Social Studies courses draw upon the wealth of information and insight to be found in anthropology, history, psychology, economics, geography, political science, and sociology. The curriculum encourages students to apply the lessons of the past to the problems of the present, and to utilize investigation and problem-solving techniques to become vital participants in shaping and directing the future of our local, national, and world communities.
| Civics & Geography | Honors Civics & Geography |
| Grades: 9 | Grades: 9 |
| Credit: 1.0 | Credit: 1.0 |
| Course Level: College Prep | Course Level: Honors (weighted) |
| Prerequisites: None | Prerequisites: None |
Course Description: This course is a yearlong two part course, with Civics during the 1st semester and Geography during the 2nd semester. Civics will provide a comprehensive background for the understanding of United States citizenship and the foundations and operation of the American government. This course will emphasize civic participation by the students with a culminating project (Project Citizen). Students successfully completing this course will know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics; understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences; be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics; be able to critically analyze relevant theories and concepts, apply them appropriately, and develop connections throughout the course. The geography portion of this course will prepare students to understand how human society has arranged itself over the earth’s surface, and the different ways human cultures have responded to, and changed, the physical environment. Too often, geography is thought of as a listing of places and products, or at best, the study of how topographic features such as mountains have constrained human actions. This geography course rejects rote memorization and a restricted outlook. Instead, it will call for students to use the geographic approach with its key issue of why events occur where they do to help us understand how we have organized our land and life across the earth’s surface and what that organization means for our future. Knowledge and insight come from examining events in terms of where they occur. The forces composing the natural environment may constrain human behavior, but, increasingly human culture makes significant changes to the natural environment: distinctive places result from this interaction. This course meets state and district requirements for graduation.
| Economics & Personal Finance | Honors Economics & Personal Finance |
| Grade: 10 | Grade: 10 |
| Credit: 1.0 | Credit: 1.0 |
| Course Level: College Prep | Course Level: Honors (weighted) |
| Prerequisites: None | Prerequisites: None |
Course Description: This is a yearlong course designed to give students a strong foundation in economics and personal finance to function effectively as consumers, employees, savers, investors, entrepreneurs, and active citizens. This class will present economic concepts that help students interpret the daily news, understand how interdependent the world’s economies are, and anticipate how events will impact their lives. The understanding of how economies and markets operate and how the United States’ economy is interconnected with the global economy, prepares students to be more effective participants in the workplace. On a personal level, students learn that their own human capital (knowledge and skills) is their most valuable resource and that investing in education and training improves the likelihood of their future economic success. This course meets state and district requirements for graduation.
| US History | Honors US History |
| Grade: 11 | Grade: 11 |
| Credit: 1.0 | Credit: 1.0 |
| Course Level: College Prep Course | Course Level: Honors (weighted) |
| Prerequisites: None | Prerequisites: None |
Course Description: Students engage in an in-depth analysis of United States history encompassing the Reconstruction Era through the mid-20th century. Using this approach, students are challenged to consider how the nation developed its identity and continues to redefine itself over time, both domestically and internationally. It is the intention of this course to help students refine their individual thinking processes and develop the participation skills for active involvement in their nation and world.
| AP U.S. History |
| Grade 12 |
| Credit: 1.0 |
| Course Level: Advanced Placement (weighted) |
| Prerequisite: Students must have taken Honors U.S. History and obtained a B or better or have taken U.S. History with a grade of A and/or teacher recommendation. |
Course Description: The AP U.S. History course focuses on the development of historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparing and contextualizing, crafting historical arguments using historical evidence, and interpreting and synthesizing historical narrative) and an understanding of content learning objectives organized around seven themes, such as identity, peopling, and America in the world. In line with college and university U.S. history survey courses’ increased focus on early and recent American history and decreased emphasis on other areas, the AP U.S. History course expands on the history of the Americas from 1491 to 1607 and from 1980 to the present. It also allows teachers flexibility across nine different periods of U.S. history to teach topics of their choice in depth. All students taking the course are required to take the AP exam in May to determine college credit.
| World History | Honors World History |
| Grade: 12 | Grade: 12 |
| Credit: 1.0 | Credit: 1.0 |
| Course Level: College Prep | Course Level: Honors (weighted) |
| Prerequisites: None | Prerequisites: None |
Course Description: World History is a year-long required survey course that explores the key events and global historical developments since 1350 A.C.E. from differing historical perspectives that have shaped the world we live in today. The scope of Modern World History provides the latitude to range widely across all aspects of human experience: economics, science, religion, philosophy, politics & law, military conflict, literature & the arts. The course will illuminate connections between our lives and those of our ancestors around the world. Students will uncover patterns of behavior, identify historical trends and themes, explore historical movements and concepts, and test theories. Students will refine their ability to read for comprehension and critical analysis; summarize, categorize, compare, and evaluate information; write clearly and convincingly; express facts and opinions orally; and use technology appropriately to present information.
| Wilmington University World History (HIS204) |
| Grades 10-12 |
| Credit: 1.0 High School/ 3.0 College |
| Course Level: Dual Enrollment (weighted) |
| Prerequisites: None |
This course is a study of the major cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social events from Antiquity to the Scientific Revolution. The emphasis for this world history course is centered on Western Europe and its contacts and inter-relationships with the rest of the world including, but not limited to, the peoples of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
| Wilmington University Introduction to Sociology (SOC101) |
| Grades 10-12 |
| Credit: 1.0 High School/ 3.0 College |
| Course Level: Dual Enrollment (weighted) |
| Prerequisites: None |
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and methods of the scientific study of group behavior in terms of social interactions and processes. An introduction to social psychology, socialization, personal development, culture, and personality is also offered.
