World History 10

 Students in grade 10 study major turning points that shaped the modern world from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of the two world wars. They trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. They extrapolate from the American experience that democratic ideals are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable, and are not practiced everywhere in the world. Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives.

 

AP European History

The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural, economic, political, religious, and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live. In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of the AP program in European History are to develop (1) an understanding of some of the principle themes in modern European History, (2) an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, and (3) an ability to express historical understanding in writing. *All students enrolled in AP Social Science classes are expected to take the AP Exam for the course.

US History 11

U.S. History focuses on our nation’s beginnings and the impact of the Enlightenment on U.S. democratic ideals. Students will learn about the major turning points in American history throughout the latter half of the 19th century and 20th century. Students will examine the major political, social, economic, technological, and cultural developments throughout this time period up to the present day. They consider the major social problems of our time and trace their causes in historical events. Students understand that our rights under the U.S. Constitution are a precious inheritance that depends on an educated citizenry for their preservation and protection.

 

AP United States History

AP United States History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials from the pre‐Columbian era to the present. Students will learn to assess historical materials - their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance ‐ and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. The AP United States History course will thus develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in an essay format. *All students enrolled in AP Social Science classes are expected to take the AP Exam for the course. 

American Government

Students in grade twelve pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American government. They compare systems of government in the world today and analyze the history and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government.

 

AP US Government and Politics

The AP United States Government & Politics course provides an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. political reality. An emphasis is placed on analyzing the relationship among federal, state, and local governments, with particular attention paid to important historical documents such as the Federalist Papers. These standards represent the culmination of civic literacy as students prepare to vote, participate in community activities, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship. *All students enrolled in AP Social Science classes are expected to take the AP Exam for the course.

 

Economics

Prerequisite: None

This course enables students to function more effectively in our economy as participating citizens, productive workers, and informed consumers. Through simulation activities, group and individual projects, as well as lecture and discussion, students learn economic reasoning skills and decision making. Studied in a historic context are the basic economic principles of micro and macroeconomics, international economics, comparative economic systems, measurement, and methods.

 

AP Macroeconomics

AP Macroeconomics is designed to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. There is particular emphasis placed on the study of national income and price determination. Macroeconomics describes the financial environment we all live in as well as the impact of government decisions on both the individual and the business community. *All students enrolled in AP Social Science classes are expected to take the AP Exam for the course.