Social Studies

Full Year, 1 credit
World History 9R is the first of a two-year required historical survey course. Students will advance their knowledge about the past through a combination of selective factual information and appropriate analytical skills. The course of study includes the First Civilizations, the Classical Era, the Post-Classical Period, and the Early Modern World (to 1750). These topics, along with skills such as historical interpretation, historical argumentation, contextualization, comparison, causation, and continuity-and-change, will coalesce into an overarching study of “enduring issues” that tells the story of the human experience. This course serves as a foundation for 10th grade World History and Geography which culminates in a New York State Regents Exam.

Full Year, 1 credit
While not a prerequisite course for 10th grade AP World History, the Introduction to Advanced Placement World History course is designed specifically to help students build skill and content knowledge required for entrance into AP History coursework. The course of study includes the Ancient World, the Post-Classical Period, and the Early Modern World (to 1750) with emphasis on the connections among historical developments in different times and places. Students will develop the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians. This includes, but is not limited to, document analysis; developing historical arguments; making historical comparisons; and utilizing reasoning about contextualization, causation, and continuity and change over time. Therefore, to be successful in World History 9 Pre-AP, students must come to the course already demonstrating proficiency as a self-directed, conscientious learner with the ability to acquire content knowledge independently via teacher selected resources. Additionally, students should exhibit strong reading skills and an intellectual readiness for analysis that goes beyond factual acquisition of content. Successful competition of this course fulfills the 9th grade NYS requirements in Social Studies and serves as a foundation for the 10th grade curriculum.

Full Year, 1 credit
This course is the second year of the two-year sequence begun in grade 9. It concludes with a Regents exam in World History and Geography. This course includes an overview of the following topics: Enlightenment and Revolution (1750-1914),  Industrialism and a New Global Age (1750-1914), World Wars and Revolutions (1914-Present) and The World Today (1914-Present). Themes such as Turning Points, Economic Systems, Political Systems and Nationalism will be explored in the curriculum. These topics, along with skills such as historical interpretation, historical argumentation, contextualization, comparison, causation, and continuity-and-change, will coalesce into an overarching study of “enduring issues” that tell the story of the human experience.

Full Year, 1 credit
This course is the second year of the two-year sequence begun in grade 9. It concludes with a Regents exam in World History and Geography. This course includes an overview of the following topics: Enlightenment and Revolution (1750-1914), Industrialism and a New Global Age (1750-1914), World Wars and Revolutions (1914-Present) and The World Today (1914-Present). Themes such as Turning Points, Economic Systems, Political Systems and Nationalism will be explored in the curriculum. These topics, along with skills such as historical interpretation, historical argumentation, contextualization, comparison, causation, and continuity-and-change, will coalesce into an overarching study of “enduring issues” that tells the story of the human experience. The 10H course emphasizes examination and analysis of primary source documents, independent research, and a more in-depth look at the historical periods of study through writing across the curriculum.

Full Year, 1 credit
The purpose of the AP World History Modern course is to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. The course emphasizes relevant factual knowledge deployed in conjunction with leading interpretive issues and types of historical evidence. Focused primarily on the past eight hundred years of the global experience, the course builds an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage prior to 1200 C.E. Periodization forms the organizing principle for dealing with change and continuity from that point to the present. Specific themes provide further organization to the course, along with the consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study. Students are expected to take the AP World History Modern examination in May for possible college credit. 

AP classes often require advanced critical thinking skills, engaging in independent reading and writing, and completing a more demanding workload than an Honors or Regents level course. Students in AP courses should demonstrate strong study skills, a spirit of intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to face academic challenges with a positive attitude. Intrinsically motivated students generally fare better in this type of class setting.

Full Year, 1 credit
The United States History and Government course is a survey of the American experience from colonial foundations to today, with emphasis on the Constitution, Industrial Revolution, and the 20th Century. This course culminates in the New York State Regents Exam in June. Class sessions will consist of lecture, discussion, supervised individual research, writing, and cooperative learning activities. Current events are a major focus of both the research work and the Regents exam.

Full Year, 1 credit
The United States History and Government Honors course is a survey of the American experience from colonial foundations to today, with emphasis on the Constitution, Industrial Revolution, and the 20th Century. This course culminates in the New York State Regents Exam in June. Class sessions will consist of lecture, discussion, supervised individual research, writing, and cooperative learning activities. Current events are a major focus of both the research work and the Regents exam. The 11H course emphasizes examination and analysis of primary source documents, independent research, and a more in-depth look at the historical periods of study through writing across the curriculum.

Full Year, 1 credit
In AP U.S. History, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change. The course also provides eight themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical development in different times and places: American and national identity; work, exchange, and technology; geography and the environment; migration and settlement; politics and power; American in the world; American and regional culture; and social structures. AP U.S. History is equivalent to a two-semester introductory college course in U.S. history. Students should be able to read a college-level textbook, write with sophistication, and are expected to take the AP exam in May for possible college credit.

Full Year, 1 credit
This course introduces students to the systemic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major sub fields within psychology, and they also learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The aim of this course is to provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory psychology courses. Topics covered include the following: biological bases of behavior; sensation and perception; states of consciousness; learning; cognition, motivation and emotion; developmental psychology; personality; testing and individual differences; abnormal psychology; treatment of psychological disorders; and social psychology. Each student is expected to take the AP Psychology exam in May.

One Semester, 1/2 credit
This is an introductory course in economic theory. Basic economic problems such as scarcity, choice, supply and demand, and utility are initially presented in order to relate theory to American capitalism. In particular, the dynamics of the market, personal finance, the factors of production (land, labor, and capital), and banking are explored in detail. The student will then employ this basic knowledge to study specific American economic problems such as: inflation, unemployment, energy, pollution and conservation, taxation and the national debt.

Full Year, 1 Credit
Includes enrollment in Issues in American Society
The purpose of an AP course in Economics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the larger economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product markets, and includes the study of factor markets and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. The part II questions on the exams require students to apply mathematical concepts to economic theory and so a strong background in math is needed in order for students to successfully complete this class. Students are expected to take the AP Microeconomics exam in May for possible college credit.

The Participation in Government requirement can be met by any of the following courses: Issues in American Society, Law and Literature or Participation in Government III – Senior Seminar, and Citizen Leadership: Character in Action

One Semester, 1/2 credit
Senior Seminar
This course is an alternative method of satisfying the graduation requirements of the Regents Action Plan and is offered in conjunction with English 12R (Senior Seminar). Working with a member of the community or their teacher, students will develop projects to explore a career opportunity and/or personal interest. In addition, students will be required to give presentations, keep a journal and produce a research paper reflecting their program experiences.

One Semester, 1/2 credit
The purpose of this course is to promote character driven respectful and responsible student leaders in school and the community. It will identify and explore attitudes and personal qualities that build a foundation for success in life and work. The character traits are embedded throughout the curriculum and focus daily on the development of active citizenship and student leadership skills.

The focus of the course will be three fold: creating an understanding of fundamental positive character traits; raising awareness of inequality and injustice in the world; and applying the role of civic participation to bring awareness to action. Ultimately, this will culminate with students completing service projects.

The course aligns with the SOCSD goals of delivering overt, systemic instruction related to character education and New York state grade 12 standards for Participation in Government and Civics particularly in the areas of basic civic values of American constitutional democracy and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation. Successful completion of the course will result in fulfillment of the New York state Participation in Government requirement.

College Course Name: Intro to Criminal Justice 101
One Semester, 1/2 credit
Opportunity to earn 3 credits from St. Thomas Aquinas College
Criminal Justice is a social studies elective for grades 10, 11, and 12. This course is designed to enable students to develop concepts and attitudes which will give them a better understanding of our criminal justice system. This course integrates many social studies disciplines such as history, political science, sociology, psychology, and economics. It is also designed to give students an awareness of career possibilities in the criminal justice field. Police officers, attorneys, and other practitioners in the field bring their expertise to the classroom. In addition, field trips, case studies, audio-visual material, simulations, debates and reports are employed in the course. Concepts and theories are taught, but classroom meetings emphasize the practical, applicable and day-to-day experiences of persons in the criminal justice field. Current criminal justice news stories and issues are also emphasized in the course. Class participation = 25% of the student’s grade. This course can be taken for college credit through St. Thomas Aquinas College.

One Semester, 1/2 credit
American Voices is a social studies elective for grades 10, 11, and 12. Students will examine American History from the perspective of nondominant cultures. The class will focus on individual stories to help provide a broad comparative analysis of American History. This course will focus not only on the tragedy, but the triumphs of groups that have often been marginalized in traditional survey history courses. By exposing more students to these voices, the goal would be to help broaden students understanding of the important and often underrepresented impact that underrepresented cultures have played in American History. Students taking this class would focus on a study of, but not limited to, African American, Pan-Asian, Indigenous and Latin American societies’ role in American History.

Full Year, 1 credit
Taught jointly by an English and a Social Studies teacher, this course emphasizes collaborative learning. Through group work and assignments students will examine legal issues including Supreme Court decisions, landmark trials, literature, and actual case files that have been reproduced for use in this class. Students will learn how to analyze complex legal issues and prepare extensive oral and legal arguments while considering audience, subject matter, and tone. These public speaking skills will be put to the test during mock trials and other group presentations throughout the year. Course expectations include interest in reading, writing, public speaking, collaboration, and thinking critically. Students who successfully complete the course will receive 1/2 credit for English and 1/2 credit for Social Studies. Students must register for this course under both English and Social Studies.

One Semester, 1/2 credit
This course will investigate major political, social and economic issues. Students will be expected to research current topics of concern to American Society using a variety of print and digital sources and present their findings in written and oral form, both individually and as part of a panel discussion. A major part of the grade for this course will depend on daily preparation and participation in class activities and discussions. The topics to be considered each semester will be selected jointly by the students and the instructor. Successful completion of the course will result in fulfillment of the New York State Participation in Government requirement.

One Semester, 1/2 credit
This course provides basic training in research and writing skills, as well as familiarizing students with the problems encountered in planning and executing lengthy research projects. Students will be introduced to a wide range of resources available, and the methods of gathering, processing, and presenting data, to aid them in the writing and presentation of research papers. Students will learn that writing is about making decisions. As researchers, they will choose from a broad range of subjects, selecting those they think are most important, and interesting. They will choose source materials carefully, assessing evidence that may support or contradict their arguments. The coursework will culminate in the submission of a formal original research paper and student presentation. This course is open to juniors and seniors only.

This class will broaden student’s ability to think critically about popular movies – or to do what scholars call “reading” films. This class will be an exercise in media literacy. This class is not designed to teach just Global/World history using film. Instead, our goal is to get students to think critically and analytically about history and about films through an analysis of Hollywood movies. While we will not focus directly on the history of Hollywood, we will examine the Hollywood production process and its history as a way to inform ourselves about the movies we examine. Student evaluations will include tests, quizzes, reading and writing assignments.

One Semester, 1/2 credit
This class will broaden student’s ability to think critically about popular movies – or to do what scholars call “reading” films. This class will be an exercise in media literacy. This class is not designed to teach just Global/World history using film. Instead, our goal is to get students to think critically and analytically about history and about films through an analysis of Hollywood movies. While we will not focus directly on the history of Hollywood, we will examine the Hollywood production process and its history as a way to inform ourselves about the movies we examine. Student evaluations will include tests, quizzes, reading and writing assignments.

One Semester, 1/2 credit
Students will draw upon their knowledge of history and the social sciences to analyze, synthesize and apply the principles of psychology. Students will have the opportunity to pursue independent research interests and learn to use the methods that psychologists employ to test and evaluate their hypotheses. This course will focus on the importance of authentic assessment while still addressing the challenging academic nature inherent in the field of psychology.

Full Year, 1 credit
This course will provide juniors and seniors with an opportunity to examine European History in greater depth, while working on skills that are critical for success at the college level. By examining European history in greater detail, while specifically focusing on 1450 to the present, students will gain a greater contextual background contributing to their understanding of contemporary issues. The importance of European History during the modern era cannot be discounted when understanding key ideas, whether specific to the history of the Western World, or the European influence on the developing nations of our world today. Additionally, the AP format will continue to encourage students to sharpen their writing skills as they prepare for college