History Department

World History (College Prep)
Prerequisites: None
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: None
Credit: 1 per year
Description: This course introduces a general survey of cultures, important historical periods, and people from Western Civilizations from Renaissance to modern times. Emphasis is placed on the history, events, and movements of our past to present. Upon completion, the students should be able to recognize significant events, people, and developments and to discuss them in short answer and essays.

World History (Honors)
Prerequisites: None
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: Previous History teacher
Credit: 1 per year
Description: This course introduces a survey of themes and cultures from Western Civilizations from Renaissance to modern times. Emphasis is placed on the history, events, and movements of our past to present. The honors course covers the material in more detail and requires more critical thinking skills. Upon completion, the students should be able to recognize significant civilizations that shaped human development, and nations.

Econ/Political Theory 1st semester (College Prep)
Prerequisites: 9th Grade World History
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: None
Credit: .5 per semester this course is the first part of two semester courses.
Description: This course introduces economic concepts and systems; emphasis is placed on economic markets, supply and demand, and developing positive economic habits in the student’s personal lives. This course will also study the concepts of democracy, governments, and political behaviors. Upon completion, the students will be able to apply economic concepts in real-life situations, identify social needs, understand public policies, and use their knowledge to become effective citizens.

Econ/Political Theory 1st semester (Honors)
Prerequisites: Honors 9th Grade World History
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: English and History
Credit: .5 per semester. This course is the first of two semester courses.
Description: This course prepares students for AP US History in the 11th grade and begins US History in 1607 and covers up to Andrew Jackson in 1830. Emphasis is placed on difficult multiple choice questions that require students to distinguish the best answer from the correct answer. Upon completion, students should be able to adequately write both types of discussion questions and demonstrate mastery of AP – type multiple choice questions for the period of 1607-1830.

Economics/Political Theory 2nd semester (College Prep)
Prerequisites: None
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: None
Credit: .5 per semester. This course is the second of two semester courses.
Description: This course will be an introduction to US History (CP) beginning with the development of the American Colonial period and covering up to the Jacksonian Period. Emphasis is placed on a general survey of US History dealing with the most important historical people and events. Upon completion, the student will be able to show mastery of the period 1600-1828 in short answers, essay writing, and discussion.

Economics/Political Theory 2nd semester (Honors)
Prerequisites: None
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: Previous History teacher
Credit: .5 per semester. This course is the second of two semester classes.
Description: This course introduces economic concepts and systems, government policies and processes, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Emphasis is placed on economic systems, markets, supply and demand, concepts of democracy, governments, and political behaviors. The honors class covers the topics more in depth and requires the use of higher level thinking skills. Upon completion, students should be able to identify social needs, understand public policies, apply their knowledge to various levels of power authority, and governance, and apply economic concepts to both real-life and hypothetical situations.

U.S. History (Honors)
Prerequisites: Econ/Political Theory
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: None
Credit: 1 per year
Description: This course covers U.S. History from President Andrew Jackson, 1830 to President Ronald Reagan, 1980. Emphasis is placed on major historical characters and events in preparation for a college course in U.S. History. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a general knowledge of U.S. History in both short answer and discussion formats.

US History (College Prep)
Prerequisites: Econ/Political Theory (CP)
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: None
Credit: 1 per year
Description: This course will be a full year study of US History beginning with a review of the period 1600-1828 and continuing with a general survey of US History from 1828-present). Emphasis is placed on a general survey of US History dealing with the most important historical people and events. Upon completion, the student will be able to show mastery of US History in short answers, essay writing, and discussion.

AP U.S. History
Prerequisites: Honors Econ/Gov
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: Yes, History, Honors Econ/Gov
Credit: 1 per year
Description: This course prepares students for the AP U.S. History Exam. It covers the period from Andrew Jackson, 1830, to Ronald Reagan, 1980. Emphasis is placed on writing skills that conform to the AP U.S. discussion: Open ended Free Response Questions and Document Based Questions. Emphasis is also placed on choosing the best answer, not just the correct one. Upon completion, students should be able to pass the AP U.S. History Exam with a score of 3 or better, write papers that defend a point of view persuasively, see cause and effect, and understand major themes in U.S. History.

AP Comparative Government and Politics
Prerequisites:
Credit: 1 per year
Description: Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics introduces concepts used by political scientists to study politics in a variety of settings. The class covers the diversity of political life in order to show available institutional alternatives; to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes; and to illustrate the importance of global political and economic changes. To interpret political phenomena, the course focuses on six nations: China, Great Britain, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and Iran.

Psychology
Prerequisites: None
Teacher recommendation needed and from which discipline: None
Credit: 1 per year
Description: This course provides an introduction to the study of psychology as a social science, with a focus on the scientific study of human development, learning, motivation, and personality. Emphasis is placed on empirical examination of behavior, cognitive, and psychological processes. Upon completion, students should be able to recognize and understand a variety of human behaviors and understand human growth, development, and cognitive processes in various cultural contexts.

AP Psychology
Prerequisite Course: None
Teacher Recommendation: History or Science
Credit: 1 per year
Description: This course provides an introduction to general psychology including biological basis of behavior, sensation/perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, cognition/language, intelligence, motivation/emotion, life span development, personality, stress/health psychology, psychological disorders, therapies, and social psychology. Emphasis is placed on knowledge of concepts, applications of theories, and debates of current topics of interests. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate critical analysis of the following issues: Person v Situation, Heredity v Environment, Stability v. Change, Diversity v. Individuality and Mind v. Body. Students are strongly encouraged to take the College Board Advanced Placement exam.

Sociology
Prerequisite Course: None
Credit: 1 per year
This course concentrates on the systematic study of human society and human interaction throughout the world. Emphasis is placed on the connections between their personal lives and society, as well as a deeper understanding of social issues. The course integrates a variety of themes, including critical thinking, cultures and diversity, social issues, and geographic relationships. Upon completion, students should be able to use observations, the scientific method, and cross-cultural examinations to discover how patterns of behavior develop, culture is learned, and social predictions are made.