SOCIAL STUDIES

Psychology
Sociology
United States History 1-2
United States History 1-2 (American Studies)
United States History 1-2 AP
United States History 1-2 HD
World Geography 1-2
World Geography 1-2 HD
World History and Civilization 1-2
World History and Civilization 1-2 HD
World Studies (Honors World Studies) 1-2
European History AP
Economics
Micro Economics AP
United States Government
Anthropology
International Relations: World Geography and the International Relations of the U.S. and western powers with the Developing World
History and Geography of the World: The Geography and History of the Cold War
Law Education
Service/Community - Based Learning

Psychology (11-12) (one term)[TOP]
Psychology provides an opportunity to study individual and social psychology and how the knowledge and methods of psychologists are applied to the solution of human problems. Content includes (1) human development, (2) thinking, learning, remembering, (3) behavior patterns, (4) personalities, (5) adjustments to social environments. Psychology is of general interest to all and is especially recommended for students planning careers in teaching, counseling, healthcare, business, and government. It is open to juniors and seniors.
Sociology (10-12) (one term)[TOP]
Sociology deals with the scientific study of group behavior. We look at the basic social institutions such as the family, religion, education, government, and the economy. We study the changes which are taking place in our society and how these often lead to social problems. Current social problems are examined using the tools and techniques of sociologists. Students choose the problems of particular interest to them from a wide range such as poverty, delinquency, discrimination, deviancy, environmental and population crises, family breakdown, and many more. We search for causes, consequences, and possible solutions to these problems.
United States History 1-2 (11)[TOP]
United States History emphasizes national development in the late nineteenth and the twentieth centuries and builds upon concepts developed in previous studies of U.S. History. Students in this course also identify and review significant events, figures, and movements in the early development of the nation. The focus of the course will be on events, figures, and movements in the twentieth century. Social studies skills will be developed and used. Students will be challenged to compare the present with what has happened in the past in
order to appreciate history as both a record of the past and an indicator of the future.
United States History 1-2 (American Studies)[TOP]
This class combines both English 11 (American Literature) and United States History and integrates the literature and history of America from its origins to the present. This course, taught by faculty members from Language Arts and Social Studies, awards two English credits and two Social Studies credits. This course will complete the State Proficiencies for both United States History 1-2 and English 11 1-2. Please see the course descriptions for English 11 and United States History. Withdrawal from this class can occur only in the window of time allowed by the school if the student wants to transfer to an English 11.1 class. Students withdrawing after a trimester must repeat
English 11.1.
United States History 1-2 AP(11-12)[TOP]
Sem. 1.-European exploration through Civil War. Sem. 2- 1865 to present. This course is designed for qualified students who wish to take the AP American History exam in May. The course will provide analytic skills and the factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with problems and themes in United States history. Students will be required to assess historical materials according to interpretation and reliability, and they will be
expected to arrive at conclusions on the basis of informed judgment. The course has intensive reading and writing requirements. Examinations are essay in format. Meets
requirements for honors diploma.
United States History 1-2 HD 11 (Honors American Studies) and English 11 1-2 HD[TOP]
This class combines both English 11 HD (American Literature) and AP United States History and integrates the literature and history of America from its origins to the present.
This course, taught by faculty members from Language Arts and Social Studies, awards two English credits and two Social Studies credits. This course will complete the State
Proficiencies for both United States History 1-2 and English 11 1-2. Please see the course descriptions for English 11 and United States History. Students withdrawing after a
trimester must repeat 11-1 HD.
World Geography 1-2 (9-10)[TOP]
World Geography will provide an opportunity to study the interaction of humans and their physical and cultural environments. Students will study the five themes of geography as
they apply to selected areas of the world. The study includes current developments around the world which affect physical and cultural settings. Physical settings studied will include resources, climate, and environmental condition. Cultural settings include population, political structures, life styles, economics, and customs. Major emphasis is given to learning the locations of countries throughout the world.
World Geography 1-2 (HD) (9-10)[TOP]
Honors Diploma World Geography is the study of the relationship between people and their physical surroundings in our world. This course explores not only the location and nature of the earth’s physical  characteristics, but also theimpact these physical aspects have on human life and culture. The study of geography will focus on five major themes: location, place, human/environment interactions, movement, and regions. The first semester examines the nature and purpose of geography, the Earth’s physical setting, and the Earth’s cultural setting. Then, the course begins a regional study of the physical and cultural geography around the world beginning with the United States, Canada, and Middle America. Second semester, the course examines the regions of South America, Europe and the former Soviet Union, North Africa and the Middle East, Africa south of the Sahara, South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
World History and Civilization 1-2 (10-12)[TOP]
Events throughout the world suggest that our survival depends upon the ability to handle the complexities of the population growth, scarce resource allocation, organized aggression and land redistribution. The course has been organized along multidisciplinary lines, drawing on economics, political science, sociology, geography, and anthropology. The course is designed for sophomores who are planning to attend college; however, juniors or seniors may select this course of study.
World History and Civilization 1-2 HD (10-12)[TOP]
Honors Diploma World History has been organized along multidisciplinary social studies lines, drawing on economics, political science, sociology, geography, and history. The first
term emphasizes ancient history to the French Revolution and the second concentrates on the 19th and 20th centuries. This course emphasizes higher level skills and expectations
for college bound students. This course is designed for sophomores; however, juniors and seniors may elect this course of study. (Meets requirement for honors diploma.)
World Studies (Honors World Studies)  (10) [TOP]
(Prerequisite: must have passed the last English course with a grade of B or better.) World Studies HD combines both English 3-4 HD and World History 1-2 HD and integrates the literature and history of Eastern and Western civilization from its origin to the present. This course will be team taught in the Language Arts and Social Studies departments and awards two English credits and two Social Studies credits. This course will complete the State Proficiencies for both World History 1-2 and English 3-4, if either class has already been taken, you may not take this class.
European History AP (10-12)[TOP]
(Prerequisite: World History.) This college level course begins with the Renaissance and covers the 500 year period of European history to the present time. An in-depth exploration of historical, political, and economic topics and themes from the humanities are emphasized through the use of a college text and related materials. It is expected that students enrolled in this course will take the European History Advanced Placement (AP) exam. (Meets requirement for honors diploma.)
Economics (12) (one term)[TOP]
(Prerequisite: US History 1 & 2.) This course will emphasize basic economic concepts including market theory, national income analysis, and international trade. The interrelationships among the roles played by consumers, producers, capital, land, and labor plus the interrelationship of our economic, political, and social lives are explored. Meets
requirements for honors diploma. (Available to qualified students as ALPS Independent Study.
See SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND COURSES.)
Micro Economics AP (12) (one term)[TOP]
(Prerequisite: US History 1 & 2.) This course will examine the concepts and principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision-makers, both consumers and
producers, within the larger economic system. Emphasis will be placed on the nature and functions of product markets, and includes the study of factor markets and the role of government in promoting efficiency and equity in the economy. This course will prepare students to take the Advanced Placement examination in Microeconomics given in mid- May.
United States Government (12) (one term)[TOP]
(Prerequisite: US History 1 & 2.) This course is a representative survey of our system of American government. The course deals with the theoretical concepts relating to the fundamentals of our government and with the practical application of these concepts as they relate to our system of American federalism, to political participation and influence, to foreign policy, to civil liberties and civil rights, and to our national government. (Available to qualified students as ALPS Independent Study.
See SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND COURSES.)
Anthropology (10-12) (one term)[TOP]
Introductory Anthropology is a course for students grades 10-12 that are curious about the development of humans and human behavior on a world-wide scale over an extended period of time. Students will:
• Be introduced to the scope of the discipline of Anthropology.
• Explore the concepts of human biological and cultural evolution.
• Study the beginnings of civilization.
Examine the various topics associated with prehistoric, historic, and contemporary cultures including language, economic systems, social stratification, marriage, political organization, religion and the arts.
International Relations: World Geography and the International Relations of the U.S. and western powers with the Developing World (11-12) (one term)[TOP]
This course is an intensive study of the U.S. in its current role as the only global  superpower, and the western democracies as they relate to less-developed countries in current situations. It will require out-of-class access to multiple forms of media such as newspapers and magazines, on-line news services, and video. Classroom discussions of student research findings will be an important facet of this class so good attendance will be a requirement. The course will examine the role of the U.S. and western democracies in their day-to-day relationships with current media-prominent second and third world countries. The cultural, political and physical geography of these countries will be studied in order to examine the underlying causes that drive current issues. The class will require usage of the current U.S. History book, current atlases, internet access, access to the county library. Along with quizzes and tests the class will require at least two long-term research projects to be presented to the class. Students must have already taken World Geography I and II. Keeping a research journal will be required.
History and Geography of the World: The Geography and History of the Cold War (11- 12) (one term)[TOP]
This class will focus the history of U.S. international relations in the post-World War Two era and the relevant geography of the period, including political geography as well as
physical geography. The basic reference tests will be the standard curriculum texts for U.S. History and World Geography. These texts are only for course outline only and most topic
readings will be drawn from media centers, video collections and internet sources. The purpose of the class is to study the United States participation in the Cold War in a detail not permitted by current time constraints. This will be an intensive reading and writing course and will be targeted towards college-bound students. Peer-to-peer instruction in the classroom and sharing of research findings will be an important facet of the course. There will be at least two long-term research projects per semester and the keeping of a research activity journal will be required.
Law Education (11-12) (one term)[TOP]
This course will address a variety of issues of interest to students regarding our legal system. Detailed investigations of the following topics will be included: the criminal law as it relates to individual citizens, especially issues related to the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments to the federal Constitution; the constitutional protections of individual freedom such as speech, religion and assembly; rights of students in school; family law matters; and issues related to international law and human rights. Mock trials will be developed and conducted by the students. The course will be open to juniors and seniors and will be both reading and writing intensive.
Service/Community -Based Learning (12) (one term)[TOP]
Service Learning is a social studies course that involves students in a process of learning through the experience of rendering service in the community and reflecting upon the experience. Students will use experience in the community as a bases for critical reflection in the classroom about the nature of democracy and as a basis for the examination of the citizen’s role in the community. Through real experience and reflection students develop:  

• skills in time management, problem solving, adaptability, communication, research and self direction
• values of human dignity, justice, civic virtue, and responsibility
• and citizenship concepts including appreciation of cultural diversity, participation, and social justice The course provides not only experience in the treatment of community issues but also their causes and origins.