The social studies curriculum provides students with learning experiences that enable them to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for becoming effective participants in a democratic society. Courses at the high school level include the disciplines of history, political science, economics, geography, and psychology. Through social studies courses, students gain an understanding of democratic ideals and the benefits of the free enterprise system; an appreciation of the contributions of different races, religions, and cultures to the American way of life; and a respect for the rights and values of others.
Note:
With the implementation of the new social studies Essential Standards, the sequencing for world history, the founding principles, civics, and economics, and American history I and II has been left up to each individual high school. Check with your school counselor for your school’s specific social studies sequencing.
43032X0A WORLD HISTORY Credit 1 unit
Note: A North Carolina Final Exam is administered for this course.
World history is a survey course that gives students the opportunity to explore recurring themes of human experience common to civilizations around the globe from ancient to contemporary times. World history examines the world chronologically and thematically, focusing on the historical development of phenomena, the rise and fall of civilizations and their unique contributions to humanity, and the universal elements these civilizations have in common throughout time. The application of the themes of geography and an analysis of the cultural traits of civilizations help students understand how people shape their world and how their world shapes them. Students broaden their historical perspectives as they explore ways societies have dealt with continuity and change, exemplified by issues such as war and peace, internal stability and strife, and the development of institutions.
World history provides the foundation that enables students to acquire this knowledge that is used in the study of civics and economics and United States history.
43035X0A HONORS WORLD HISTORY Credit 1 unit
Note: A North Carolina Final Exam is administered for this course.
In addition to the content described in world history, this course requires students to take a greater responsibility for their learning by participating in problem-seeking and problem-solving, critical analysis and application, and reflective thinking. This course emphasizes argumentative writing and presentations to reflect higher-order thinking skills required to defend ideas generated through the study of content.
4A087X0A ADVANCED PLACEMENT WORLD HISTORY Credit 1 unit Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
Recommended Prerequisites World History or Honors World History
Note: AP World history can be substituted in the place of World history or Honors World history.
The Advanced Placement world history course focuses on information from ancient times to present day and stresses critical thinking and development of an informed written argument. Students analyze primary and secondary sources to acquire a greater understanding of the development of global processes –change, continuity, and impact on world structures. In May, students may opt to take an AP examination to validate their academic experience and to receive college credit as determined by individual institutions of higher education. The AP world history examination is designed, administered, and graded by the College Board.
42092X0A THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES, CIVICS, AND ECONOMICS Credit 1 unit
Note: A North Carolina Final Exam is administered for this course.
Through the study of The Founding Documents and civics & economics, students examine political, governmental, and legal topics that engage them in examining the legal and political systems of our society and its basic economic institutions. This course begins with the historical foundations of civil, political, and economic activism that created our nation, state, and local government. Knowledge gained from civics and economics empowers students to become politically and economically active and responsible citizens of the global society. At least 50%
of the course content in “American History: The Founding Principles, Civics, and Economics” will pertain to The Founding Principles."
42095X0A HONORS THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES, CIVICS, AND ECONOMICS Credit 1 unit
Note: A North Carolina Final Exam is administered for this course.
Honors Founding Principles, civics & economics covers the material delivered in a standard Founding Principles, civics & economics course with greater complexity, novelty, and acceleration. Honors students learn to express and defend their ideas while attaining the distance necessary to accept constructive criticism. Opportunities are provided for students to facilitate their own learning as they become reflective thinkers and writers. At least 50% of the course content in “American History: The Founding Principles, Civics, and Economics” will pertain to The Founding Principles."
43042X0A AMERICAN HISTORY I
Credit 1 unit (For students entering high school in the 2012 – 2013 school year) Note: A North Carolina Final Exam is administered for this course.
American History I: The Founding Principles is a historical, cultural, political, geographic, and economic study of the United States from the late 1400s to the end of the Reconstruction Period in 1877.
43045X0A HONORS AMERICAN HISTORY I
Credit 1 unit (For students entering high school in the 2012 – 2013 school year) Note: A North Carolina Final Exam is administered for this course.
Honors American History I covers the material delivered in a standard American History course with greater complexity, novelty, and acceleration. This course provides the opportunity for advanced work, rigorous academic study, and the practical application of major ideas and concepts found throughout the standard course of study.
43052X0A AMERICAN HISTORY II
Credit 1 unit (For students entering high school in the 2012 – 2013 school year) Recommended Prerequisite American History I
Note: A North Carolina Final Exam is administered for this course.
American History II is a historical, cultural, political, geographic, and economic study of the United States from 1877 to present day.
43055X0A HONORS AMERICAN HISTORY II
Credit 1 unit (For students entering high school in the 2012 – 2013 school year) Recommended Prerequisite American History I
4A077X0A ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY Credit 1 unit Grades 10, 11, 12
Recommended Prerequisites American History I and II and World History and Civics & Economics
Note: For students beginning high school in the 2012-2013 school year, Advanced Placement United States History may be substituted in the place of American History I and American History II. However, students will receive only one academic credit for AP US History. Students electing to take AP US History instead of American History I and II will need to take one additional social studies elective in order to fulfill the state requirement of four social studies credits to graduate. An additional social studies AP course can be taken to fulfill this requirement.
Advanced Placement United States history covers the entire spectrum of US history from the arrival of Native Americans to the present. It is designed to provide students with the analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the topics and issues in United States history. Students analyze historical materials, generate their own ideas, and evaluate those of others. The AP United States history course develops the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions, make informed judgments, and clearly present evidence in a persuasive essay format. In May, students may opt to take an AP examination to validate their academic experience and to receive college credit as determined by individual institutions of higher education. The AP United States history examination is designed, administered, and graded by the College Board.
4A017X0A ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY
Credit 1 unit
Recommended Prerequisites Honors World History
The AP European history course consists of an in-depth analysis of European civilization from the late Middle Ages to the present. The course covers economic, social, cultural, intellectual, political, and diplomatic themes in European history. Coursework consists of class discussions, research reports, independent studies, and seminars. Students are expected to develop analytical thinking and persuasive writing skills in dealing with historical evidence and interpretation. In May, students may opt to take an AP examination to validate their academic experience and to receive college credit as determined by individual institutions of higher education.
The AP European history examination is designed, administered, and graded by the College Board.
4A067X0A ADVANCED PLACEMENT GOVERNMENTAND POLITICS: UNITED STATES (Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics)
Credit 1 unit Grades10, 11, 12 Recommended Prerequisites Honors Civics and Economics
Advanced Placement American Government provides students with an intellectual foundation for observing, analyzing, and understanding national politics in the United States. Using primary and secondary source documents, students examine and evaluate the institutions of American government, political parties and elections, mass media, political behavior, public policies, and the development of individual rights and liberties and their impact on citizens. In May, students may opt to take an AP examination to validate their academic experience and to receive college credit as determined by individual institutions of higher education. The AP American Government examination is designed, administered, and graded by the College Board.
4A007X0A ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (AHS) Credit 1 unit Grades 11, 12
Recommended Prerequisites Honors Civics and Economics
The Advanced Placement course in Comparative Government and Politics introduces students to fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of country settings.
The course aims to illustrate the rich diversity of political life, to show available institutional alternatives, to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes, and to communicate to students the importance of global political and economic changes. Comparison assists both in identifying problems and in analyzing policymaking. In May, students may opt to take an AP examination to validate their academic experience and to receive college credit as determined by individual institutions of higher education. The AP examination is designed, administered, and
4A027X0A ADVANCED PLACEMENT HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (NHHS, LHS) Credit 1 unit Grades 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites World History
The AP Human Geography course will introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences .They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. In May, students may opt to take an AP examination to validate their academic experience and to receive college credit as determined by individual institutions of higher education. The AP examination is designed, administered, and graded by the College Board.
44032X0A PSYCHOLOGY
Credit 1 unit Grades 10, 11, 12
Psychology engages students in the understanding, articulation, and dissemination of psychology as a science.
This course focuses on the scientific study of human development, learning, motivation, and personality. It emphasizes the empirical examination of behavior and mental processes; and it infuses perspectives fostering students’ growth, development, and understanding of cultural diversity. Students of psychology acquire information from a variety of sources, use information as they make decisions and evaluations, and solve problems. The study of psychology enables students to recognize and cope with uncertainty and ambiguity in human behavior.
44035XOA HONORS PSYCHOLOGY (AHS) Credit 1 unit Grades 10, 11, 12 Recommended Prerequisites Psychology
Honors Psychology covers the material delivered in a standard Psychology course with greater complexity, novelty, and acceleration. This course provides the opportunity for advanced work, rigorous academic study, and the practical application of major ideas and concepts found throughout the standard course of study.
4A057X0A ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY(EAL, AHS, NHHS) Credit 1 unit Grades10, 11, 12
Recommended Prerequisites Psychology
Advanced Placement psychology is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of human and animal development, behavior, learning, motivation, and personality. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The study of psychology also enables students to
recognize and cope with uncertainty and ambiguity in human behavior. In May, students may opt to take an AP examination to validate their academic experience and to receive college credit as determined by individual
institutions of higher education. The AP psychology examination is designed, administered, and graded by the College Board.
42082X0A CONTEMPORARY LAW AND JUSTICE Credit 1 unit
Contemporary law and justice is a practical study in the legal, judicial, law enforcement, and correctional systems of the United States. Students focus on the laws and procedures derived from legal principles, civic participation, and the utilization of state and local resources. Relevant examples of civil and criminal laws, law-enforcement methods, court procedures, and corrective justice are examined. This course allows students to personally acquire information through direct observation of local courts and law enforcement practices, interviews with local and state officials, and visits to correctional facilities on a non-threatening basis.
42052X0A CURRENT AFFAIRS AND ISSUES Credit 1 unit
46012X0A AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES Credit 1 unit Grades 10, 11, 12
This course traces the roles of African Americans in the history of the United States by discussing and analyzing their contributions to history, literature, and culture.
96102X0B LEADERSHIP (JTH) Credit 1 unit
Prerequisite Participation in student government
The leadership discovery class is designed to teach leadership skills that are life skills: self-awareness, organization, time management, goal setting, individual and group decision making, and communication skills including written and verbal presentations. Toleration and conflict management skills are also taught and practiced.
Student Council projects are planned, created, and carried out.