SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT
Survey of Social Studies
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 9
This course incorporates the study of law-justice, geography, and global economics. This
course emphasizes the relationship between the individual and the government. Students
gain an understanding of the impact of government and community on their lives. The
course content includes American democracy, the constitution, citizenship, rights and
responsibilities, the national, state, and local government, the law and the individual. A
geography course is studied to assist students in understanding the earth’s vast and
complex surface. Content includes relationships between geography and world cultures,
the impact of human inhabitants in modifications of physical environment. The objective
of the economics course is to provide students with an understanding of the American
economic system, examine economic decision-making, compare basic features of
different economic systems and emphasize the role of the individual in an economy
through the understanding of scarcity, choice, cost, and the roles of labor and
government.
Accelerated Survey of Social Studies
Prerequisite: See Honors/AP Policy
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 9
This course is the ninth grade pre-Advanced Placement course. The course is structured
as fast-paced and challenging, moving to analytical interpretation, predicting outcomes,
and drawing conclusions. Honors Survey of Social Studies is a weighted course.
World Civilization
Prerequisite: Survey of Social Studies
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 10
World Civilization is the study of civilizations and includes a survey of Renaissance to
the present. The content includes key political, economic, military, religious, and
geographical forces and their impact on world outcomes. The material is presented
chronologically from a thematic perspective. Included in the course are maps, charts, and
graphs.
Accelerated World Civilization
Prerequisite: See Honors/AP Policy
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 10
This course is the tenth grade pre-Advanced Placement course, which may be taken
independently or attached to the Advanced Placement European History. Includes all
content from General World Civilization. The course is structured to be fast-paced and
challenging; moving to analytical interpretation, predicting outcomes, and drawing
conclusions.
Advanced Placement U.S. History
Prerequisite: See Honors AP Policy
2 Credits
Open to Grades: 11-12
The advanced placement course for United States history includes the study of people
and events of our country in detail from both secondary and primary sources. Students
write extensively to perfect essay writing and critical thinking skills. Students are
required to take the Advanced Placement American History Examination. This is a
weighted course.
United States History
Prerequisite: World Civilization
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 11
United States History is a study of our country from the Reconstruction Period to the
present. The course emphasizes a chronological perspective and interpretation of maps,
graphs, charts, and primary sources. Each era of history will include political, economic,
cultural, and social themes.
Political Science
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 11-12
The course designed for students with an interest in the political systems. The course
provides students with a critical perspective on policies and government in the United
States. Content includes general concepts used to interpret American politics and the
analysis of specific case studies.
Advanced Placement Political Science
Prerequisite: See Honors/AP Policy
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 11-12
The curriculum includes an introduction to comparative politics; the sources of public
authority and political power; society and politics; citizen and state political framework;
and political change. AP Political Science is designed to prepare students to take the
Advanced Placement U.S. Government examination. Other subject matter includes
constitutional underpinnings of United States government; political beliefs and
behaviors; political parties, interest groups and mass media; institutions of national
government; the Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and federal courts; public
policy; and civil rights and civil liberties. AP Political Science is a weighted course.
Advanced Placement Psychology
Prerequisite: See Honors/AP Policy
1 Credit
Open to Grades: 11-12
The purpose of the Advanced Placement course in Psychology is to introduce students to
the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings
and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principals, and
phenomena associated with each of the major sub fields within psychology. They also
learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Students will take
the AP exam. AP Psychology is a weighted course.
Advanced Placement European History
Prerequisite: See Honors/AP Policy
2 Credits
Open to Grades: 10-11-12
This course content follows the curriculum of the College Board in preparation for the
Advanced Placement Examination. Modern European History is emphasized in the areas
of intellectual and cultural history, political and diplomatic history, and social and
economic history. The student will analyze historical evidence and express historical
understanding in writing. This course must be paired with Honors World Civilization.
Students are required to take the AP exam. AP European History is a weighted course.
HIS 108 History of the U.S. Through 1865 to the Present (109 2nd semester)
1 Credit
This college course traces the nation’s development through the Civil War. It is designed
to meet the demands for a general understanding of American history. This course fulfills
the requirements for the elementary teacher’s certificate.