Social Studies
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 different ideologies and cultures. 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.
World HistoryThis is an in-depth course spanning from the foundations of civilizations to our present day. The first semester covers the Ancient Middle East and Egypt, India, China, Greece, Rome, and the rise of Christianity. Other points of interest include the Middle Ages, Muslim Civilizations, the Renaissance and Reformation, the Enlightenment and the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the growth of western democracies. Emphasis is 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 written and oral reports. Students will also focus on current events today and their relationships to events of the past. Geography and map skills are also an important part of the curriculum.
AP United States HistoryAP US History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn students college credit. It is a full year survey of American history from American Independence to the 21st Century. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, and interpretation of primary and secondary source documents. Students will also be required to develop arguments for class debates and other class activities. A Research paper linking American literature and history is required.
US History 1This is a chronological survey and analysis of United States history from the Age of Discoveries to Reconstruction. Emphasis is placed on the major periods in United States history: American Colonization, the Revolution, the Constitution, Westward migration, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Through a rational analysis, not just memorization of facts, students will become more educated about how America has developed over time and become better at critically evaluating information. Students will be expected to develop ideas which give meaning and relevance to the material of America’s recorded past. Further enhancement in specialized areas comes through a mandatory research paper which will be developed in English II. Communication skills both written and oral, as well as interpersonal skills through group collaboration, will be developed. Geography and map skills are also an integral part of this course.
US History 2This is a chronological survey and analysis of United States history from the Gilded Age to Twentieth Century issues. Emphasis is placed on the major periods in United States history: the Gilded Age, the Age of Industrialization, Imperialism and emergence as a world power, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Through a rational analysis, not just memorization of facts, students will become more educated about how America has developed over time and become better at critically evaluating information. Students will be expected to develop ideas which give meaning and relevance to the material of America’s recorded past. Further enhancement in specialized areas comes through a mandatory research paper which will be developed in English II. Communication skills both written and oral, as well as interpersonal skills through group collaboration, will be developed. Geography and map skills are also an integral part of this course.
AP American GovernmentThis 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.
American GovernmentThe American Government course is designed to investigate, analyze, and evaluate the American political system. The three branches of government; legislative, executive, and judicial, are examined thoroughly. Specifically, students will be taught the role and powers of each, as well as the relationships between the three. They will also be exposed to important relationships between the various levels of government; federal, state and local. The main thrust of the course is to teach critical thinking skills in the context of American government. Such skills as asking questions, analyzing fact from opinion, evaluating the strength of arguments, use of evidence, and evaluation of sources are all taught. As a result, the students will be exposed to a variety of opinions and sources. They will be required to express their ideas often. Besides use of the textbook and a multitude of outside sources, the students will be engaged in several simulations, such as; creating a class Constitution, writing bills, Mock Congress, Executive Decisions, and formal debates. The overall goals of this course include helping students become more active, self-directed, and self-motivated learners.
IB History of the AmericasHistory of the Americas is a higher-level two year course taken during junior and senior year. This course is a systematic and critical study of the human experience, including social, economic, political and cultural events-providing historical explanations from an international perspective. Students will study the histories of a selection of countries and themes within the chosen region. For example: we will analyze colonial governments in the Americas.
AP Economics - Macro and MicroEconomics is a social science which addresses how society allocates(distributes) limited resources (e.g. - goods and services). It is a “science” because it is governed by quantifiable laws designed to predict likely outcomes. It is a “social” science, as opposed to a natural science, because its laws are based upon social, as opposed to natural occurrences. This course will prepare the student for both the AP Micro and Macroeconomics exams. Each exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions and three free-response essay questions. Students taking this AP course are required to the AP exam in May. This is a full year, on-line course.
AP European HistoryAP European History is a rigorous academic course that furnishes a basic narrative of events and movements in European History from 1450 to the present. It prepares students for the demands of a college education by providing experience in college level reading, writing and responsibility for learning.AP European History is challenging and stimulating, yet requires much more time than other high school courses. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. This course promotes just the type of effective time management skills and organization that are necessary for success in higher education. Students will investigate the broad themes of intellectual, cultural and political history and will appreciate how those ideas are reflected in trends of philosophy, popular literature and the arts. As events in history can only be understood in terms of their social context, this course will examine demographics and the influences of social classes and gender roles on history. The course will also focus on economic history and the role of industrialization by reviewing the development of commercial practices and changing economic structures to recognize Europe's influence on the world. Students are required to take the AP exam in May.
Throughout the course, students can expect to: watch or listen to traditional history lectures produced by the teacher or offered by colleges and universities online; participate in class discussions of primary documents and events in threaded discussions; debate key issues or role-play historic figures through student audio recordings; exercise essay writing skills designed to meet the requirements outlined by the College Board for Advanced Placement exams; collaborate with other students in research groups using Web 2.0 information tools; supplement traditional textbook reading with historical journals and primary documents. This is a full year, on-line course.
AP Human GeographyThis Advanced Placement AP Human Geography course is equivalent to a first semester, college-level introductory human geography or cultural ecology course. The rigor of this course is consistent with colleges and universities and will prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in May. Upon successful completion of the exam, students may receive college credit and will be well-prepared for advanced human geography or cultural geography coursework.