SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

This course is required in either the 9th or 10th grade. It surveys the major events of the past, studying heritage from the stone age to the 21st century. Significant ideas and important personalities are highlighted. Physical and cultural geography are essential components of the course.

Prerequisite:  Placement test score in the 90th percentile or approval of the Dean of Curriculum

The Advanced program in World History fulfills the graduation requirement for the World History course.  Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic chronology and major events and trends in World History from approximately 1450 to the present. In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of the advanced program are to develop (a) an understanding of some of the principle themes in modern World History, (b) an ability to analyze historical evidence, and (c) an ability to express that understanding and analysis in writing.  Homework will average one to two (1-2) hours per night.

The American History course covers the civil war era to the present with an emphasis on the 20th century. The major thrust is on significant events in America’s past, but current events are also stressed.

Prerequisite: Qualifying performance on a diagnostic test and approval of the teacher.

This course is an alternative to the U.S. History course and presents an in-depth study of American History, major documents, and issues. The course prepares the student to take a national test by which he/she can gain college credit. (see information on AP classes).

Prerequisite:  Biology Honors and teacher approval. Students must be concurrently enrolled on Algebra 2 Trig, Trig-Pre Calculus or Calculus AP and have a math GPA of 3.5. 

Chemistry Honors will provide the student with an increased level of complexity and scope of study. This course is an in-depth study of the principles and concepts in chemistry. Students are required to demonstrate an understanding of these principles through application in a laboratory situation. Content includes structure and bonding, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics and quantitative analysis. The importance of the relationship between mathematical concepts and chemistry is stressed throughout the course.

The economics course provides students with the opportunity to learn about the American free enterprise system and explore their roles as citizens, producers and consumers.  Key economic concepts, including supply and demand, inflation, unemployment, recession, depression, money and GDP are studied.  Application of the concepts taught is integral to this course and is demonstrated in areas of personal finance/investment and entrepreneurship.  Fulfills G requirements.

Prerequisite: Qualifying class performance, GPA and approval of the department.

This course is an alternative to the Government course. This course gives students a perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. The course prepares the student to take a national test by which he/she can gain college credit. (See information on AP classes).

This elective course studies human behavior and provides basic materials about fundamental aspects of behavior such as physical, motor, language, emotional, social and intellectual development. It also gives background information on how the human body works, and data on learning and thinking, sensation and perception. Fulfills G requirements.

This elective course studies the developmental theories of human behavior during adolescence. The course also covers current high interest topics such as suicide, abortion, drug use, teen pregnancy, ethnic differences and economic disparity. Fulfills G requirements.

This course emphasizes map skills, and will include the effect of geography and climate on the physical and cultural development of people’s study of archeological discoveries, (such as King Tut’s tomb) and basic tools and methods of archeology are be a major part of this course. Fulfills G requirements.