COURSE DESCRIPTION

The AP Human Geography course is equivalent to an introductory college-level course. The course introduces students to the study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students will learn spatial concepts and landscape analysis. They will also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. Topics to be covered will include population migration, cultural patterns, political organization, agriculture and food production, industrialism and economic development, environmental issues, etc. Students will be required to complete free response questions, tests, daily homework assignments including readings and projects, as well as multimedia presentations. The end goal of the class will be successful completion of the AP exam administered in May.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 9
• PREREQUISITES Students who sign up for this class must also be enrolled in English I – Honors
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? Must take AP Human Geography or Global and Digital Citizenship

COURSE DESCRIPTION

World Civilization is designed to give students a broad overview of world history. The course should allow students to relate knowledge learned about the past to contemporary world themes. The course will focus on the Classical Period through the Enlightenment. Each unit will analyze the economic, geographic, political, cultural, and historical importance of each civilization or time period.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 10
• PREREQUISITES NONE
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? NO
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? YES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

World Civilization is designed to give students an overview of ancient civilizations. The course should allow students to relate knowledge learned about the past to contemporary world themes. The course will focus on Ancient Civilizations of China, India, Greece, and Rome then broadly study Africa, the Americas, Byzantium, the Rise of Islam, European Middle Ages, the Crusades, Renaissance and Reformation, European Exploration, and the Enlightenment. Each unit will analyze the economic, geographic, political, cultural, and historical importance of each civilization or time period. This course is strongly recommended for those students who are considering an AP social studies course in either their junior and/or senior year if they are not taking AP World. This course will have a stronger emphasis on the writing component that is necessary for AP courses in their junior or senior year.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 10
• PREREQUISITES 85% in English I – Honors or 90% in English I
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? A student must pass a World Civilization/World History class.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop greater understanding of different cultures and societies and their interactions. The course includes synthesis and comparisons as well as change and continuity of major cultures in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe within major time periods. Students will have the opportunity to take the AP World History exam in May.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 10
• PREREQUISITES 93+ in Geography or 93+ in English I (90+ in Honors)
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? A student must pass a World Civilization/World History class.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

American History concentrates on American society, politics, and culture. Beginning in the 1840’s, the course provides the student with an understanding of circumstances surrounding the Civil War. By evaluating and examining various influential Americans, students will be able to formulate educated opinions about American culture, society, and politics. As the course moves through the Civil War and Reconstruction Periods, historical characteristics help students comprehend how the 19th century shaped its future. Students are challenged with the essay tests, quizzes, and quarter projects to develop writing skills as well as study habits. With these assignments, American History embarks upon the 20th century. The course attempts to cover important events from Theodore Roosevelt to George Bush. From the Spanish American War to the Persian Gulf lectures are designed to provide historical backgrounds behind the 20th century’s major events.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 11
• PREREQUISITES NONE
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? NO
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? YES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will concentrate on the politics and economics of the United States, as well as the areas of military conflict, technology, popular culture, and geography. Some of the major units to be studied are: Exploration and Colonialization; Constitutional history; Jeffersonian and Jacksonian democracy; the Antebellum south and Slavery; the Civil War and Reconstruction; Industrialization and Immigration; the Progressive Era and World War I; the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression; World War II; the Cold War; domestic policies of Twentieth century presidents; and Twentieth century Civil Rights movements. Various individual leaders and their personalities will also be discussed. Students are challenged with essays, tests, weekly homework assignments, projects, and outside reading and viewing assignments. These assignments are necessary to develop and maintain the critical thinking skills needed to perform successfully on the AP exam in May as well as any future college social studies course.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 11
• PREREQUISITES 90+ in English II – Honors or 95+ in English II and 90+ in World Civilization – Honors/AP World History or 95% in World Civilization
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? NO (But a student must pass an American History course)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The history of modern Europe enhances the student’s perception and understanding of world affairs. Through the historical investigation of European governments from the Renaissance to the present time, students begin to formulate and organize theories about historical events. Concentrating on the great European powers of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia, the course follows the extension of European influence throughout the world. As the modern world encounters complex problems, Modern European History connects the past with the present. The challenging and prolonging questions confront students to construct an objective conclusion. By examining the primary and secondary sources, students improve their skills in writing and communication. The critical histories of the European countries in the 20th century altered the course of the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. As a result, students will be exposed to historical aspects from the Romantic Age to the Era of High Technology. Students will have the opportunity to take the AP European History exam in May.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 11 and 12
• PREREQUISITES WORLD CIVILIZATION
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? NO

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the basic structures of government and institutions. The relationship of power and decision-making are examined through the study of the Constitution of the United States and the amendments, other historical documents, the State Constitution, and local governing bodies. Students will also make comparisons between the structure of the United States government and those of foreign countries. Students will be able to identify their local government and state governmental systems, as well as the institutions that affect our government. Democratic values and citizen participation are stressed throughout the course. Student participation in the community is encouraged.

• CREDIT 1/2
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 12
• PREREQUISITES NONE
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? NO
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? YES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An understanding of how people and society use resources to produce and distribute items for consumption in the American system is developed and applied. Simulations will be used to provide practical experience in the study of the history and current state of economic policy. Content includes economic systems, supply and demand influences in a free market economy, the factors of production, personal finance and investments, competition and monopoly, government regulations, service and taxation, stock market, national and international economy, and cause and effect of inflation and recession.

• CREDIT 1/2
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 12
• PREREQUISITES NONE
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? NO
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? YES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Students will study Advanced Placement United States government and politics on an advanced level culminating with the AP test in May. Students will study, but will not be limited to, economics and government in the context of the US system. Topics will include the following: constitutional underpinnings of the United States government, political beliefs and behaviors of individuals, the role of political parties, interest groups, and mass media, the Institutions of National Government – Congress, Courts, Presidency, and bureaucracy, public policy development and implementation, civil liberties and civil rights. The course will be somewhat multidisciplinary in that economics, international relations and diplomacy, and American history will all be covered. Senior class status is required as well as a strong background in history and English.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 12
• PREREQUISITES 87% in AP United States History or 92% in United States History
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? NO (but can replace the required Government/Economics course)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is a semester course in which students will take a historical and contemporary look at issues in the United States from the 1950s forward. Students will study and discuss elements of U.S. politics, including U.S. foreign relations and domestic policy, cultural identity, citizenship, and economic policies. This course provides students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the issues that frequented newspapers, television news, and other popular media and fueled the controversies that both divided our citizens and brought the nation together in the more recent decades. The course will be flexible in nature to accommodate significant current events, but the general direction of the class will be to study how the world developed as it entered the twentieth century to what it is today and where it is going next.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 11, 12
• PREREQUISITES NONE
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? NO

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. This course will give the students insight and practical information about his/her own behavior and the behavior of others. This course will also help students develop strategies enabling him/her to cope with everyday life. This class involves various hands-on applications with activities/experiments and demonstrations. Some chapters that are covered include Introduction/History, Memory, States of Consciousness, Biological Bases, Learning, Abnormal Behavior, Therapy, and a special emphasis is given to Life Span Development. The students will be required to care for a “RealCare Baby”.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 11, 12
• PREREQUISITES NONE
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? NO
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? NO

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this advanced placement course in psychology is to provide the student with a learning experience equal to that obtained in most college introductory psychology courses. The course outline includes methods, approaches, and statistics. It will also cover biological bases of behavior, states of consciousness, sensations, and perceptions. The course will also expand upon social psychology, developmental psychology, learning, personality, and individual differences. Finally, AP Psychology will discuss abnormal behaviors and the treatments of these psychological disorders. Students will have the opportunity to take the AP Psychology exam in May.

• CREDIT 1
• SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 11, 12
• PREREQUISITES PSYCHOLOGY (93 or higher) or Juniors/Seniors with a 90+ in English/Science Honors or a 93+ in regular English/Science (without PSYCHOLOGY)
• NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES
• REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? NO