Social Studies
Courses

World Geography
This course introduces students to the physical and human world around them and helps them develop the means to examine that world. Facts and information on physical, cultural, political, and economic geography as well as abundant opportunity to refine the content through the exercise of map and globe skills, reading skills, and thinking skills will be provided to the student.

World History Studies
This course includes a survey of ancient medieval and modern times with an emphasis placed upon modern times. A background of world events will be presented to the student to help understand current events and world problems. Both Western and Non-Western areas of the world will be studied.

United States History
Content of this required course in United States History includes significant events, issues, and problems after the period of Reconstruction, emphasizing present-day issues, which have their roots in the past. This course builds upon knowledge and concepts, acquired in the first course (8th grade). The course includes historical concepts, citizenship principles and skills necessary for the study of US History. (Advanced students may elect to take US History AP at the senior high level.)
 
United States History - AP
The course is designed for students who have demonstrated the ability and interest to study United States history on the college level. The content for this course emphasizes the Colonial-Revolutionary War Period, Constitutional Period, the Age of Jackson, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Progressive Era, the New Deal, and the emergence of America as a world power after World War II. Cultural diversities and the role of minorities will be a major focus. Analytical and research skills will be used to study primary sources and scholarly works in an effort to discover the overall movement and fabric of United States history. The student will have the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement examination at the conclusion of the course. The student may take this course for the required US History credit or for elective credit.
 
American Studies – AP
American Studies is a course designed to maximize student benefit from the blending of the Advanced Placement US History and Advanced Placement Language courses. This course content focuses on the philosophical underpinnings of American writing and thought, along with an understanding of the historical climate associated with that writing.  The materials used by the teachers result in cognition on many levels; lecture, inquiry, group activities, and computer assignments address different learning styles. AP United States History is a survey course that covers the time period from approximately 1492 to the present, concentrating on major political, social, economic, intellectual, and cultural themes.  AP Language is a course designed to help students become skilled readers and writers who compose for a variety of purposes, aware of the use of rhetorical devices, writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects.  Students who enroll in American Studies MUST be in both AP US history and AP Language. 

United States Government (one semester)  
United States Government will assist students in acquiring knowledge of the structure, functions, and development of our system of government. The course will analyze the political institutions, processes, and civic values inherent in our political system and provide students the opportunity to develop and apply the participatory skills needed to carry out civic responsibilities and exercise their rights as citizens. It will also provide students the opportunity to analyze and compare political institutions, processes, and civic values of the United States with those of other political systems as well as opportunities to develop appropriate democratic values and support
for the American free enterprise system.
What's Next? Any History Elective
 
United States Government - Politics - AP (one semester)  
The Advanced Placement course in American Government is designed to give students a critical perspective on politics and government in the United States. This course involves both the studies of general concepts used to interpret American politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political reality. The student will have the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement examination at the conclusion of the course. This course may be used to fulfill the US Government requirement for graduation.
 
United States Government Comparative-AP (one semester)
This course is designed to help students gain knowledge of the world's diverse political structures and practices. It encompasses the study of both specific countries and of general concepts used to interpret the key political relationships found in almost all-national politics. This course will not fulfill the U. S. Government requirement for graduation.
 
Economics, with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System (one semester)
Economics is the study of how people and countries deal with the problem of scarcity--not enough goods and services to satisfy everyone's wants and needs. To understand this problem, students will study the market system, American business organizations, supply and demand, money and banking system, the national economy, international trade, and other economic systems.
 
Economics Macro - AP or Micro - AP (one semester)
(Either course may be used to fulfill graduation requirements.)
 Economics AP is designed for mastery of the essential elements and sub-elements as well as extension beyond this mastery. The macroeconomics course is designed to investigate the workings of the economy and market system as a whole; the microeconomics class investigates the workings of an individual firm within that system.  Specific activities for higher level thinking and problem solving have been integrated into the course. Numerous activities will center on the use of graphs, charts, and other raw data in an effort to extrapolate and ascertain fundamental statistical realities of the Free Market. Students will have the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement examination at the conclusion of the course.
 
Psychology (one semester)
This course will introduce the student to the science of psychology with emphasis on human behavior. Content of the course will include the study of the facts involved in learning and thinking, intelligence, human development, personality theories, defense mechanisms, abnormal behavior and treatment, and careers in psychology.
 
Psychology-AP (one semester)
Psychology AP is designed to meet the requirements of a college level course in psychology. Many topics explored in the regular course will be developed to a higher level. Students will then be given the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement examination in May.
 
Sociology – Honors also available (one semester)
Sociology presents a comparative look at group behavior in many cultures, social classes, and communities. It introduces the student to the ways sociologists investigate, describe, and analyze social life. The process of socialization, showing how both males and females learn cultural patterns and social norms as children, adolescents, and adults, is a major focus. The topics of race, ethnicity, poverty, and the role of change are also discussed.
 
European History-AP
The course is for the advanced social studies student who demonstrates the ability and interest to study a college level European history course. The content will include a study of the history of Europe from 1500 to the present. Analytical and research skills will be used to study primary sources and scholarly works. The student will have the opportunity to receive college credit for this course by demonstrating knowledge on an Advanced Placement examination.

Contemporary World Issues (one semester)
This course will emphasize the present and future world. As issues emerge, the historical, geographic, political, and economic context of the area and issue involved will be studied. Thus, this course should provide an excellent vehicle for further development and application of geographic knowledge and skills. Also, through reading and reference skills, students will be required to understand how a country such as the US is organized to respond to world issues and events, making citizenship and interdependent world a major focus.

**Updated November 2010**