Social Studies Course Offerings

SOCIAL STUDIES

GRADUATION REQUIREMENT: All students are required to pass a minimum of three credits of Social Studies to graduate:

one credit in World History-Geography 1450-Present
one credit in US History
one credit in Government

Students must pass the Missouri Constitution Test, a U.S. History Constitution Test, and a U.S. Citizenship Test before graduation. Seniors who have not passed these tests will be given the opportunity to do so during their second semester.

World History-Geography 1450 - Present

World History-Geography 1450 - Present (SS105A/SS105B)		1 Social Studies Credit
Grade: 9	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: None
In this course, students will study world history through global encounters from 1450-present. They will examine human interaction as groups of people struggle to understand and adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Topics such as exploration, trade, revolutions,industrialization, imperialism, conflict, and globalization will be explored in the context of a world that is continuing to connect and interact.

United States History

United States History (SS203A/SS203B)		1 Social Studies Credit
Grade 10	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in World History-Geography 1450-Present
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the significant themes that contributed to the formation of the United States through research, discussion, simulation, debate and presentation. Students will use their understanding to cite evidence of those themes in contemporary issues facing our society. Themes will include evolution of American political democracy, cultural pluralism, economic and social equality, and America's development as a major world power. Students will explore and appreciate the diversity of the American experience and the relevance of our nation’s past to all individuals living in today’s society.

AP United States History

AP United States History (SS501A/SS501B)		1 Social Studies Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Rising Sophomores must have earned an A in World History-Geog 1450-Present as well as approval of a Social Studies teacher.
Students in Advanced Placement U.S. History will be challenged by a college freshman level course. Students will read, interpret and critically analyze primary and secondary source documents to gain an understanding of the major theme events of American history. Students will be expected to share their research insights through regular presentations and a final exhibition at the end of the year.

American Government through Comparative Perspectives

American Government through Comparative Perspectives (SS307A/SS307B)		1 Social Studies Credit
Grade 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in US History
American Government through Comparative Perspectives introduces students to the origins, concepts, institutions, interactions and policies of government in the United States, has students analyze the role the United States in the global community, and compares the government of the United States to systems of government in other countries. The course will increase students’ understanding of government and encourage students to become positive contributing members of their local, state, national, and global communities. Students will also be challenged to develop a civic disposition and engage in civil discourse. As a component of this course, students will be prepared for and take the state mandated American Government End of Course Exam, as well as fulfill the citizenship and constitution assessment requirements for high school graduation in the State of Missouri.

AP United States Government & Politics

AP United States Government & Politics (SS502A/SS502B)		1 Social Studies Credit
Grade 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Students must have a 3.0 GPA and approval of a Social Studies teacher
Students will explore through discussion and debate the philosophy, structure and functions of the political system created by the Constitution. There will be an emphasis on understanding the dynamics and relationships between our key political institutions in the formation and implementation of public policy. Students will be able to explain through oral and written discussion what role elections, interest groups, political parties and public opinion also play in the political process. Students will read from a number of sources including magazines, journals and a variety of newspapers.

Economics

Economics (SS202C)		.5 Elective Credit
Grade 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Semester
Prerequisite: None
Economics introduces the core concepts of how individuals, firms, and governments make choices with resources. Students will develop an understanding of core principles that guide economist’s decisions in varying economies. In completion, students will establish a problem-solving strategy for addressing economic decisions within society.

Psychology

Psychology (SS304C)		.5 Elective Credit
Grade 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Semester
Prerequisite: None
Students will learn to clarify and explain human development and behavior from infancy through maturity through research, discussion, debate, and role play. Human behavior will be explored by students through a study of its normal and abnormal manifestations. Students will discover and be able to explain the importance of applying the scientific method to the study of human behavior.

Contemporary Issues and Project-Based Historical Inquiry

Contemporary Issues and Project-Based Historical Inquiry (SS303C)		.5 Elective Credit
Grade 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Semester
Prerequisite: None
This semester course is meant for students interested in writing, research, history, literature, film production, theater, humanities (philosophy, sociology, psychology, anthropology, etc), journalism through a historical lens. Throughout the semester students will develop research projects of their choosing based upon a common theme while at the same time practicing historical thinking skills in the examination of contemporary issues. Students will develop a thesis, research and analyze source material, and express this work through a summative final project that is clear, persuasive, and creative.

Sociology

Sociology (SS305C)		.5 Elective Credit
Grade 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Semester
Prerequisite: None
Students will discover how humans interact within and between groups and groupings. They will explore through research, discussion, debate, and inquiry, the general principles dealing with how people get along in groups. Students will demonstrate their understanding of human interaction, social classes, personality, courtship, marriage, and the family through oral and written presentations.

The Black Experience in America

The Black Experience in America (SS306C)		.5 Elective Credit
Grade 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Semester
Prerequisite: None
Students will examine the Black Experience in America through a socio-historical lens. Students will explore continuity and change in the development of black identity. The course is designed for students to analyze diverse perspectives in an ever-changing world, including the conflict and cooperation that is caused by our interactions with each other. Students will find historical and contemporary evidence in order to have meaningful and reflective dialogue on the impact of race and intersectionality on one’s identity.

AP Psychology

AP Psychology (SS503A/SS503B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Students must have a 3.0 GPA and approval of a Social Studies teacher
AP Psychology is designed to introduce students to a wide range of psychological topics. Students will be given an opportunity to explore the behavior and mental processes of human beings. Throughout their AP Psychology experience, students will become familiar with what it means to critically analyze human behavior through the scientific process while peering through a psychological lens.

AP World History: Modern (only offered every other year)

AP World History: Modern (SS500A/SS500B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Rising Juniors must have a 3.0 GPA and approval of a Social Studies teacher.
AP World History: Modern is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university world history course. In AP World History: Modern students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in historical periods from approximately 1200 C.E. to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical comparisons; and utilizing reasoning about contextualization, causation, and continuity and change over time. The course provides five themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: interaction between humans and the environment; development and interaction of cultures; state building, expansion, and conflict; creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems; and development and transformation of social structures.
(AP WORLD HISTORY: MODERN WILL NOT BE OFFERED 2020-2021 AND WILL BE OFFERED 2021-2022)

AP Human Geography (only offered every other year)

AP Human Geography (SS504A/SS504B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Rising Juniors must have a 3.0 GPA and approval of a Social Studies teacher.
The AP Human Geography course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students learn to employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications.
*Dual Credit through Missouri State is offered in this course.
(AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY WILL BE OFFERED 2020-2021; WILL NOT BE OFFERED 2021-2022)

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