ND Social Studies Department

Chairperson- Carole Surina
Philosophy

The aim of this discipline is to provide an environment which will prepare students to become an integral part of the world, as responsible citizens, mature Christians and critical thinking individuals.

The Social Studies department encourages students to become responsible, participating members of our society and to develop in our students a continuing interest in current, domestic and world affairs. We also aim to enable students to understand the news and analyze it in a critical manner, sifting truth from propaganda. Another objective is to inspire the students to understand and to coexist peacefully with ideologies foreign to our way of life. Finally, we attempt to cultivate the need for tolerance, to appreciate the struggle for human rights, and to provide the student with academic skills and training in the use of resources and sufficient content.
 
Course Descriptions

WESTERN CIVILIZATION

This is a survey course from the beginnings of western civilization through the present. The first semester deals with the periods from Ancient Greece through the French Revolution while the remainder of the class covers the Congress of Vienna through the present. Emphasis will be placed on cause and effect of historical data as well as a comparative analysis between the various periods of history. Students are also required to present both a written and oral report. Geographic skills and map skills are also an important part of this curriculum.

UNITED STATES HISTORY (Advanced Placement)
The Advanced Placement course in United States History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States History. Students will learn to assess historical materials and their relevance to a given interpretative problem, their reliability and their importance, and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. Geography and map skills are an integral part of the curriculum.

UNITED STATES HISTORY
This is a chronological survey and analysis of United States history from the Age of Discoveries contemporary problems. Emphasis is placed on the major periods in United States History: Revolution, Constitution, Westward migration, Civil War, Age of Industrialization, emergence as a world power, Great Depression, and World War II/Cold War. Student understanding is enhanced through a lecture series in cooperation with the English Department in an American Studies approach. Further enhancement in specialized areas comes through a mandatory research paper which will be developed in English III. Communication skills both written and oral will be developed. Geography and map skills are an essential part of this course.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (Advanced Placement)
This survey course provides a coherent portrait of how the American political system works. The emphasis will be placed not only on federal government but also on state and local government. The course will also address the important goal of why American politics and policies take their particular shape. Students will also be exposed to effective citizen participation in the political process and motivated toward positive citizenship. Students will be required to complete two major projects. Geography is an essential skill developed throughout the course.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
The American Government course is designed to investigate the American political system and its changes. National, state and local levels of government are each examined individually. The fundamental institutions, processes and policy issues are presented for analysis and discussions. Students are exposed to effective citizen participation in the political process and motivated toward positive, active citizenship. Geography is an essential skill developed in this course.

MODERN AMERICA I (1945-1968)

This course will examine the events of the middle part of the twentieth century that have helped shape America. Emphasis will be placed upon how political, economic and social developments have shaped the conditions, attitudes, and values of present-day America. This course will allow for focus to be placed upon major events such as: the origins of the Cold War, the Korean Conflict, the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, the Civil Rights Movement, and the origins of the Vietnam Conflict. One day of class per week will be dedicated to a current event discussion.

 

MODERN AMERICA II (1968-2000)

This course will examine the events of the second half of the twentieth century which have helped shape America. Emphasis will be placed upon how political, economic and social developments have shaped the conditions, attitudes, and values of present-day America. Vietnam, the Counter-culture Movement, Watergate and the events of 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s will be discussed. In addition to studying these events, students will gain an understanding of and discuss how these events impact the nation today. One day of class per week will also be dedicated to a discussion of current events to understand the nation and its role in the world community in the present time.

(Taking Modern America I is not a prerequisite for this course.)

 

THE VIETNAM WAR IN HISTORY, LITERATURE AND FILM

The Vietnam War is one of the most studied, documented, and argued about wars in American history.  The war has taken the form of historical inquires, novels, film, music and other arts.  The war shaped the experiences of a generation and continues to affect American life.

 
CONTEMPORARY WORLD POLITICS AND CURRENT ISSUES

On a country-by-country basis, compare the political institutions (constitutions, executives, legislatures, political parties, etc.) of the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, India, China, Nigeria & Russia with a focus on how they are interconnected.  The course allows students to see how all the “pieces” fit together in various countries.