Social Studies Courses

1.0 credit, Grade 9, Weight 1.0
The Global Studies course provides students with a comprehensive and intensive study of major world events and themes throughout the history of the world. Students will analyze and evaluate change, continuity, and globalization of the modern era. By focusing on interactions between past and present, students will develop an understanding of the world today through an examination of the reactions, adaptations, and decisions people made in response to the conditions around them. The goal of global studies is to explore the geography, culture, history, and current events of the world in order to make important connections between past and present and to enhance our understanding of the world in which we live.

1.0 credit, Grade 9, Weight 1.1
The Global Studies course provides students with a comprehensive and intensive study of major world events and themes throughout the history of the world. Students will analyze and evaluate change, continuity, and globalization of the modern era. By focusing on interactions between past and present, students will develop an understanding of the world today through an examination of the reactions, adaptations, and decisions people made in response to the conditions around them. The goal of global studies is to explore the geography, culture, history, and current events of the world in order to make important connections between past and present and to enhance our understanding of the world in which we live. This honors level course will include a more intense and in–depth study of global studies. Students will be expected to complete more independent and collaborative projects/work both in and out of class, to complete in and out of class readings (both fiction and non–fiction), to participate in discussion forums, and to perform at the honors level at all times. Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation.

1.0 credit, Grade 10, Weight 1.0
The U.S. History course offers an in-depth exploration of American history from the Reconstruction Era through the end of the Cold War. The primary objective is to analyze and evaluate the transformation of the United States from a nation divided by Civil War to a prominent world power. Students will examine key themes, including policies, cultural impacts, and the nation's role in global affairs. Through the study of historical events and trends, students will gain insights into the past, allowing them to make informed predictions about the future of the United States.

1.0 credit, Grade 10, Weight 1.1
The U.S. History course offers an in-depth exploration of American history from the Reconstruction Era through the end of the Cold War. The primary objective is to analyze and evaluate the transformation of the United States from a nation divided by Civil War to a prominent world power. Students will examine key themes, including policies, cultural impacts, and the nation's role in global affairs. Through the study of historical events and trends, students will gain insights into the past, allowing them to make informed predictions about the future of the United States. This honors level course will include a more intense and in–depth study of our history. Students will be expected to complete more independent and collaborative projects/work both in and out of class, to complete in an out of class readings (both fiction and non–fiction), to participate in discussion forums, and to perform at the honors level at all times. Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation.

1.0 credit, Grade 11, Weight 1.0
The Civics and Citizenship course studies the US Constitution and how it establishes the US political system, protects the rights of citizens, and creates civic virtues, democratic principles, and civic participation. It also explores state and local governments, the economy, courts, society, the media, and many other policies and practices. Beyond politics, civics includes active participation in schools, communities, and other organizations. Students will learn to engage meaningfully in public processes now and throughout their lives—whether by voting, volunteering, serving on juries, taking informed action, or participating in civil discourse. Contributions in the course will range from a variety of different methods, including debates, presentations, discussions, or seminars, and will focus on the civic process that society uses to address shared problems and real-world issues. Students will develop critical thinking and analysis skills and understand what it means to actively participate in society.

1.0 credit, Grade 11-12, Weight 1.2
AP Civics and Government presents the principles of the American representative form of government. The intent of instruction is to instill the acts and policies of the framers of the Declaration of Independence and of the Constitution that it is a citizen’s duty and responsibility to exercise their voting privilege and to understand the American form of government as in comparison to other forms of government. This course is a college-level course. College credit may be obtained for a student’s freshman-level civics and/or government course upon completion and passage of the AP Civics and Government Exam. This course is extremely independent in nature. It follows a college level text and the student must be prepared to work independently on content not covered in class, content covered in class and content created and studied outside of class. Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation.

1.0 credit, Grade 10, Weight 1.2, Offered 2026-27
The AP U.S. History course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S. history. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full–year introductory college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials—their relevance to a given interpretive problem, reliability, and importance—and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. This course will develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions based on an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation from Honors Global Studies.