High School Social Studies Department
Course Descriptions
WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY I (235100)
Grade: 9
Credit: one
This is the first of a two-year, chronologically organized study of world history and geography. In this first year, students study the world from ancient times to 1500. The course highlights the relationship between the geography and history of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Students refine and expand critical thinking skills, practice decision making and problem solving, and formulate questions to guide research. World History and Geography I is required for graduation.
This course has an end of course Standards of Learning test.
WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY I (Honors) (235101)
Grade: 9
Credit: one
This is the first of a two-year, chronologically organized study of world history and geography. In this first year, students study the world from ancient times to 1500. The course highlights the relationship between the geography and history of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Students examine the relationship among social, economic and geopolitical developments across time and place. They use the processes of conceptual and critical thinking to analyze historical and contemporary issues. Students are encouraged to think independently while developing group process skills. World History and Geography I (GT) satisfies the World History and Geography I graduation requirement.
This course has an end of course Standards of Learning test.
WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY II (299800)
Grade: 10
Credit: one
This is the second of a two-year, chronologically organized study of world history and geography. In this second year, students study the world from 1500 through the contemporary era. The course weaves together the skills and content of both history and geography so that students may learn how history and geography affect each other and therefore gain a more complete understanding of the world around them, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Students continue to refine and expand critical thinking skills, practice decision-making and problem-solving, and formulate questions to guide research. World History and Geography II is required for graduation.
This course has an end of course Standards of Learning test.
WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY II (Honors) (299801)
Grade: 10
Credit: one
This is the second of a two-year, chronologically organized study of world history and geography. In this second year, students study the world from 1500 through the contemporary era. The course weaves together the skills and content of both history and geography so that students may learn how history and geography affect each other and therefore gain a more complete understanding of the world around them, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Students examine the relationship among social, economic, and geopolitical developments across time and place. They use the processes of conceptual and critical thinking to analyze historical and contemporary issues. Students are encouraged to think independently while developing group process, writing and technology skills. World History and Geography II (GT) satisfies the World History and Geography II graduation requirement.
This course has an end of course Standards of Learning test
ADVANCED PLACEMENT WORLD HISTORY(234304)
Grades: 11-12
Advanced Placement World History is designed to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. Focused primarily on the past thousand years of the global experience, the course builds on an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage prior to 1000.
VIRGINIA and UNITED STATES HISTORY (236000)
Grade: 11
Credit: One
Students examine the political, economic, social, and cultural growth of the United States, including the role of Virginia in this growth. Students study major historical developments and their impact on contemporary society and on the individual. Map and globe reading, critical thinking, writing, research, and group-process skills are refined. Virginia and
United States History is required for graduation.
(This course has an end of course Standards of Learning test.)
ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY (231904)
Grades: 11
The purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement examination in American History for which college credit and / or placement may be given if a qualifying score is made. Students develop the factual knowledge and analytical skills necessary to deal with the issues and problems of American History. They do in-depth analysis of major developments; become familiar with primary sources; assess historical materials, evidence, and interpretations; and learn to write research papers. The course is equal to a full-year introductory college course. Completion of this course fulfills the graduation requirement for on credit in Virginia and United States History.
VIRGINIA and UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT(244000)
Grade: 12
Credit: one
Students examine both the structure and function of American government at the national, state, and local levels. The course focuses on political decision-making, comparative political and economic systems, and the student's role as a citizen. Critical thinking, writing, research, and group-process skills are refined. Virginia and United States Government is required for graduation.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT GOVERNMENT (244504)
Grades: 12
The purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement examination for which college credit and / or placement may be given if a qualifying score is made. In Advanced Placement Government, schools may offer a full year of American government and politics, or they may offer a course that includes a study of comparative government as well as American government and politics. In the study of American government, students interpret national, state, and local government and politics through a study of both general concepts and specific case studies. If students study comparative government, emphasis is places on understanding the world's diverse political structures and practices, as well as on interpreting and analyzing the key political relationships found in national governments. Students should select either the American government or the comparative government exams, or both, depending on the scope of the course. Completion of this course fulfills the graduation requirement for one credit in Virginia and United States Government.
SOCIOLOGY (250000)
Grades: 10-12
Students study the ways people behave in groups. They examine ways that groups function in society and analyze these functions. Students develop hypotheses about people in groups and gather information to test these hypotheses. Teacher recommendation is suggested for tenth and eleventh grade students.
PSYCHOLOGY (290000)
Grades: 11-12
Students examine patterns and variations of human behavior and the process of individual human development. They identify and examine the emotional, intellectual, and physical factors which influence the development of the individual human being. Students distinguish among the major schools and systems of psychology and methods of investigation. Teacher recommendation is suggested for eleventh grade students.
AP PSYCHOLOGY (290104)
Grades: 11-12
Credit: one (weighted +.5)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields
within psychology. They also learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The aim of Advanced Placement Psychology is to provide the students with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in an introductory college psychology course. College credit and/or placement may be given if a qualifying score is made on the Advanced Placement examination. The rigorous course syllabus and college level texts both suggest that students who enroll should be highly motivated and intellectually curious.
(All students are required to take the Advanced Placement Psychology exam.)
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THEIR AP CLASSES FOR THE YEAR
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY (239904)
Grades: 10-12
Credit: One (weighted +.5)
The purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement examination in European History, for which college credit and/or placement is given if a qualifying score is achieved. The Advanced Placement Program in European History covers the basic chronology of events from 1450 to 1970, from the High Renaissance to the recent past. Students are expected to demonstrate a knowledge of this basic chronology and of major events and trends in the intellectual-cultural, political-diplomatic and social-economic history of modern Europe. In addition, students are expected to demonstrate an ability to analyze historical evidence and to express that understanding and analysis in writing. The rigorous course syllabus and college level text both suggest that students, carefully selected, should be highly motivated and intellectually curious.
(All students are required to take the Advanced Placement Psychology exam.)
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THEIR AP CLASSES FOR THE YEAR