Social Studies Course Selection

2013- 2014

Graduation Requirements

Social Studies credits:•must earn 4 in grades 9-12

Social Studies Sequence

Required Course of Study

10th

-World Cultures-World Cultures 6.0

(honors)or -World

History AP

11th

-American Cultures-

American Cultures 6.0 (honors)

or -U.S. History AP

12th

-American Government

elective or-

U.S. & Comparative Government

AP

Social Studies Elective Offerings

Year-long Electives:Economics Micro/Macro APEuropean History APPsychology AP

Semester Electives:EconomicsPsychologySociologyTopics of American LifeWorld Religions

Course selection resources

•Program of Academic Studies•Links on NPHS website•Social Studies department page on NPHS website

Info for Sophomores(click)

Info for Juniors(click)

Sophomores

SophomoresConsider…Mapping out classes for Junior and Senior year

Required Junior year: 1 credit of Social Studies

Must at least take American History(either American Cultures or AP U.S. History)

Senior year: 1 credit of Social Studies Must have at least

1 semester American Government (1/2 credit) and

1 semester Social Studies elective (1/2 credit)

11th: American History(either American Cultures

or AP U.S. History)

American Cultures (4.0, 5.0, 6.0) America’s history & culture since 1918

AP U.S. History All of America’s history from settlement to

today More reading & writing intensive

11th: American Cultures(in depth)

Course codes: 1114, 1115, 1116

Open to juniors only

Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, World War II, Cold War, Culture of 1950s & 1960s, Nixon/Ford/Carter, etc

Leveling considerations 6.0 American Cultures

Rigorous course with college-level textbook Has a summer assignment Independent reading & writing Challenging tests & research Typically enrolled in 6.0 English

11th: AP U.S. History(in depth)

Course code: 1117

Open to juniors only

Columbian Exchange, Revolution, Jacksonian Era, Civil War & Reconstruction, WWI, Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, WWII, Cold War, Culture of 1950s & 1960s, Nixon/Ford/Carter, etc Presidents & Supreme Court cases

AP considerations Rigorous course with college-level textbook Optional $90 exam for college credit Has a summer assignment Independent reading & writing Suggested enrollment in 6.0 or AP English & advanced on state assessments

11th or 12th: Electives(in depth)

Click

Juniors

RequiredSenior year: 1 credit of Social Studies

Must have at least 1 semester American Government (1/2 credit) and

1 semester Social Studies elective (1/2 credit)

OR

yearlong AP Government (1 credit)

American Government: State & Local(in depth)

Course code: 1824, 1825, 1826

Open to seniors only – required course (1/2 credit) taken in combination with another Soc St course

Federal government overview, political parties, voting, interest groups, the media in politics, organization of state & local government

AP Government: U.S. & Comparative(in depth)

Course code: 1227

Seniors only – taken in place of required course (1 credit)

Combines two courses: U.S. Government & Comparative Government

U.S. federal gov’t, political parties, voting, interest groups, the media in politics

Gov’t systems in Britain, France, Russia, China, India, Nigeria, Mexico

AP Considerations :Rigorous course due to combined contentOptional $90 exams for college credit (separate exam for

each course)Has a summer assignment

Electives(in depth)

Click

Electives• AP courses (1 credit)

– AP Economics (Micro & Macro)– AP European History– AP Psychology

• Semester courses (1/2 credit)– Economics– Psychology– Sociology– Topics in American Life– World Religions

AP Economics• Course code: 1627

• Juniors or Seniors (1 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

AP Economics– Combines two courses: Microeconomics &

Macroeconomics– Study of unlimited wants & limited resources through:

supply & demand, forms of business, etc – Broader study of national income, price determination,

economic performance measures, economic growth

• AP Considerations :• Rigorous course due to combined content• Optional $90 exams for college credit (separate

exam for each course)• Has a summer assignment

– Interest in math suggested

AP European History• Course code: 1527

• Juniors or Seniors (1 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

• Study of Europe, 1500 to present: monarchies, wars, cultural shifts, revolutions, colonization, etc

Video Link• AP Considerations :

• Rigorous course w/ independent reading & writing • Optional $90 exam for college credit• Has a summer assignment

AP Psychology• Course code: 1327

• Juniors or Seniors (1 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

• Study of individual behavior & thought, for example: personality, memory, intelligence, the human brain, perception, & disorders

• AP Considerations :• Rigorous course w/ independent reading & studies • Optional $90 exam for college credit• Has a summer assignment

– Interest in science suggested

Social StudiesSemester Electives

• Semester electives… -Economics -Psychology -Sociology -Topics in Am. Life -World Religions

Economics• Course code: 1855, 1856

• Juniors or Seniors (1/2 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

• Study of unlimited wants & limited resources through: supply & demand, forms of business, taxes, stocks & bonds– Interest in math suggested

Psychology• Course code: 1834, 1835, 1836

• Juniors or Seniors (1/2 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

• Study of individual behavior & thought, for example: personality, memory, intelligence, & the human brain– Interest in science suggested

Sociology• Course code: 1844, 1845, 1846

• Juniors or Seniors (1/2 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

• Study of group behavior: societal structures & culture, norms & values, deviance & conformity

Video Link

Topics in American Life• Course code: 1864, 1865, 1866

• Juniors or Seniors (1/2 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

• Life since 9/11 & current events with focus on: human rights, civil liberties, justice, shifting economic opportunities

Survey of World Religions• Course code: 1875, 1876

• Juniors or Seniors (1/2 credit) – taken in combination with another required course

• Origins, history, figures, & teachings of: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam