History & Social Sciences

HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

MODERN WORLD HISTORY COLLEGE PREP (Grade 9) (NCAA)

The major focus of this course is to expand awareness and critical thinking while increasing knowledge about the modern world. The class scope will encompass world activities from the Renaissance epoch to the late 20^th century. The course will promote world citizenship with a study of historical, geographical, political, social, and economic aspects of life around the world. By reading about world histories and cultures, students will learn to recognize and analyze patterns of continuity and change. This course places an emphasis upon challenging activities and questions that promote critical thinking.

MODERN WORLD HISTORY HONORS (Grade 9) (NCAA)

The major focus of this course is to expand awareness and critical thinking while increasing knowledge about the modern world. The class scope will encompass world activities from the Renaissance epoch to the late 20^th century. The course will attempt to promote world citizenship with a study of historical, geographical, political, social, and economic aspects of life around the world. By reading about world histories and cultures, students will learn to recognize and analyze patterns of continuity and change. This course places an emphasis upon challenging activities and questions that promote critical thinking. Emphasis will be placed upon scholarly readings and work from advanced texts.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT WORLD HISTORY (Grade 9) (NCAA)

The focus of the AP World History course is 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. Student MUST take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

UNITED STATES HISTORY I COLLEGE PREP (Grade 10) (NCAA)

A study of United States History from the Pre-Colonial period through Reconstruction concentrating on the following general themes: the European-American heritage ,the Native-American heritage, African-American heritage, the role of women in American history, the Colonial Period, the American Revolution, the Constitutional Era, Jacksonian Democracy, the Reform Era, Manifest Destiny, the Civil War and Reconstruction. Multi-cultural contributions to developing American society will be stressed.

UNITED STATES HISTORY I HONORS (Grade 10) (NCAA)

A study of United States History from the Pre-Colonial period through Reconstruction concentrating on the following themes: the European-American heritage, the Native-American heritage, African-American heritage, the role of women in American history, the Colonial Period, the American Revolution, the Constitutional Era, Jacksonian Democracy, the Reform Era, Manifest Destiny, the Civil War and Reconstruction. Multi-cultural contributions to developing American society will be stressed. Emphasis will be placed upon scholarly readings and work from advanced college texts.

UNITED STATES HISTORY II COLLEGE PREP (Grade 11) (NCAA)

This course is a continuation of U.S. History I and the content includes a study of United States history from Industrialization (circa 1860) to the present concentrating on the following general themes: Industrial America. Protest Movements, Imperialism, the Progressive Movement, the First World War, the Great Depression, F.D.R. and the New Deal, the Second World War, the Cold War, the Kennedy-Johnson years, the Vietnam War, Post-Watergate foreign and domestic affairs, and contemporary America. Multi-cultural contributions to American society will be stressed.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY (Grade 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is a continuation of Honors U.S. History I. The content includes a study of United States history from Industrialization (circa 1860) to the present concentrating on the following general themes: Industrial America, Protest Movements, Imperialism, the Progressive Movement, the First World War, the Great Depression, F.D.R. and the New Deal, the Second World War, the Cold War, the Kennedy-Johnson years, the Vietnam War, Post-Watergate foreign and domestic affairs, and contemporary America. Emphasis will be placed upon scholarly readings and work from advanced college level texts. Multi-cultural contributions to American society will be stressed. The purpose of this course is to prepare the student to take the Advanced Placement U.S. History examination. Consequently, all instruction and learning is built around the form of the national Advanced Placement examination. Student MUST take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is designed to educate students about American government and its role within society and their everyday lives. In addition, students will be expected to express and develop their individual thoughts and ideas as well as begin to shape their own individual viewpoints. Students will begin their study of government by analyzing the various political philosophies that have been proposed throughout the ages. Students will determine how these various philosophies have impacted the development of the representative democracy found within the United States. Students will continue their governmental studies through the intense examination of American government. This examination will include the study of the three governmental branches as well as their overall powers and functions. Finally, students will analyze the individual rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States as well as discuss the overall limits to our freedoms. Student MUST take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural, economic, political and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live. Without this knowledge, we would lack the context for understanding the development of contemporary institutions, the role of continuity and change in present-day society and politics and the evolution of current forms of artistic expression and intellectual discourse. In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of AP European History are to develop (a) an understanding of some of the principle themes in modern European history, (b) an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, and (c) an ability to express historical understanding in writing. Student MUST take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

The AP Human Geography course is equivalent to an introductory college-level course in human geography. The course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. Student MUST take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

The Advanced Placement Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, analyze bias, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas. Student must take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

THE AMERICAN PROMISE: POWER, EQUALITY & FREEDOM (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) **NEW

In this one semester elective course, students will better understand the complexity of racial dynamics in the United States today. Using case studies, discussions, and various research projects, students will analyze the degree to which the ideals of freedom and equality have been upheld in America. Course content will be flexible based on student interest and current events but will focus on the following themes: power and privilege, property ownership and wealth, criminal justice, societal norms, and popular culture.

LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

This is a one semester course whose focus is designed to familiarize students with the basic concepts and vocabulary of the modern American legal system. Topics include the overall criminal justice system, juvenile justice system, civil law, contract law, consumer law, juvenile law, family law, and Constitutional law. Activities include familiarization with the trial process through the use of mock trial simulations, the analysis of major U.S. court cases, and interviewing guest speakers (i.e., lawyers, judges and members of the law enforcement community).

CONSTITUTIONAL AND TRIAL LAW (Grade 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

This semester-long course will be explore the development of Constitutional and Civil Rights law in the United States. Students will learn how to interpret and apply United States Supreme Court decisions in an effort to understand the historical and modern legal environments. Students will actively participate in moot court exercises that explore some of the greatest legal questions of our time. Students will then apply Federal and state statute, rules of evidence, and trial procedure to given scenarios during mock trial exercises. The course will include expert guest speakers from the legal

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

In this one semester survey course, students will investigate the regions and concerns of the modern world. The intention is for the student to gain a deeper understanding and respect for cultural differences in an increasingly global world. Students taking this course will have an opportunity to become more familiar with current world issues through discussions, cooperative learning, analytical and research writing, and individual or group-based projects and research. Active participation is a vital component of this class.

HISTORY & THE HOLLYWOOD CINEMA (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

This one semester course examines “historical” commercial films as they are presented to modern moviegoers. Students will learn to question what they see on the screen. Sorting through the hype for the accurate historical content and assessing the value of a film will be done through critical movie viewing, and research and analysis of primary and secondary sources.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA) *Not running 2021-2022

In this one semester elective course, students will examine various dynamic issues facing today’s world, whether as a citizen of the United States or as a member of the world community at large. This examination will enable them to discover their values and responsibilities as citizens in that society. Major historical, social, cultural, political, and economic issues in contemporary United States history will be highlighted in this course.

HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE (Grade 11, 12) (NCAA) *Not running 2021-2022

Holocaust and Genocide focuses on the impact of inhumanity throughout the history of the world. This one semester course will trace the history of Genocide in Modern Society and the impact these events have had on policy and overall societal tolerance. The course will have a primary focus on the inhumane behavior displayed in Nazi Germany before and during World War II. The class will initially study of the roots of anti-Semitism in Europe. This will be followed by a study of the philosophy, literature, propaganda and economic circumstances that conditioned the German populace for acceptance of Anti-Semitic policies. After intensive study of this event, the course will demonstrate that genocide has occurred in multiple places throughout the world in the modern era. The course will explore genocides such as the Armenian genocide, the genocide of American Indians and the Rwandan Genocide. The class will conclude by discussing if it is possible to eliminate events such as these or if this type of behavior is implicit within human society.