U.S. HISTORY I

Course: 123181/223181 Credit: 1.0/Year Offered: Year Year Taken: 9

Prereq: None Fee: None

This year-long course is required of all freshmen.  Students will study early Native American cultures, European exploration and colonization, the development of the American Revolution, the U.S. Constitution, U.S. westward expansion, the institution of slavery throughout U.S. history, and the significance of the U.S. Civil War.  This course fosters the development of skills needed for future social studies courses.  These study skills include note taking, conducting historical research, and analytical writing.

U.S. HISTORY II

Course: 123211/223211 Credit: 1.0/Year Offered: Year Year Taken: 10

Prereq: None Fee: None

This year-long course is required of all sophomores.  The course will study the political process, including reform movements and conservative periods; the opportunities and problems with the continued development of capitalism; to the post-industrial period; our nation's involvement in war and peace; and major social developments of the twentieth century through the lives of ordinary Americans.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. HISTORY

Course: 123221/223221 Credit: 1.0/Year Offered: Year Year Taken: 10

Prereq: Successful completion of US History I and teacher approval Fee: None

Advanced Placement U.S. History is a course designed to offer students the opportunity to critically evaluate our history while developing higher level historical thinking skills.  The goal of this college-level course is to prepare sophomore students for the AP exam offered in the spring.  Passing the exam offers students the opportunity to earn college credit.  This course will take the place of U.S. History II which is the required course for sophomores.  AP U.S. History is divided into nine periods where students will examine history from the pre-Columbian period to modern United States events.  Students’ experience in U.S. History I will serve as a foundation for this course and will establish a recommendation for AP U.S. History.  This class will demand self-study, commitment to reading and writing.  A genuine interest in history will benefit students greatly in this higher level course.

Note: U.S. History I instructor signature required to take this course. 

WORLD HISTORY

Course: 123241/223241 Credit: 1.0/Year Offered: Year Year Taken: 11

Prereq: None Fee: None

This year-long course is required of all juniors.  World History provides a panoramic view of our world through the ages.  The course is a balance between European, Asiatic, Latin American, and African history.  Each unit focuses on the development and significance of the history and culture of the time period studied.  The major objective of the course is to provide an understanding of today's world by viewing selected areas of the world, such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, China, South Asia and Europe.  Francois Rabelais once wrote:  "Then I began to think, that it is very true which is commonly said, that the one-half of the world knoweth not how the other half liveth."  Upon completion of this course, the student will have explored "how the other half liveth".

ECONOMICS

Course: 123041/223041 Credit: .5/Sem Offered: Semester I or II Year Taken: 10-12

Prereq: None Fee: None

Imagine this:  you’re hanging out with your friends, it’s starting to get late, and you decide it’s time to go home.  How did you make that decision?  What factors did you consider?  Economics is the study of the choices we make every day.  In Economics, a one-semester course, we will investigate how we make decisions about how we use our resources.  If you’ve ever wondered what caused the 2008 financial crisis or why the mall keeps losing stores, Economics is the class for you.  We will look into the basics of understanding economics and economy, how producers and consumers decide the appropriate prices for goods, the stock market, different market structures like monopolies, how the government gets involved in the economy for better or worse, personal financial literacy, and much more.  Economics is strongly recommended, but not required, for AP Microeconomics and/or AP Macroeconomics.

Course meets Financial Literacy requirements as set forth by Wausau School District. 

GOVERNMENT

Course: 123071/223071 Credit: .5/Sem Offered: Semester I or II Year Taken: 10-12

Prereq: None Fee: None

Government is a semester long course open to grades 10 – 12.  What is government? How do communities, states, and countries keep in order? How do things get done? How do decisions get made? These are just some of the questions we will look at in Government. Over the course of the semester, the course will give an introduction to how America works by looking at how and why governments are created, your liberties and rights within the government, as well as the political institutions within government. Also, you will look at developing your own political beliefs as we discuss and debate current news events, political issues, and social problems as a basis for understanding what it means to be an American today. Finally, after looking at the structure of our government, we will apply what we have learned to the understanding of key American issues and policies, both foreign and domestic.

INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY

Course: 123131/223131 Credit: .5/Sem Offered: Semester I or II Year Taken: 10-12

Prereq: None Fee: None

Psychology is everywhere! Understanding how and why we think, feel, and act like we do are insights that anyone can use in everyday life. This semester-long course is designed to introduce students to the field of Psychology and its practical applications. This survey course will include: introduction/research, sensation & perception, learning, development, personality, and Social Psychology. Come see what Psychology is all about!

SOCIOLOGY

Course: 123271/223271 Credit: .5/Sem Offered: Semester I or II Year Taken: 11-12

Prereq: None Fee: None

Sociology is a semester long course that investigates the study of human behaviors.  This course also examines the interactions between groups and institutions within our society.  If you are interested in understanding the patterns of human interdependence that shape your daily life, then Sociology is a course for you.  Sociology will help develop understandings and skills needed to work with others to solve problems and analyze information.  These skills are recognized by employers as being important in the work setting and will serve you well in the career path of your choice.

AP PSYCHOLOGY

Course: 123141/223141 Credit: 1.0/Year Offered: Year Year Taken: 11-12

Prereq: None Fee: None

Who are we, and why do we do the things we do?  There are so many facets to human behavior.  The brain, genetics, childhood, learning, thinking, intelligence, motivation, emotion, personality, culture, gender and society are all factors in who we are, and who we will become.  This course covers all of these topics in addition to research methods, sensation and perception, stress and states of consciousness and abnormal psychology.  This is a college-level course designed to help you understand both how Psychology is studied, as well as what the field has uncovered regarding human and animal behavior.  Further, you will apply what you have learned to major issues in society today.  This course is designed to earn you credit on the AP exam and to give you experiences that will help prepare you for your post-secondary life.  Most importantly, it will get you to think about yourself and others around you in meaningful ways.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY

Course: 123291/223291 Credit: 1.0/Year Offered: Year Year Taken: 10-12

Prereq: None                            Fee: None

Jealous kings, calculating queens, and scheming dukes. Heresies and witchcraft. Collapsing dynasties and rising nations. Pandemics, disease, and pestilence.  Colonization, conquest, genocide, and world wars. AP European History will examine how Europe was shaped by disasters and conflict, but also how democracy, science, enlightened thought, and reform movements helped events in Europe shape the world today.  This is a class that will appeal to fans of history and tricorn hats.  College credit is possible by taking the optional AP exam at the end of the school year.

AP MICROECONOMICS

Course: 123321 Credit: .5/Sem Offered: Semester I Year Taken: 11-12

Prereq: Economics is recommended but not required Fee: None

AP Microeconomics is a one-semester course offered during the 1st semester.  It may be taken prior to AP Macroeconomics or as a stand-alone AP class.   The course focuses on a college level study of Microeconomic concepts, including marginal costs/benefits, supply and demand, elasticity, structure of markets, welfare analysis, consumer and producer surplus, externalities and the role of government, total cost, output, revenue, and game theory. Students will have the opportunity to obtain 3-5 college credits for Microeconomics by passing the AP test.

AP MACROECONOMICS

Course: 223321 Credit: .5/Sem Offered: Semester II Year Taken: 11-12

Prereq: Economics is recommended but not required Fee: None

AP Macroeconomics is a one-semester course offered during the 2nd semester.  It may be taken after AP Microeconomics or as a stand-alone AP class.  The course focuses on a college level study of Macroeconomic concepts, including international trade, currency exchange, production possibilities and trade-offs, supply and demand, measures of economic performance, the circular flow of goods and services, fiscal and monetary policy, money and banking, productivity and unemployment, budget deficits and inflation, and supply/demand side economic policies.  Students will have the opportunity to obtain 3-5 college credits for Macroeconomics by passing the AP test. 

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT

Course: 123281/223281 Credit: 1.0/Year Offered: Year Year Taken: 11-12

Prereq: Junior or Senior Fee: None

This year-long course parallels a college level Introduction to the U.S. Government course.  Students may earn college credit upon successful completion of the AP Exam in May.  AP U.S. Government introduces students to the philosophical foundations for government, interactionswithin and between key inst, institutions, policies, interactions, roles and behaviors that characterize the political culture of the United States.  Students will learn how to assess causes and consequences of political events and interpret data to develop evidence-based arguments.  Throughout the year, you will develop your own political beliefs as we discuss current events, political issues, and social problems as a basis for understanding how our governmental system works today.

This class is approved by the NCAA Eligibility Center