Social Studies Department
Mission Statement
The mission of the Social Studies Department is to enable students to develop, within a framework of Christian principles, both an American and global perspective on events and issues that have shaped the contemporary world. In doing so, the program emphasizes the need to acquire skills in information processing, reasoning, communicating, understanding ourselves, and appreciating diverse peoples and cultures. Students will be encouraged to become active, responsible citizens in their respective communities.
Goals
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of social studies facts, concepts and understandings;
- Apply skills used to think, learn and perform in the various disciplines of social studies;
- Analyze, utilize, and communicate information; Interact effectively with others through interpersonal and social participation skills;
- Formulate and evaluate values and value systems as they apply to one's self and to others;
- Become familiar with some information-processing technology;
- Have opportunities to interpret social studies concepts and understandings in personal ways, as well as through group consensus; and
- Understand how the various disciplines in social studies can provide insights and alternatives to human problems.
Courses Available
American Government - Regular or Honors
U.S. History
U.S. History - Honors
World History
World History - Honors
American Issues
Macroeconomics - Honors
Microeconomics - Honors
Psychology – Honors
Economics
Sociology
American Government – Regular and Honors
Elective: Junior or Senior Year/ One term/ ½ credit
Survey of the American political system, including an emphasis on how and why government develops, types of government systems, and the differences between systems. Topics include the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the election process and challenges to democracy.
The Honors level course is designed for those students who demonstrate a high level of interest and aptitude. The topics are the same, but students will be expected to perform with a higher level of understanding. Class participation and essay writing are mainstays of the class.
U.S. History Regular and Honors
Required: Sophomore Year / Two Terms/1 Credit
Honors course is an elective.
Part I: Industrial Revolution through the 1920’s
Part II: Great Depression to the present
The regular level course is a comprehensive study of the American nation from the period of Industrialization to the present time. The economic, technical, political, cultural, social, and international developments of the American people are studied. The basic text is supplemented with both print and audio-visual materials.
The honors level course is designed for those students who demonstrate a high level of interest and aptitude. The topics are the same as in the regular US History course, but the students will be expected to perform with a higher level of understanding. There will also be several novels read throughout the length of the course.
Prerequisite: GPA of 3.0 and department head approval.
World History
Required: Junior Year /Two Terms/ 1 Credit
Part I: Beginnings of Civilization through the Roman World
Part II: Growth of Civilization through the French Revolution
Study of ancient civilizations up to the modern world. Topics include the foundation of human culture, government, religion, and social structures through the Medieval Era, the Renaissance, the Age of Exploration, and the French Revolution.
World History – Honors
Elective: Junior Year / Two Terms/1 Credit / Honors
The Honors World History curriculum has been divided up into four term courses. Students must take two courses to fulfill the requirement. Students may choose from the following offerings:
Ancient Cultures: This course starts with a look at Early Man and moves into the First Civilizations of Mesopotamia. It then proceeds into a look at The Persian and Greek World, and The Roman World.
Eastern Civilization: This course takes a look at the great eastern cultures of Asia including India, China, and Japan. Topics will include early civilization, the development of various Eastern religions, language and writing, and the social, political, and economic history of the various regions.
Early European History: This course will begin with the barbaric tribes who take over after the fall of the Roman Empire and will proceed to study such topics as the Crusades, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Era of Absolutism, the Scientific Revolution, Exploration, the Enlightenment, and the French Revolution.
Modern European History: This course starts at the Industrial Revolution and follows the events and ideas that shaped modern Europe. Topics will include the industrialization movement, reform and revolution, European imperialism, and the Holocaust. (Note: the Holocaust will be taught in this course instead of in US History Honors.)
Prerequisite: GPA of 3.0 and department head approval
American Issues
Elective / One Term / ½ Credit
Study of contemporary American issues such as crime, poverty, violence, education, sports, race and discrimination, and sex roles and inequality. The class is discussion oriented, with student presentations and class debates. There is no textbook. Material will come primarily from news magazines and newspapers.
Microeconomic- Honors
Elective: Junior or Senior/ One term/ ½ credit
This course is designed to introduce college-bound students to the study of the economic behavior and decision-making of small units such as individuals, families and businesses. After a brief introduction to the basic concepts of economics, students will study how markets work. The laws of supply and demand will be covered, as well as prices and the market structure. There will be a heavy emphasis on graphing, problem solving and calculations. Other topics studied will include business organizations and labor, money and banking and financial markets. A stock market simulation will be conducted during the course of the term.
Prerequisite: Prior Honors Math and Social Studies coursework
Macroeconomics- Honors
Elective: Junior or Senior/ One term/ ½ credit
This course is designed to introduce college-bound students to the study of the economic behavior and decision-making of entire economies. After a brief review of several microeconomic concepts, students will begin to measure economic performance through studying the GNP, and business cycles. Economic challenges such as unemployment, inflation and poverty will also be studied and measured through calculation. In looking at the government and the economy, students will study taxes and spending, fiscal policy and the Federal Reserve and monetary policy. We will finish with a look at the global economy.
Prerequisite: Prior Honors Math or Social Studies coursework
Psychology-Honors
Elective: Junior or Senior/ Two terms/ 1 credit
This course is designed to introduce college-bound students to a study of human behavior by examining the most important genetic, physiological, and environmental effects on it. The course also explores the characteristics of well-adjusted behaviors, along with the causes, symptoms, and therapies for maladjusted behaviors.
Prerequisite: GPA 3.0
Economics - Regular
Elective: Junior/Senior/ One Term/ ½ Credit
This is an introductory level course for those students interested in learning about what economics is and how it affects their daily lives. The course includes both microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts. Topics studied include types of economic systems, how markets work, business organizations, money, banking and finance, measures of economic performance, taxes and international trade. The course will include some graphing, problem solving and calculation.
Sociology
Elective: One Term/ ½ Credit
This is an entry-level course for students interested in learning more about human society and social behavior. The focus of the class is on groups, rather than individuals. Topics will include the study of culture, social structure and change, socialization, human development in society, deviant behavior, and race relations. The text will be supplemented with both audio and visual materials. This course is a companion to Psychology.