Social Studies

AP Economics

1 credit – Grade 10, 11, 12

(1 period per day for 1 year)

Supplementary Materials: Approximately $40 for supplemental books

This course surveys the microeconomic and macroeconomic theory typically delivered in an introductory economics course at the college level. While the content focuses on the United States’ economy, students will also study the implications of globalization. Students are expected to read college level texts, think and write at a critical level, and manage daily reading assignments. The cost for supplemental reading materials for this course will be approximately $40.

The instruction is designed to develop economically literate citizens as well as prepare students to take the Advanced Placement examination in both microeconomics and macroeconomic in the spring. Students who perform well on the AP exams may earn college credit.

AP European History

1 credit — Grades 10, 11 & 12

(1 period per day for 1 year)

Fee: Supplementary Books- $40

AP European History will introduce the student to the significant people and events of Europe between the fifteenth and twenty-first centuries that have shaped the modern world. Our current values, culture, government and economic systems are largely a product of developments in European history. This course provides students with intensive insight into these developments of European history and their global impact.

AP European History is a college level course that prepares the student to take the AP European History Exam. The student will be required to read college level texts and supplemental readings. The student will learn how to read and critically analyze primary and secondary sources. The student will also learn how to craft argumentative essays, both ‘Long Essays’ and ‘Document Based Question Essays.’ The development of critical reading and clear analytical writing skills will be a focus of this course.

AP European History will cover the major historical developments of The Renaissance; The Reformation & Religious Wars; the rise of Constitutional and Absolute Monarchies; The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment; The French Revolution & Napoleon; the Eighteenth Century developments of Romanticism, Liberalism, Conservatism and Nation-States; European Imperialism; The First World War and Modernism; The rise of Fascism & Communism; The Cold War; and the current issues of Modern Europe.

To prepare students for both the rigor and content of the course, there will be a summer reading assignment.

The purpose of an Advanced Placement course is to provide a college level classroom experience. Students who perform well on the AP examination in May may earn college credit.

This course fulfills the state graduation requirement for global history.

AP U.S. Government and Politics

1 credit - Grades 10

(1 period per day for 1 year)

Fee: Supplementary Book: $15

This course is designed to give students a critical perspective on government and politics in the United States. AP Government and Politics involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret American politics and the analysis of academic writings. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political reality. Major topics to be addressed will be the constitutional underpinnings of American government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties and interest groups, institutions and policy processes of national government, public policy, and civil rights and civil liberties. Students will be required to read college level texts and supplemental materials. Writing may include free responses and essays. Students who perform well on the AP examination in May may earn college credit.

The AP Government course is intended to prepare students for the AP Government test. Students enrolled in the course are strongly encouraged to take the AP test in May. Students taking the AP test will use their AP score as part of their graduation point calculation instead of Ohio’s end of course exam, from which they are excused. Students enrolled in AP Government opting not to take the AP Government test are required to take Ohio’s end of course exam in American Government. Because the curricular standards for these courses differ and because end of course exam scores account for one part of the formula used to qualify for graduation, those enrolled in AP Government who opt out of the AP test may be required to attend supplemental sessions to cover gaps in content in order to be better prepared for the end of course exam. Students should be aware these supplemental sessions will not replace all of the material in the state curriculum that would be covered in the non-AP Government course offered at the high school.

AP World History

1 credit

Grades 11 or 12 (1 period per day for 1 year)

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 special focus on historical developments and processes that cross multiple regions.

This course fulfills the state graduation requirement for global history.

Students who perform well on the AP examination in May may earn college credit.

Global History

1 credit - Social Studies

Grade 12

(1 period per day for 1 year)

This course takes a regional approach to addressing the modern issues of the following areas: the Middle East & Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. What role has religion played? How has war shaped these regions? What are the cultural and economic patterns that continue to shape, unify, and divide these regions? What do I need to know to understand and engage in today’s modern world?

This course fulfills the state graduation requirement for global history.

IB Psychology HL Yr 1 & Yr 2

1 credit — Grades 11, 12

(1 period per day for 2 years)

IB Fees: The approximate cost for a single IB course is approximately $120

Psychology is most appropriately defined as the systematic study of behavior and experience. In recent years great attention has been given to cultural variables to study the diversity of human behavior in a more comprehensive way. Psychology has taken a leading role in the investigation of the relationship between physiological processes and the human experience. The rapid increase in globalization and the use of technology calls for greater insights into how individuals interpret meanings, relationships, and health. Students will explore these complex issues and develop a greater understanding of themselves and others.

In the first year of the course students will study the biological, cognitive, learning and humanistic perspectives of psychology. They will also be introduced to Quantitative and Qualitative research methods as well as the Ethics of Research. The second year of study will focus on the psychology of dysfunctional behavior and social psychology. Over the course of the two years students will be required to design, undertake, and report one experimental study using both descriptive and inferential statistics. This will serve as their Internal Assessment. The course concludes with IB External Assessments, which are comprised of three written examinations in May of the student’s senior year.

All students enrolled in IB Courses are required to take all IB Internal and External assessments. In October of the final year of the course, students will be required to pay IB fees which cover the cost of registration with the IBO, international curriculum and examination development, Internal and External assessments, and examination fees. For more on the cost of the IB program, see here.

IB World Religions SL

1 credit

IB Fees: The approximate cost for a single IB course is approximately $120

(1 period per day for 1 year)

IB World Religions is a one-year, standard level, course. It provides a systematic, analytical yet empathetic study of the variety of beliefs and practices encountered in nine main religions of the world. The course seeks to promote an awareness of religious issues in the contemporary world by requiring the study of a diverse range of religions.

The religions should be studied in such a way that students acquire a sense of what it is like to belong to a particular religion and how that influences the way in which the followers of that religion understand the world, act in it, and relate and respond to others.

The course consists of an introductory unit, exploring five of the nine living world religions that form the basis of the syllabus. This is complemented by an in-depth study of two religions chosen from six world religions. This part of the syllabus is guided by themes, key concepts and key questions. The final component is the investigative study, which provides opportunities for individual research of an aspect of the religious experience, practice or belief of a group and/or individual adherents.

Students should be introduced to a range of world religions reflecting different traditions, beliefs and practices. Five religions must be selected, at least one from each of the three columns (approximate teaching time is 50 hours, that is, 10 hours for each religion).

Psychology

0.5 credit — Grades 10, 11, 12

(1 period per day for 1 semester)

Psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of organisms, with the ultimate objective being to understand better why human beings behave the way they do. A main objective of the course is to introduce the student to the various areas of study in the field of psychology. Some issues covered are: What is the difference between “normal” and “abnormal” behavior? What do the terms “crazy,” “insane,” “madness” mean? How can we remember more? What techniques can improve learning and make the learning process more efficient? Is there such a thing as ESP? Does one inherit a personality? A variety of methods are used to present the material: classroom demonstrations and experiments, speakers, lectures, audiovisual materials, group activities, and class discussions. Emphasis is placed on developing reading and listening skills.

Sociology

0.5 credit — Grades 10, 11, 12

(1 period per day for 1 semester)

Sociology is the science that deals with the investigation and analysis of people in groups and the effects of groups on people. During this course, the student will be acquainted with the basic concepts, theories, theorists, and methods used to investigate society and social problems. Topics for examination will include culture, conformity and deviance, crime, social structure, social roles, the family and socialization, prejudice and discrimination, and poverty. In studying these topics, group activities, discussions, audiovisual materials, speakers, and individual projects will be used.