Social Studies

Required Courses of Study:

#103 U.S. History: 1 credit

This course studies the development of the U.S. into a mature state and world power. It presents a broad sweep of American History from Reconstruction through World War II, including the growth of labor unions, western expansion, industry and domestic and foreign policies.

#108 Recent US History: 1 credit

This a contemporary course from the Cold War to present day events. This course includes a study of critical issues dealing with social, political, cultural and economic change, which impact our current day domestic and foreign policies.

#121 World History 1 credit

This course begins with a review of the fall of the Roman Empire and then examines the middle ages and its influence on the growth of Western Europe. Next, study is focused on the following units: the Flowing of The East, the Age of Feudalism, the Age of Monarchies, the Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Discovery, Our Changing World, Nations and Empires, and concludes with a look at the Twentieth Century. This course may be replaced by AP World History.

# 123 Advanced Placement World History (Grade 11) 1 credit

The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. The course emphasizes relevant factual knowledge deployed in conjunction with leading interpretive issues and types of historical evidence. The course builds on an understanding of cultural, institutional and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage. Periodization, explicitly discussed, forms an organizing principle for dealing with change and continuity throughout the course. Specific themes provide further organization to the course, along with the consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study. This class may be taken in place of World History.

#125 Advanced Placement Government & Politics: United States (Grade 12)

1 credit

Curriculum is designed to give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. Students will study both general concepts used to interpret US politics and examine specific examples. The AP Government course requires the students to learn facts and concepts and understand typical political processes. The course will require students to master historical and analytic skills, including chronological and spatial thinking, historical research, and interpretation. Students will evaluate viewpoints presented through major print and electronic media, understand statistical data, and analyze trends related to significant political events. The curriculum will emphasize analysis and interpretation of date and relationships in US government and politics.

#114 Economics (Grade 12) ½ credit

Economics is a social science that studies how scarce resources are allocated to satisfy the unlimited wants of people. Students must recognize the domestic problems and causes of inflation, deflation, poverty, unemployment, low productivity, and the economic problems of the international community. Students also need economic knowledge to understand the free enterprise system and how it differs from the other economic systems such as Communism and Socialism. By understanding economic forces and economic laws, students are better prepared to survive in our highly competitive economic system.

#118 Government (Grade 12) ½ credit

This course is the study of the origins, structures, and functions of the national, state, and local governments of the United States and the role of the good citizen in relation to them. Students receive an in-depth study of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of our government.

All twelfth grade students are expected to take both economics and government unless they are taking the AP Government class.

Social Studies Electives:

#124 Psychology (Grades 11 and 12) ½ credit

Psychology is the study of human behavior. This course traces the development of modern psychology through the study of several "schools of behavior." Various psychological strategies are applied to help students gain insight into the behavior of themselves and others.

#126 Current National and International Issues ½ credit

This course provides the opportunity to examine issues on local, state, national, and international levels. Students will engage in a comprehensive look at the treatment of today's social, economic, and political problems, issues, and concerns.