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Social Studies

SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES

COURSE TITLE Geography
RECOMMENDED GRADE LEVEL 9 - 10
PRE-REQUISITE None
CREDITS 10
DURATION 1st & 2nd semester
COURSE DESCRIPTION The goal of this course is to allow students to learn the five themes of geography and to be able to use these themes to compare places to each other and the U.S. The course is broken down in units which cover basic geographical areas: North America, Latin America, Europe, Russia, North Africa, South Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia and the Pacific. The year begins with students learning basic skills that will be used in geography studies and in life. These include learning the Five Geographic Themes, learning map skills, learning how to make and use graphs, charts, and diagrams, basic geographical terms and ideas about resources, climates, natural vegetation, population, people, and the environment. The remainder of the year, the students spend discussing, researching, and learning about the various units using the earlier skills that they have developed. The key study points are mapping the region’s physical features and then discussing the resources, climates, vegetation, population and people and how they relate to us and other groups that we have studied.
Students are graded on worksheets, group work, quizzes, maps, tests, writing assignments, term papers, projects and semester tests, all of which require the student to recall information that we discuss in class.

COURSE TITLE World History
RECOMMENDED GRADE LEVEL 9 - 10
PRE-REQUISITE None
CREDITS 10 Required to Graduate
DURATION 1st & 2nd semester

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will include the study of pre-history (up to 3200 B.C.) ancient civilizations from 3200 B.C. to 450 B.C., Greek, Roman, Asian, African and American early civilizations will be studies. The medieval world, feudalism, rise of Islam and other great world religions and the Renaissance will be covered. European exploration, colonization and imperialism will be studied. The 19th & 20th century will be included in this study.
Students will be expected to read and understand the text book, participate in class discussions, projects and group efforts. Students will complete all class assignments, papers, essays and tests. Semester tests will be taken. Projects are required.

COURSE TITLE American History
RECOMMENDED GRADE LEVEL 11
PRE-REQUISITE World History
CREDITS 10 Required to Graduate
DURATION 1st & 2nd semester
COURSE DESCRIPTION The goals of this class are 1) to provide timeline coverage of American history from the early European explorers to the present, 2) to identify major themes and explain the importance of the United States in relation to the history of the world, 3) to explain the influences that have shaped the people, government, economy and history of the United States of America. Eras that will be covered include: the Age of Exploration, European Colonization, the Revolutionary Period, Early Government, Sectionalism (Civil War), the Growth of the Nation (as a world power), the World Wars, the Changing Climate of the 1960’s – 1970’s, the “Boom” of the 1980’s, the End of the Cold War, and the Battle against Terrorism. Students are expected to take part in class discussions, complete assigned work, and participate in the “connection” of the past to the present by brining weekly current event articles. Students will be tested on their understanding of these ideas with tests, quizzes, and writing assignments.
SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES - continued

COURSE TITLE American Government
RECOMMENDED GRADE LEVEL 12
PRE-REQUISITE None
CREDIT 5 Required to Graduate
DURATION 1st & 2nd semester

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course focuses on different aspects of the American government. Topics that are to be covered are the basic concepts of democracy and government, origins of American government, a study of the Constitution, federalism and division of power, the electoral process, and a study of the three branches of government, their jobs, responsibilities, powers, selection, and how they work together.
Students are expected to take part in class discussions, bring viewpoints on the subject matter, participate in group projects, and complete assigned work. Students will be tested on their understanding of these ideas with chapter tests, writing assignments, quizzes, papers, projects and semester test.
The economics portion of this course is to explain the role that economics plays in understanding and improving the quality of the choice-making process. “Microeconomics”, “Macroeconomics”, “The U.S. and the World Economy” explores economic topics related to the world economy.

COURSE TITLE Sociology
RECOMMENDED GRADE LEVEL 11 - 12
PRE-REQUISITE None
CREDIT 5
DURATION 1 semester

COURSE DESCRIPTION The three goals in Sociology class are 1) develop a sociological imagination, which will enable them to view their lives within a larger social context; 2) help students understand and appreciate the rich diversity that is possible in social life by exposing them to a wide variety of cross-cultural and historical sources and 3) compel students to think in terms of a social “Big Picture”. During this class, an examination of the basic concepts, principles, and methods applied in the study of sociology will be discussed. The class begins by discussing what culture and society are, how different ideas have developed from sociologists, cultural conformity, diversity, and adaptation, and the structure of social order. Through the semester, we study how the individual in society is viewed during different time periods, how the individual socializes, how individuals differ, we discuss social stratification, discuss racial and ethnic relations, gender, family relations, the effect of economy and politics on society, and social change and modernization.
Students are expected to take part in class discussions, bring viewpoints on the subject matter, participate in group projects, and complete assigned work, including one semester project. Students will be tested on their understanding of these ideas with chapter and semester tests.

COURSE TITLE General Psychology 110
RECOMMENDED GRADE LEVEL 12
PRE-REQUISITE None
CREDIT 5 hours/semester of high school credit
3 hours of credit for the full year with college credit through Northeast Community College – General Psychology 110
(tuition paid to NECC by the student)
DURATION 1st & 2nd semester

COURSE DESCRIPTION During the course of the year, the students examine behavior from a biological (physical) standpoint, an intra-psychic (mental) viewpoint, and a social/behavioral (society/cultural) perspective. Areas covered in class include emotions, sexual motivation, drugs, weight control and learning. Development from infancy to aging are studied as well as personality. The students are required to do assigned reading, quizzes, study guides and tests as part of the grade. A term paper or reading approved books and doing reports on the books is required for those taking the class for college credit. Students use various handouts that are geared to help them gain self-understanding. Grading is on the scale set by Northeast Community College. Whether or not the student is taking it for credit, the grading will be on the scale set by NECC.