Social Studies

• 3.5 credits of social studies are required for graduation. Seniors must take US Government and one other social studies elective to fulfill their senior social studies requirements.
• Students must take economics as part of their social studies requirement.
• Honors courses are not required and are taken in place of the standard course.

 

World History (10) (1 credit; sophomores may take AP European History or AP World History instead)

This survey course utilizes a thematic approach to world history beginning with early civilizations and progressing towards the 21st century. Each semester unit projects, research, and writing skills are applied.

 

Advanced Placement World History (10) (1 credit; fulfills sophomore social studies requirement)

In AP World History, all students will cover a curriculum beginning with Human Origins and ending with the Cold War. Course information will be separated into 6 units: Unit 1 Prehistory-600 B.C.E, Unit 2 600 B.C.E.-600 C.E., Unit 3 600-1450, Unit 4 1450-1750, Unit 5 1750-1900, and Unit 6 1900-Present. All students must also learn to view history thematically. The AP World History course is organized around 5 themes that serve as unifying threads throughout the course, helping students relate to what is particular about each time period or society to a "big picture" of history. The themes also provide a way to organize comparisons and analyze change continuously over a 

prolonged period of time. The 5 Specific themes are Social, Political, Interaction, Cultural, and Economic. The goal of the course is not only full comprehension of an event's significance at the time it occurred, but rather to show its connection to modern society. Finally, AP World History will examine our world geographically, frequently 

referencing a variety of major continents, countries, states, oceans, and rivers. All students taking the course are expected to take the AP World History exam in the spring.

 

United States/Arizona History (11) (1 credit)

United States/Arizona History is a chronological, topical study of the history of our nation and state. It is designed to provide the student with analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the history of both the state and the nation. This course is divided into two sections, one per semester: beginnings to Reconstruction (1877); and the industrialization of America to contemporary United States.

 

Advanced Placement United States History (11) (1 credit; fulfills the state requirement for US/AZ History) Prerequisite: AP European or World History, 80% in English or recommended by your World History teacher.

The AP program 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. This class prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by introductory college courses. Students are expected to take the AP exam administered in May.

 

Intro to Macroeconomics (11, 12) (.5 credit - required; seniors may take AP Macroeconomics instead)

(Dual enrollment available for college credit through Seton Hill University)

Economics is the social science dealing with the study of how people satisfy seemingly unlimited and competing wants with the careful use of scarce resources. Economics studies a variety of topics covering both macro and 

microeconomics. Money and banks, economics systems, international policy, and how economics affects your everyday life are closely examined throughout the semester. The class also has two projects for the semester.

Advanced Placement Macroeconomics (12) (.5 credit; this course satisfies the economics requirement) The purpose of the AP course in macroeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination, and develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. All students taking the course are expected to take the AP Macroeconomics exam in the spring.

 

United States/Arizona Government (12) (.5 credit - required unless taking the AP United States Government and Politics course)

(Dual enrollment available for college credit through Seton Hill University)

US/AZ Government is an introduction to political science for the high school senior. The student will investigate the workings of our federal, state, and local governments with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution.

 

Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics: (12) (1 credit; year-long. This course satisfies the government requirement for graduation.) Prerequisites: At least a 75% average in AP US History or an A in both semesters of US/AZ History and Teacher Approval.

AP US Government and Politics is a two-semester college level course that examines American government, politics, and public policy. The course specifically targets student mastery of the College Board’s AP US Government and Politics Curricular Requirements and thoroughly prepares students for the AP exam in May. Additional emphasis is placed on in-depth analysis of the major areas of public policy. Students are expected to commit to a substantial amount of reading and preparation. Topics include but are not limited to the historical and philosophical foundations of the United States Constitution, formal institutions of government, civil liberties and civil rights, political behavior, and various public policy areas ranging from economic policy to foreign and defense policy.

 

Social Studies Electives

 

Genocide Studies of the 20th Century (12) (.5 credit) Prerequisite: Completion of World History or AP World History and United States or AP US History 

Genocide Studies of the 20th Century will focus on acts of genocide committed in the 1900s, mainly the Holocaust, the Bosnian Genocide, and the Rwandan Genocide. Students will examine each of these events both individually and comparatively, identifying shared qualities as well as what made each of these events unique.  Students will investigate what was happening both regionally and globally prior to the genocides happening. Students will examine the global response to the genocides and explore how these events are remembered today. They will listen to testimonies from those that survived, witnessed, or committed acts of genocide. Lastly, students will explore the contemporary world and seek where the greatest threat of genocide exists today.

 

Principles of Leadership (10,11,12) (.5 credit) Spring semester only

Students in Principles of Leadership will study leadership theory and skills expressed in the communication and management styles of prominent figures. Students will work to hone their own skills at leading in their daily lives, understanding communication, as well as giving and receiving effective feedback. Finally, students will study Information about transformative leadership. Students interested in participating in House Leadership are encouraged to take this course. 

Psychology (12) (.5 credit) 

This is an overview of contemporary psychology, which introduces the students to the following areas: human development, sensation, perception, motivation, learning, emotion, psychological measurement, personality, different types of therapies and biological basis of behavioral and clinical psychology.

 

Honors Psychology (12) (1 credit) 

(Dual enrollment available for college credit through Seton Hill University)

This is a full-year course that is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.