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Geography
Following the national standards for geography, this course focuses on the unique characteristics of selected world regions from a geographic perspective, as well as the characteristics, distribution and contributions of the cultures that make up those regions. Students will develop an understanding and an appreciation of the ways in which natural environments (climates, landforms, oceans), economies, cultures and other aspects of world regions interact. An emphasis will be placed on defining the roles of global citizens through awareness of contemporary issues such as world trade, terrorism, religious conflict, pollution, and conservation of world resources. Highly recommended for students who expect to take Advanced Placement courses in social science.
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World Studies
This course covers the major turning points that have shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present. The rise of democratic ideas, religious beliefs, major wars, social movements, and technological advances will be discussed. Students will also examine current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts.
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U.S. History
This is a general course in U.S. history that provides a review of early foundations of American history and then more detailed instruction in the period from post Civil War to the present. Students will discover why it is important in today's world to study our country's past. The course emphasizes significant people, events, themes, governmental structures, economic developments, and social themes.
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Government/CP Economics
This course is designed to fulfill the government and economics units required for graduation from high school. Basic concepts that are covered in Government include: foundations of American government, political parties and political behavior, institutions of government and policy making. The economics portion of the course will focus on both micro and macro economics. It will cover basic economics principles, supply and demand, economic performance, the banking structure, and fiscal and monetary policy. The course provides a framework from which students can make personal economic decisions.
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Psychology/Sociology
The Psychology/Sociology course is designed to provide students with an understanding of human relationships, developmental theory, and brain function from a sociological and psychological perspective. The first part of the course is an emphasis on humans from birth to death and all of the roles and relationships in between. The second part of the course is a focus on brain development and function, psychological/sociological research, psychological problems, and their solutions/treatments, and theories on deviance. The course is designed as a practical course that will help students look at everyday challenges in a new light. It also provides a strong foundation for the AP Psychology course.
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Military History
Military History is a course designed to provide all students with a comprehensive survey of the military in United States history. It includes the principles, effects, practices, and profession of armed conflict in the United States. The students will survey the evolution of American weapons, battle tactics, American warfare, starting with the Revolutionary War and ending with the Gulf War conflict. Students will use skills in computer applications, cooperative learning, project development,technical reading, writing, research, decision-making, and public speaking, as they study the process and principles of warfare and the context of the complexities of modern-day foreign policy. Students will develop an awareness of the realities of war through eyewitness accounts, oral histories, film video, pictures, and literature. They will also apply knowledge and skills in tactics and strategy in the context of historical situations and modern day scenarios to learn the lessons of military history in relationship to today's unpredictable global environment.
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AP Human Geography
The purpose of AP Human Geography is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use and alteration of the Earth's surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice.
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AP European History
The AP European History course and exam are intended for students who wish to complete classes in secondary school equivalent to college level instruction courses (AP College Board). As such, this course will help students to develop proficiency in the high level academic skills the AP program requires. The course is a rigorous in-depth examination of the course of European History from the High Renaissance (about 1450) to the very recent past. Preparation for the AP exam in European History in May is the major focus of the course. In addition to providing a basic narrative of political, social and economic events and movements, the goals are to develop: 1) An understanding of some of the principal themes in modern European history; 2) An ability to analyze historical evidence in a variety of mediums; and 3) an ability to analyze material and express an historical understanding of that material in a variety of writing methods.
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AP U.S. History
AP US History is a rigorous in-depth examination of the course of American cultural development from colonial to contemporary times. Preparation for the AP exam in American History is the major focus of this course. Students will engage in the process of framing an inquiry, selecting relevant sources and organizing evidence in support of a hypothesis. Primary and secondary sources of information will be examined and analyzed. Students will develop skills in logic, critical thinking and high level expository writing.
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AP Government/CP Economics
This course is designed to fulfill the government and economics units required for graduation from high school and to prepare students to take the AP Government test. Basic concepts that are covered in Government include: foundations of American government, political parties and political behavior, institutions of government and policy making. The economics portion of the course will focus on both micro and macro economics. It will cover basic economics principles, supply and demand, economic performance, the banking structure, and fiscal and monetary policy. The course provides a framework from which students can make personal economic decisions.
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AP Psychology
This course is designed as an introductory college level Psychology course. It is designed to prepare students to pass the AP Psychology exam in the spring. Students will be introduced to units within Psychology ranging from neuroscience and brain structure to social psychology. The curriculum goes in-depth into developmental psychology, behaviorism, consciousness and memory, mental disorders, and methods of treatment. In addition, the course focuses on the nature/nurture debate and provides a general overview of the field of psychology. It is recommended that students take Sociology/Psychology prior to this course as it provides a background of many of the theories. This course is highly complemented by the Advanced Systems Physiology course which provides a strong background in brain function.
