Social Studies

The Social Studies Department offers a curriculum which challenges students to make informed, reasoned, and value-based decisions. They are encouraged to become responsible citizens of our culturally diverse, democratic society and knowledgeable participants in an interdependent world. Learning experiences are active, requiring students to create, role-play, simulate, debate, and present multimedia research projects designed to utilize traditional library resources and computer-based data. The Social Studies curriculum requires students to study contemporary American cultures, world history, United States history and government, and to select from a variety of social science electives in their senior year. A three-year honors program begins in the sophomore year with World History Honors and prepares students to take the Advanced Placement exams in both U.S. History and American Government.

American Government and Civics Grade 9 Semester course

The government course provides students with a background in the philosophy, functions, and structure of the United States government. The course fulfills one semester of the freshman requirement in social studies. Students will be introduced to major political issues facing American citizens in a culturally rich and diverse society. In addition, this course will provide a basis for understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a constitutional democracy and a framework for competent and responsible participation. Students will study basic history of our federal structure, as well as the past and present implications of the American governing system.

World History - Grade 10 - Year-long course

This course examines major turning points in the shaping of the modern world, with emphasis on the late 18th century to the present day. The course begins with an introduction to current world issues and continues with a focus on the expansion of the West and the growing interdependence of people and cultures throughout the world.

World History Advanced Placement - Grade 10 - Year-long course

This course is an advanced placement level study of the history of the human race since its origins to the present time. The course is sequenced chronologically and thematically and is selective in the periods and developments covered. Since student placement is based on achievement, interest, and department approval, this honors level course expects students to assume greater personal responsibility for the success of the learning process than the core World History course. The primary goal of the course is to prepare students to earn college credit in World History by passing the Advanced Placement exam in May.

Students enrolled in this course are required to take the AP examination in May. No final exam is administered in this course in the Spring semester.

Prerequisite: Contemporary American Cultures grade of A-; English I grade of B+ both semesters or English I Acc grade of B both semesters; teacher recommendation; application to department chair due 2/15/2008; department chair approval.

US History - Grade 11 - Year-long course

The course is a two-semester survey of U.S. history emphasizing the major social, political, economic, intellectual, and international developments of the twentieth century. The course is based on the textbook, The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th Century, and includes classroom activities of lecture, discussion, audio-visual presentations, cooperative groupings, games, simulations, debates, and individual research projects. A research paper is required in the second semester. Homework is assigned daily. Students must earn a passing grade for graduation.

US History AP - Grade 11 - Year-long course

This course is designed to study a range of topics and issues in the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the United States from the Colonial Era to the late 20th Century. The primary goal of the course is to prepare students to earn college credit in United States History by passing the Advanced Placement exam in May. Throughout the course, students will engage in a wide range of rigorous activities and assignments including lecture, readings, analyzing source materials, debates, simulations, and the writing of well-focused essays.

Students enrolled in this course are required to take the AP examination in May. No final exam is administered in this course in the Spring semester.

Prerequisite: World History grade of A- both semesters or World History Honors grade of B both semesters; World Literature grade of B+ both semesters or English II H grade of B both semesters; teacher recommendation; application to department chair due 2/15/2008; department chair approval.

Senior Courses

Seniors are required to take one semester of American Government and one semester of a social studies elective. The year-long American Government AP or European History AP class satisfies both of these requirements.

American Government AP - Grade 12 - Year-long course

American Government AP is equivalent to an introductory college political science course, emphasizing the theories, structures, and behaviors of the American political system. This two semester course fulfills the senior social studies requirement for American Government/senior elective. Students are admitted based on achievement, interest, and department approval, and are therefore expected to accept the intellectual challenges and academic rigors of an advanced placement course for the full year.

Students enrolled in this course are required to take the AP examination in May. No final exam is administered in this course in the Spring semester.

Prerequisite: US History grade of A- both semesters or US History AP grade of B both semesters; American Literature grade of B+ both semesters or English III AP grade of B both semesters; teacher recommendation; application to department chair due 2/15/2008; department chair approval.

American Government - Grade 12 - Semester course

American Government fulfills one semester of the senior requirement in social studies. The course emphasizes a hands-on approach to the study of the structures, beliefs, and behaviors of the American political system on the federal, state, and local levels. Active student participation is expected in all aspects of the course, including community-based projects.

Contemporary American Issues - Grade 12 - Semester course

This course provides an in-depth examination of many of the issues affecting the United States in a global context. Contemporary American Issues focuses on critical issues that confronted the United States in the latter part of the twentieth century as they shaped the problems, which currently confront our twenty-first century world. During the course of this semester class, the students examine the major political, economic, and social controversies since 1945. This course will actively develop critical thinking skills by requiring students to analyze opposing viewpoints and reach considered judgments. Ultimately the goal is for the student to become more than an informed citizen, but to become someone who can understand the background of today’s events and make careful reflections and judgments about them.

Ethnic Studies - Grade 12 - Semester course

Ethnic Studies examines the impact of race in America in various areas (music, the economy, government, mass media), while also examining some of the root causes of these contemporary concerns through a historical lens. During the course of this semester class, the students will examine the historical struggles and triumphs of ethnic groups in America, from the early 1800’s to contemporary times. The groups of focus will be the Irish, Chinese, Mexicans and Africans although other ethnic groups will also be incorporated into the course curriculum. By examining the history of each of these groups, within the American social, political and educational fabric, a stronger understanding of why some groups have been able to elevate themselves into the mainstream of America while others continue to exist on the margins of society will be established. In doing so, the goal is for students to work for a more just and equitable society for all ethnic groups.

European History AP Grade 12 - Year-long course

The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural, economic, political, and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live. Without this knowledge, we would lack the context for understanding the development of contemporary institutions, the role of continuity and change in present-day society and politics, and the evolution of current forms of artistic expression and intellectual discourse. In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of AP European History are to develop an understanding of some of the principal themes in modern European history, an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, and an ability to express historical understanding in writing.

Students enrolled in this course are required to take the AP examination in May. No final exam is administered in this course in the spring semester.

Psychology - Grade 12 - Semester course

Psychology is a behavioral science that studies the individual in order to explain, predict and control individual behavior. This course is designed to give the student a thorough understanding of all pertinent areas of this science so that the student may both understand human dynamics he or she will encounter in everyday life and prepare the student to succeed in the psychology program at the university level.