South County students learn about the Cold War from those who lived it.
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High School History and Social Studies Program Overview
The four standard required courses include:
- World History and Geography I (9th grade)
from ancient times to 1500
- World History and Geography II (10th grade)
1500 to contemporary times
- Virginia and United States History (11th grade)
- Virginia and United States Government (12th grade)
Each of these courses is based upon a program of studies (POS) aligned with state and national standards. Virginia Standards of Learning SOL tests are administered in Social Studies classes at the end of grades 9, 10, and 11.
In schools which offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses students can meet graduation requirements by enrolling in Advanced Placement (AP) United States History (11) and/or Advanced Placement (AP) Government and Politics (12).
In IB schools, students enrolled in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs would complete the following four courses to meet the four-credit requirement: Pre-IB World History (9), Pre-IB Government (10), History of the Americas (11) and Theory of Knowledge (12).
In addition to the required courses, schools may offer one or more of the Social Studies electives including:
- Anthropology
- Combating Intolerance
- Current Affairs
- Economics
- Law in Action
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- World Religions
AP schools may offer:
- AP European History
- AP Human Geography
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Microeconomics
- AP Psychology
IB schools may offer:
- IB Economics
- IB Geography
- IB Philosophy
- IB Information Technology in A Global Age
- IB Psychology SL
- IB Psychology HL
- IB Social Anthropology
- IB World Religions
The choice of which electives a high school offers in a given year depends upon the program needs and interests of that school.
Content courses for EOSL students are provided. A variety of supplemental instructional materials and technologies complement the basal textbooks adopted for the required courses.
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Kurt Waters - High School Social Studies Specialist
703 - 208 - 7700
Leis Instructional Center
7423 Camp Alger Ave.
Falls Church, VA 22042