Faculty

Wesley Estock
Jason Heflin
John Lorchak
Benjamin O'Donnell
Joe Watterson
Theodore Werkheiser

Courses

A day doesn't pass in our lives when we are not involved with some aspect of the social studies. Our use of money; our relations with family, friends, and associates; and our rules and regulations all borrow from the broad field known as social studies. By understanding the total system in which we live, the societies in which others live, and the history of man, which brought all of us to this point in time, we should be better able to live more effectively in our society.

AMERICAN STUDIES

This honors course focuses on the history of American development from the post Civil War Era to the present. The "American Personality" is explored through English, social studies, art, and music. Emphasis is placed on analyzing the evolution of our culture as a whole using primary sources from all four disciplines. The nature of this course is conceptual, and the student should expect to perform proficiently in a wide variety of learning and assessment strategies.

GLOBAL STUDIES

Students taking this honors course will be involved in a full-year team approach, which includes the subject areas of English, social studies, music, and art. The course includes art, literature, music, and the theater—areas in which human values and individual expressiveness are celebrated. This course traces the history of that expression through the eyes of global cultures. Students must be willing to become involved in learning and participating in these various forms of expression. Selected readings and writings are an integral part of the program and span the gamut of civilization.

AMERICAN CULTURES 10 COLLEGE PREP & AMERICAN CULTURES 10 CAREER PREP

The American Cultures course is a continuation of the American Cultures, grade 9 program and deals with American studies from the late nineteenth century to the present. Emphasis will be placed on America's role in world events and on the cultural developments in the United States. Using a cultural approach, students will learn to deal with American problems as they affect our daily lives.

WORLD CULTURES COLLEGE PREP & WORLD CULTURES CAREER PREP

Through the study of geography, history, political science, economics, anthropology, sociology, and psychology, the student will receive material necessary to understand how various societies developed. Emphasis is placed on the various culture groups of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Western Europe, and the former Soviet Union. Current problems facing all of these regions will also be covered.

AP US GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

This specialized one-year course is designed to prepare those students who wish to take the AP exam in United States Government and Politics. Students can anticipate a college level course, with particular emphasis on independent learning. Participants will develop a critical and analytical approach to the study of political science. This is an intense course of study that integrates frequent supplemental reading assignments into curriculum that has been devised by the College Board. Although not formally required, it is recommended that students have taken Global Studies prior to registering for this course.

GOV'T & ECONOMICS HONORS & GOV'T & ECONOMICS COLLEGE PREP & GOV'T & ECONOMICS CAREER PREP

The ultimate goal of the Economics and Political Science courses is to give students the tools they need to become active, informed, involved, and responsible citizens. Both of these courses integrate the use of technology into the course of study. Using resources from the Internet, CD-ROM programs, computer programs, and simulations, students will participate in active learning strategies, which stress a students centered model of learning. The curriculum in each course will emphasize practical applications of both economic and political information. Each course will stress the roles and responsibilities of citizens. Current issues in each discipline will be examined from many views, and students will be encouraged to propose workable solutions. Responsibilities which accompany freedoms will be examined in each course. Personal economics will include units on money, banking, saving, investing, and credit. In the higher-level course, various economic systems will be examined.

SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES

Electives may not be used as substitutes for regular course requirements. Students may wish to plan elective choices over a two-year period. Social studies electives are designed as one-semester courses. Students are encouraged to use their free elective time by electing one or more of these courses.

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

This is an accelerated and enriched history course with a great emphasis placed on the use of original source materials as the basis of studying a historical period. Through research and study projects, the student will analyze and evaluate critical events of European History. The effect of these events on our world today will be carefully examined. This course will focus on the important events and relationships from 1450 (the high Renaissance) to present. Key areas covered will include the founding and development of Italy and Germany, the progress of Western European democracies, the race for colonization, and thus the rise and effects of Industrialism. This course will require an in-depth research project and paper on a particular event or events of the periods. Advanced reading and writing will be required of students in this course. Summer reading and writing assignments will be required of students enrolling in this course. Selection of students is based upon teacher recommendations, past performance, and student interest. This course will be offered every other year to interested 11th and 12th grade students starting with the 2005-2006 school term

AP PSYCHOLOGY

The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of 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 subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. This is an intense course of study that integrates frequent supplemental reading assignments into the curriculum that has been devised by the College Board. The course maintains a rigorous academic curriculum for students who wish to take the AP exam in Psychology. Selection of students is based on teacher recommendations, past performance, and student interest. This course will be offered every other year to interested 11th and 12th grade students starting with the 2006-2007 school term.

PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to those areas of psychology that can be applied to everyday life. It stresses the importance of understanding oneself and incorporates activities designed to help the student do this. Requirements of this course include keeping a personal journal, participating in experiments, writing lab reports, being responsible for book reports, and taking a limited number of tests. This is primarily an activities-centered course.

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

This course is designed to be an academic approach to the study of psychology. This is a survey course in psychology that will cover theories of personality, perception, theories of learning, abnormal psychology, and social psychology. This is a study-centered course that requires a higher-level reading comprehension.

LAW IN A CHANGING SOCIETY

This course will present concepts related to man and his role in our society, based on law. Prepared in a manner which is useful to the layman, the course will deal with those areas of law, which affect our daily lives. Topics covered will include juvenile justice and criminal, civil, and family law. Resource persons will communicate law related career opportunities.

THIS GENERATION

Many events have happened in our society since the 1960s. Changes in entertainment, the family, the world of work, international relations, education, our system of values, and how we see the world around us have had a tremendous impact on our country as a whole. Students will examine those events and discuss what effect they might have on our future.