Social Studies

World Geography provides the skills and tools of spatial analysis to better understand the patterns of people, landscape and natural phenomena of the Earth. Geography as a spatial perspective has much more to do with asking inquiry questions and solving problems than it does with rote memorization of isolated facts. The topics of study reflect the five themes of geography and the geography content standards. The topics include local and world regions, climates, ecosystems, population issues, resources, international trade, environmental issues, natural hazards, geographic tools and technology. 

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

This course provides students the skills and knowledge necessary for effectively understanding the academic discipline of geography. Students will learn spatial analysis as a way to better understand patterns of people, landscapes, and natural phenomena of the earth. Topics of study: local and world regions, climates, ecosystems, population issues, cities, international trade, environmental issues, natural hazards, and geographic technology. The course is specifically designed to prepare students for the full IB program and has a significant writing element. This course is advanced, and goes
beyond curriculum expectations of a standard course by increasing depth and complexity. Students will be engaged in dynamic, high-level learning. The pace of this course may be faster than that of a traditional course.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

The purpose of this course is to present the basic concepts of American government from pre Revolutionary days to present time. This course presents an overview of why government is important to societies and then pursues a study of the foundations of American democracy, the rights of citizens, politics of democracy, and the structure of American government. Students will investigate a comparison of other political systems and philosophies. This course focuses on writing and critical thinking skills. This course is advanced, and goes beyond curriculum expectations of a standard course by
increasing depth and complexity. Students will be engaged in dynamic, high-level learning. The pace of this course may be faster than that of a traditional course.

 HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

World History is a chronological, thematic, and comparative study of the world from 1450 to the present. Students will examine themes that span regions and will focus on the interaction of world citizens and ideas from the First Global Age through the 20th century. Students will be engaged in an in depth study of some eras and will be asked to complete independent research, apply critical thinking and examine multiple perspectives on world issues. 

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

This is a unique history course which combines elements of IB teaching methodologies with AP U.S. History content. The intent of the course is to focus on IB-style writing and analysis, featuring IB-style assessments, while at the same time prepare students for the AP U.S. History exam. A major feature of the class is student participation in the annual History Day events (school, regional, and national levels for students who qualify). Students can expect a fast􀀀paced chronological progression of study focusing on political, social, economic, and geographical concepts of U.S. History. This course is advanced, and goes beyond curriculum expectations of a standard course by increasing depth and complexity. Students will be engaged in dynamic, high-level learning. The pace of this course may be faster than that of a traditional course. Overall, the course will prepare students for the academic and intellectual rigors of the IB World History pathway.

 HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

United States History focuses on American History from Industrialization into the 21st century. Students will deepen their understanding of current events and participate in an enriched study of the 20th century, tracing the development of social, political, and international relations of the United States. Students will be required to critically examine how our recent history impacts the present day.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

The Advanced Placement United States History course is a two-semester class that offers a college level survey of American History since the 15th century. Extensive reading, writing, and study skills useful in college will be emphasized. The class concludes with a college level exam prepared by the College Board, which, if passed, may result in college credit. The course is designed to provide students with analytical skills and factual knowledge to deal critically with United States history. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills essay writing, interpretation of original documents, and historiography. Students will learn to examine historical materials, assessing their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability and their importance, and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

This is a world history course based on a comparative and multi-perspective approach to history. It involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social and cultural. The course encourages students to think historically and to develop historical skills as well as gaining factual knowledge. It puts a premium on developing the skills of critical thinking, and on developing an understanding of multiple interpretations of history. Core topics cover a period of roughly 750 CE to the early part of the 21st century. The class will prepare students to take the IB Standard Level exam. 

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

World History takes a regional approach to the study of ancient, classical, and medieval civilizations, delving deeply into the foundational aspects of human history - religion and philosophy, social and political organization, diplomacy and war, culture and economics. Students will deepen their understanding of the peoples, ideas, and events that shaped our world through selected case studies, and will sharpen their historical thinking skills by performing comparative analyses and engaging in active, sophisticated inquiry. There are no prerequisites, but students who endeavor to undertake this class should be highly interested in the subject matter, motivated to do the work required to learn more about it, and willing to commit to a challenging, upper-level history course.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

Understanding Diversity in the United States is a course designed to give students the opportunity to examine the full range of diverse peoples in the United States and their role in society. Students will engage in research and discussion about the nature and impact of discrimination in our country and how oppression has changed over time. Students will examine narratives of representative groups as well as missing history and social invisibility. Students will examine oppression on an individual, organizational and societal level and judge the impact of these systems on target groups as well as themselves.

 HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

This year long IB/AP course will give students the opportunity to apply economic theories to real world situations. A strong theoretical foundation in macroeconomics, microeconomics, international economics and development economics will provide a springboard for exploring current issues. This class will encourage interdisciplinary thinking, as it incorporates elements of history, geography, psychology, sociology, political science and other related fields of study. This class prepares students for the IB Economics exam and AP Macroeconomics exam. 

 HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

Psychology is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the science of human behavior. This class will present students with a basic view of the field of study and will cover theories of personality, mental, emotional and physical development as they relate to the understanding of behavior.

 HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

The goal of this course is to increase the understanding of psychology, its methods, theory and research, with the objective that each student passes the advance placement examination. The course will explore the psychological facts, principles and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields of psychology. The course is taught at the college level and student study habits and participation should reflect this fact. It is hoped that knowledge of psychological inquiry will provide perceptions of the world around us, insights into one' s own and other's behavior, and an appreciation of the complexity of human behavior.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

This course explores the history, practice, and problems of politics. Students study political philosophies and comparative systems, ethics, campaign tactics, influence to the media, and international diplomacy. Through discussion and activities, students examine national and local policies. HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

Current economic issues will serve as a foundation for the application of economic theory in this semester course. Analysis of the United States economic system as it relates to the individual and building financial literacy will be a focus. Specific units will cover microeconomic concepts such as the law of supply and demand, factors of production, and the business cycle. Macroeconomics topics will include money and banking, basic monetary and fiscal policy, international trade and the impact of globalization. Comparative economic systems will also be introduced. Personal Finance will be explored using diverse topics including rent, insurance, investments, credit and credit cards, etc.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

This course examines the science of understanding society and group behavior. Emphasis will be on society's culture, institutions, and organization. Students will examine values and norms, socialization, social change, social problems and contemporary issues.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.

Anthropology presents students with an introduction to the four main disciplines of studying human origins and development: physical anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archeology, and ethnography. The course will emphasize cultural anthropology. Topics of study include traditional societies (their religion, art, music, family and kinship systems), the development of early civilizations, and the dynamics of social change. Students are recommended to have strong backgrounds in the sciences and social studies before attempting this course.

HEAR Social Science and NCAA Clearinghouse approved course.