be provided with useful information and problem solving opportunities that develop their knowledge and skills necessary for survival in our society. Students will be involved in mock trials, case studies, small group exercises, and visual analysis activities. 

Year     Credit 1     Grade: 11-12

This course addresses the dynamics of global interactions among nations and regions that affect all humanity. Topics of study may include global connections, civic participation, human rights, sustainability, technology, national security and international diplomacy. The global economy, interculturality and communication. The course includes an independent research component culminating in an end of course service learning or global issues project designed by students based on their interests and the skills and knowledge gained through the course. This course also provides support and guidance to students completing the capstone portion of the GLOBAL STUDIES CAPSTONE DIPLOMA program.

Semester     Credit .5     Grade: 11-12

Geography is a social studies offering for all grades. The course will include an in-depth examination of the cultural, economic, physical, and historic factors which have influenced the development of the world’s peoples. A major objective of the offering is to become familiar with basic geography, as well as an understanding of recent history and current events.

Semester     Credit .5    Grade: 11-12

This is a survey class that offers an overview of major themes in Psychology. Topics include; research methods and history, abnormal behavior, states of consciousness, learning, memory, personality and development. Students explore topics through outside research, reports and class presentations. The course requires both written and oral expression with an emphasis on higher level critical thinking skills.

Semester      Credit .5  Grade: 44877

This course will study the causes and effects of social problems in society with an emphasis on discussion and research. Students will investigate topics such as social groups; norms of society; poverty; deviant behavior, the family; aging; and crime as those issues have been considered in the past as well as their impact on today's world. Students will have an opportunity to design and conduct sociological research with encouragement to prose solutions to those problems of society they investigate.

Semester      Credit .5  Grade: 11-12

This course will study the causes and effects of social problems in society with an emphasis on discussion and participation. Students will investigate topics such as culture, social groups; norms of society; poverty; deviant behavior; the family; aging; and crime as those issues have been considered in the past as well as their impact on today's world. Students will have an opportunity to design and conduct sociological research with encouragement to propose solutions to those problems of society they investigate. This class would have additional requirements to the “on-level” Sociology class, including additional readings and projects. Students will be expected to interact with more rigorous text and generate analyses of social issues related to the units of study. This is an opportunity for students to build their reasoning skills in a relatable course of study.

Year     Credit 1     Grade: 11-12

Students will investigate the political, social, military, and cultural history of World War II and the Holocaust. Students will explore the origins and course of the war in both the European and Pacific theaters. In addition, students will examine major political figures important to the war, the tactics and technology used during combat; the military history of major battles; the social impact of the war on civilians both on the home front and those living in conquered regions. Students will also explore the history of the Holocaust through an in-depth look at Auschwitz and through a collection of resources and activities from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students will analyze the overall theme of understanding genocide to prevent/stop it in today's world is also examined. "