2010-2011 Social Studies Curriculum
World History & World History Honors
This course will provide an understanding of the contemporary world through an overview of the growth of world religions, the development of political traditions, contemporary world cultures, and current international events.
AP World History
This course will develop a greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced by a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. The course is focused on the past thousand years of the global experience building on the understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that along with geography, set the stage prior to 1000 C.E.
American History & American History Honors
This course is designed to help students develop an understanding of American history. The course begins with a six week review from colonization to the Reconstruction era. The course continues with an in-depth study of America’s rise to power, the Populist and Progressive movements, World War I, and the Crash. This in-depth study continues with an examination of the Depression, World War II, the 50’s, 60’s, the Vietnam War, Watergate, and the new millennium.
AP American History
This course includes advanced content in American history, emphasizing critical essay writing, primary and secondary source research techniques, and indepth interpretations, and analysis of the traditional historical periods of a chronological survey in American history.
American Government
This course provides students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of American government and political behavior. Content will include an analysis of documents which shape our political traditions, a comparison of the roles of the three branches of government at the local, state and national levels, a study of state and local government, an understanding of the evolving role of political parties, interest groups, and the media in determining government policy, how the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic state have evolved and been interpreted, and the importance of civic participation in the democratic political process.
American Government Honors
This course provides students with a challenging opportunity to develop the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically and objectively with the challenges, content, and materials of American government. Emphasis is placed on content and interpretation of the Constitution, federalism, the congress, the presidency, the federal court system, citizen involvement, American political traditions, and responsibilities of citizens.
Economics
This course is a study of the ways society uses its limited resources to satisfy unlimited wants and the effect Information Technology has had on our economy. Content includes basic economic problems, the market system and structures, the roles of labor, business and fi nancial institutions, the role of the consumer and producer, international trade, and the history of economic thought.
Economics Honors
Through this course, students will understand the choices they must make as producers consumers, investors, and tax payers. The study of economics provides students with the knowledge and decisionmaking tools necessary for understanding how a society must organize its limited resources to satisfy its unlimited wants.
AP Human Geography
The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop higher levels of concepts and skills related to Human Geography. The content will include regions, population studies, cultural concepts and spatial representation, political geography, land use, urbanization, issues related to space, place, and scale, and economic geography.