SOCIAL STUDIES CORE
COURSES
(3.5 Units required for graduation)
UNITED STATES HISTORY I
5 Periods 1 Year 1.0 Unit Grade 9
United States History I spans the age of exploration through Reconstruction. Students will be introduced to the diverse groups of people who formed a common bond while blending their individual cultures to shape the United States. The incorporation of works of literature into this course promotes the development of reading and writing strategies and will help students to better understand United States history.
*UNITED STATES HISTORY I - HONORS
5 Periods 1 Year 1.0 Unit Grade 9
United States History I Honors spans the age of exploration through Reconstruction. In-depth and detailed work in U.S. History will be completed. The structural relationships between politics, economics and sociology in the shaping of the contemporary U.S. will be emphasized. Much of the research and other projects will be individualized.
WORLD CULTURES
5 Periods 1 Year 1.0 Unit Grade 10
World Cultures traces the development of civilization from ancient to modern times. Consideration will be given to cultures in the global setting with emphasis on Western, Eastern, African, Middle Eastern and Latin cultures in current and historical perspective. A variety of historic materials will be used to enable students to approach the present world with an understanding of its institutions and ideas. The incorporation of works of literature into this course promotes the development of reading and writing strategies and will help students to better understand world cultures.
*WORLD HISTORY – HONORS
5 Periods 1 Year 1.0 unit Grade 10
This course is designed to trace the evolution of our global society through extensive analysis of contacts and interactions amongst civilizations throughout the world. The course will build an understanding of historical, cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the stage for our existence.
*WORLD HISTORY – ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Fulfills graduation requirement for 10 th Grade World Cultures 5 Periods 1
Year 1.0 Unit Grade 10
World History Advanced Placement highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. Focused primarily on the past thousand years of the global experience, the course builds on an understanding of geography and cultural, institutional, and technological precedents. Students will prepare for the Advanced Placement Examination in World History.
UNITED STATES HISTORY II
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 11
United States History II is designed to give students an understanding of the 20 th century evolution of our nation. The period since 1865 has been a time of great political, economic, social and cultural change – a transition from an agrarian America to that of the unique, urban society of today. The incorporation of works of literature into this course promotes the development of reading and writing strategies and will help students to better understand United States history.
*UNITED STATES HISTORY II - HONORS
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 11
United States History II Honors will include in-depth focus on major events from the Reconstruction through the present. Other focuses will include contemporary approaches to history and historical research – use to be made of oral history, history as seen by the non-professional observer, music, films, etc. Individual research and projects will be emphasized. The incorporation of works of literature into this course promotes the development of reading and writing strategies and will help students to better understand United States history.
*UNITED STATES HISTORY - ADVANCED PLACEMENT
5 Periods 1 Year 1.0 Unit Grade 11
United States History Advanced Placement is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in American History. The enhancement of college skills, including the ability to use critical analysis in thinking and writing, is emphasized. Students will utilize a variety of materials, including primary sources, to analyze and interpret the interrelationship among social, cultural, political, and economic developments in American History.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 12
United States Government focuses on the study of the United States Constitution. Major emphasis will be placed on the powers and duties of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the government at the federal, state and local levels. Students will have the opportunity to participate in Student Government Day. In order to understand and appreciate the American form of government, students will have the opportunity to explore and to evaluate the governments of other countries.
*UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT – ADVANCED PLACEMENT
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 12
United States Government Advanced Placement is designed for students preparing to take the Advanced Placement Examination in United States Government. The course involves the study of general concepts and the analysis of specific case studies. Topics to be explored are the Constitution, political beliefs and behavior, political parties and interest groups, institution and policy processes, and civil rights and civil liberties. Students will have the opportunity to participate in Student Government Day and/or We the People competitions.
ECONOMICS
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 12
Economics traces the development of the American economic system and its functions. Government efforts to resolve the recurring problems of inflation and unemployment will be examined. Opportunities will also be provided to investigate other relevant issues, including the legal and economic implication of private property, money and banking, consumer protection and financial security. Students will be introduced to the competing economic system of Capitalism, Socialism and Communism; and be made aware of the impact of global economic cooperation on the quality of their lives.
*MACROECONOMICS - ADVANCED PLACEMENT
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 12
Macroeconomics Advanced Placement students will analyze current economic issues including: budget deficits; inflation; unemployment and trade imbalance as well as the role of monetary and fiscal policies in pursuing the goal of growth and stability. Emphasis will be placed on the recognition of the value of cooperation among interdependent nations regardless of ideology on the level of economic development. Students prepare to take the Advanced Placement examination in Macroeconomics.
For electives that have limited enrollment, priority will be given to upper classmen who need the course to meet graduation, academy or pathway requirements.
CRIMINAL AND CIVIL JUSTICE
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 9, 10, 11, 12
Criminal and Civil Justice examines the controversies of individual and minority rights versus the authority of the government and/or the majority. It is vital that citizens be aware of their constitutional rights and responsibilities and of his/her access to law in both the criminal and civil legal processes.
PSYCHOLOGY
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 10, 11, 12
Psychology provides an introduction to the behavioral sciences. Psychology deals with elementary principles of the discipline and with personality development. Consideration will be given to abnormal and social psychology. Studies will be presented to illustrate specific instances of wholesome and unwholesome behavior.
SOCIOLOGY
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 10, 11, 12
Sociology provides students with background information about modern societies and social institutions. The course emphasizes analysis of problems that individuals and institutions encounter as they attempt to adjust to the ever-changing conditions that exist in the world today. Topics for examination include social organization, cultural and social change, and social problems.
INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL JUSTICE
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 10
Introduction to Civil Justice introduces students to the various aspects of non-criminal human interaction (i.e. Family Law, Tort Law, and Business Law). It is vital in the land of the free that citizens be aware of their constitutional rights and responsibilities and his/her access to legal and non-legal options in these various types of human confrontations. Students interested in the Law Academy are encouraged to take this course.
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
5 Periods ½ Year 0.5 Unit Grade 10
A society based on law is faced with the controversies of individual and minority rights versus the authority of the government and/or the majority. Rights technically secured by law are often denied in actual practice. Introduction to Criminal Justice is designed to make students aware of his/her constitutional rights and responsibilities and of his/her access to the law. Students interested in the Law Academy are encouraged to take this course.