Social Studies

Students will study turning points in history that have affected a large number of people around the globe. In this college prep class, students will be expected to practice a historical way of thinking, such as understanding chronology, critical thinking and cause and effect. Students will source, corroborate, and contextualize a variety of primary sources and be asked to make applications of historical learning to modern-day issues. Common topics studied include world religions, types of government, war and peace, and the rise and fall of societies since early times. This course will focus on early civilizations, classical civilizations, and the development of modern nations. 

Grades 9-12

2 semesters, 2 credits

AHD, THD, Core 40, and NCAA Course

Recommendation(s): Grade of B or better in 8th grade US History. A teacher's recommendation is strongly encouraged.          

Note: It is expected that students who take this course will also take the AP World History Modern Test in May. Test Fee is $96.00 & cancellation fee is $45.00. All fees are subject to change. 

This AP World History Modern course will follow the College Board Entrance Examination guidelines and is offered for the college bound student who needs rigorous course equivalent to a college-level World History class. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from 1200 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation. 

Open to grade 11,                                                          2 semesters, 1 credit English per semester          THD, AHD, Core 40 and NCAA course                   Note: This course can be taken only in conjunction with the American Studies U.S history course. 

This interdisciplinary course pairing meets during two blocks, one with an English teacher and one with a Social Studies teacher, who work together to blend the curriculum and skills from both departments. This course explicitly connects U.S history to American literature, and engages students by connecting the reading and writing assignments to the real world. The course addresses two guiding questions: What is the story of America? And how did we get here?

2 semesters, 2 credits,                                      Grade 11                                                                       A Core 40, AHD and NCAA Course                        Recommendation(s): Grade of B or better in World History and Civilization or Geography and History of the World; top 20% of the sophomore class. A teacher's recommendation is strongly encouraged.                                              Note: It is expected that students who take this course will also take the AP United States History Test in May. Test Fee is $96.00 & cancellation fee is $45.00. All fees are subject to change. 

This course builds upon concepts developed in previous studies of American History and emphasizes a detailed study of the development of our nation from the Civil War to the present. Students study the key events, people, groups, and movements in the late 19th-21st centuries, as they relate to life in the United States. This course is designed for students who wish to study American History in more depth and detail than is possible in U.S History. This challenging course follows the College Board Entrance Examination guidelines for A.P U.S History and prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands equivalent to those of a college course. Students will use sourcing, corroboration, and contextualization skills to analyze and draw conclusions from primary sources. College credit is possible depending upon college and university requirements. 

Grade 12                                                                          1 semester, 1 credit per semester                            THD,AHD, Core 40, and NCAA course

This course is designed to help students become independent thinkers and conscientious citizens. Topics include the methods of public participation in policy making, citizenship rights and responsibilities, and the relationship between modern society and government. 

Grade 12                                                                          1 semester, 1 credit per semester                            THD, AHD, Core 40 and NCAA course

This course is designed to help the student know how to cope with managing his or her own finances. This course provides valuable help in teaching skills about financial planning, career selection, interviews, job applications, budgeting, insurance, banking and credit, consumer purchasing and advertising, and investing.

Content is drawn from human history, philosophy, the arts, religion, literature, and the state of human existence, including issues of cause and effect derived from disciplines that include: political science, linguistics, prejudice and discrimination, archeology, comparative religions, and the arts. Particular attention is given to the relevance of these applications in regard to the study of American culture. 

Open to grades 10-12                                                  1 semester, 1 credit per semester              

Indiana Studies is a course that compares and contrasts state and national developments in the areas of politics, economics, history, and culture. The course uses Indiana history as a basis for understanding current policies, practices, and state legislative procedures. It also includes the study of state and national constitutions from a historical perspective and as a current foundation of government. Examination of individual leaders and their roles in the political process. Selections from Indiana arts and literature may also be analyzed for insights into historical events and cultural expressions. 

Open to grades 10-12,                                                  1 semester, 1 credit per semester               counts as an elective for all diplomas

Ethnic studies provide opportunities to broaden students' perspectives concerning the lifestyles and cultural patterns of ethnic groups in the United States. This course will use a comparative approach to the study of patterns of cultural development, immigration, and assimilation, as well as the contributions of these groups. The course will include an analysis of the impact of ethnic diversity in the United States.