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Prerequisites: None
Semester 1-2, One Credit per Semester
Global Studies builds upon the World History segment begun in grades 6 and 7. It is an introductory level survey course of world events from 1800 to the present. The end goal of this course is to equip students with the skills, tools, and analytical thinking abilities to fully participate as a productive citizen in a changing world through analysis and understanding of past historical events and the relationship of those past events to today. This yearlong course is structured in 10 chronological units: A Review Bridge Unit (reviewing the building blocks of modern societies taken from the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the English Civil War and finishing with the French Revolution), Industrial Revolution, Imperialism (Africa & SE Asia), Imperialism (China & Japan), World War I and the Russian Revolution, Between the Wars and the Rise of the Dictators, World War II, The Cold War, Emerging Nations and Struggles for Democracy, and Global Interdependence and Unresolved Problems in the Modern World.
General Global Studies
Grade 9
Prerequisites: None
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
The objectives of this course are to develop an awareness and understanding of the present conditions in major areas of the world. To do this, students will examine the social, political, economic and religious roots of a number of important countries with different cultural backgrounds and development. Teachers and counselors will determine placement.
United States History 1
Grade 10
Prerequisites: World History
Semester 1 or 2, One credit per semester
This is a survey course based on the history of America from 1850 to 1900. It takes into account the buildup of sectionalism in America leading to the Civil War. Reconstruction, the American West and the industrialization of America are also major topics covered this semester. Emphasis is placed on major trends, biography, significant documents and relationships to present day events within the context of aiding students in the art of critical thinking.
United States History 2-3
Grade 11
Prerequisites: United States History 1
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
This is a survey course based on the history of America from 1900 to the present. The first semester focuses on America from 1900 through World War II. Second semester the content emphasizes post war America to the present. Emphasis is placed on major trends, biography, significant documents and relationships to present day events within the context of aiding students in the art of critical thinking.
General US History 1-3
Grade 10-11
Prerequisites: None
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
This is a survey course based on the history of America from 1850 to World War II. Instruction is presented in a chronological fashion covering America’s expansion, immigration, civil rights, economic history, war, peace, global leadership as well as American Presidents and American Culture will also be covered. Teachers and counselors will determine placement.
AP United States History
Grade 11
Prerequisites: Semester grades of B or better in freshman and sophomore English and Social Studies courses
Semester 1-2, One Credit per Semester
AP United States History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn students college credit. It is a two-semester survey of American history from the age of exploration and discovery to the present, with political, social, economic, intellectual, diplomatic, and cultural approaches. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay and research writing, interpretation of original documents and literature, and historiography, or the "history of history".
American Government
Grade 12
Prerequisites: Junior year United States History
Semester 1 or 2, One credit
This course focuses on the principles and ideas behind our form of government and how it functions. The major topics of study include the Federal system, the US Constitution, state government, local government, the individual and the law, and the participating citizen.
General American Government
Grade 12
Prerequisites: Junior Year US History
Semester 1 or 2, One credit
This course is designed to give students a working knowledge of American government at the local, state, national and international levels. Students will study the functions of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. The course is designed to give students the knowledge they need to become participants in the political process. The completion of a Constitutional Binder Project as well as an observation of our judicial system at work is required for this class. Teachers and counselors will determine placement.
Contemporary Problems (may be once repeated for credit)
Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester 1 or 2, One credit
In this course some current problems of society are studied. These problems may be international, national, state, or local. Through a study of current problems, the students discover ways in which the citizen can become better informed and actively involved in the democratic process. Student discussion is emphasized in this course. Students may repeat this course once for a total of 2 semesters.
Economics
Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: United States History 1
Semester 1 or 2, One credit
This course is designed to introduce students to the economic realities of the modern world. It is a myth that economics only involves the use of money. Economics focuses on the choices that people make every day as consumers, the choices made by business, and the choices made by government. Economics explores the reasons why society makes the choices it does and how those decisions may affect both the individual and the group. Economics is, in reality, a study of human behavior within the confines of various economic systems and laws. This course will introduce the concept that every decision made by our society, from consumer to business to government, has an economic cost and/or consequence. The process should allow the students to choose what for them or society in general would be the best combination of costs and benefits.
AP Economics
Grade 12
Prerequisites: Semester grades of B or better in Social Studies and upper-level Math courses
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
The study of economics is divided into two main parts: microeconomics and macroeconomics. Using the university system as a base, the high school will offer a year long microeconomics and macroeconomics survey. Microeconomics comes from the Greek work for "small". It is concerned less with the small elements in an economy that it is with the individual elements. It is the study of how the choices of individual decision-making units and the function of individual markets determine how society's scarce resources are allocated and how income is distributed among its members. Macroeconomics comes from the Greek word for "large". It is concerned less with the large elements in an economy than it is with the collective or aggregated elements, regardless of size. It is the study of how many and aggregate expenditure or investment behavior determines the levels of output, employment and prices within an entire economic system. Students will need to commit additional independent time and effort second semester for their preparation to take the AP Exam in May.
Psychology
Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: United States History 1
Semester 1 or 2, One Credit
This survey course introduces students to the study of human development. Using basic methods of psychological research, students will learn about the various factors influencing human behavior. Topics of study will include sensory processes and perception, learning and memory, motivation, emotion, intelligence, the structure of personality, abnormal psychology, therapy, and the biological basis of behavior. In-class experiments and demonstrations are frequently used to illustrate and clarify major concepts. An emphasis is placed upon students relating the course content to their own lives.
AP Psychology
Grade 12
Prerequisites: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Through the use of a systematic and scientific method of study, this AP course in Psychology will introduce students to the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students will be exposed to the psychological facts, principles and theories associated with each of the major subfields of psychology - biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, cognition, motivation and emotion, developmental psychology, personality, testing and individual differences, abnormal psychology, treatment of psychological disorders and social psychology. Students will also learn about and use methods of study employed by psychologists. This class is designed to be comparable to an introductory college course in psychology. In addition all students are expected to take the AP exam given in the spring.
Leadership for Social Justice
Grade 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester 1 or 2, One credit per semester
This social studies elective course will consist of three main units. First, students will explore their own leadership strengths and areas of weakness, along with various leadership styles and their levels of effectiveness. Then, students will research and present on topics related to inequity, such as issues associated with gender, race, or sexual orientation. Finally, students will identify specific inequities they see in their school and community and, using a service learning format, will create an action plan including communication, networking and collaboration efforts to influence positive change.
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