SOCIAL STUDIES
WORLD GEOGRAPHY - 1 Credit
The course includes a detailed look at the main physical features of the earth’s surface (land, climate, minerals, and vegetation) and how these elements cause the earth and its people to differ from place to place and country to country. There is a brief look at the basic ideas of world politics, world economics, world religions and people’s behavior. With this background, the students survey the culture of the people over six populated continents. A special emphasis is placed on the study of the changing face of Russia, Peoples Republic of China, the developing countries of Africa, the Middle East and the United States.
Prerequisite: None Grades: 8-10
WORLD HISTORY I - 1 Credit
The Standards of Learning for the students require exploration of people, places and patterns of life from ancient times to 1500 A.D. Students study the origins of much of our heritage using texts, maps, pictures, stories, diagrams, charts, chronological skills, inquiry/research skills and technology skills.
Prerequisite: None Grades: 9-10
WORLD HISTORY II - 1 Credit
The standards for students cover history and geography from the late Middle Ages (1500 A.D.) to the present with emphasis on Western Europe. Geographic influences on history continue to be explored, but increasing attention is given to political boundaries that developed with the evolution of nation states. Significant attention will be given to the ways in which scientific and technological revolutions created new economic conditions that in turn produced social and political changes and how the people and events of the past can be related to contemporary issues. The SOL’s strike a balance between the issues, persons and documents. (Using texts, maps, pictures, stories, diagrams, charts and a variety of chronological inquiry/research and technological skills, students develop competence in chronological thinking, historical comprehension and historical analysis).
Prerequisite: None Grade: 10
VIRGINIA/U.S. HISTORY - 1 Credit
This course examines topics dealing with social, economic and political aspects of the American society. Topics to be examined include: Early exploration of the New World, Colonial America, National Period, Manifest Destiny the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Westward Movement, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, present history and it’s relation to past history. This course is required for a Virginia diploma.
Prerequisite: None Grade: 11
VIRGINIA/U.S. GOVERNMENT - 1 Credit
This class is a study of the functions and development of the federal, state and local governments. The students will analyze the fundamental concepts of government as found within the Constitution and the governmental process of our political system. This course is required for a Virginia diploma.
Prerequisite: Virginia and U.S. History Grade: 12
SOCIOLOGY/ECONOMICS - 1 Credit
Sociology is the social science that studies human society and social behavior. The class is concerned with the practical aspects of dealing with social problems and changes in varied societies. Economics is the study of supply and demand, the free enterprise system, business organization, savings and investments, and personal and family financial planning.
Prerequisite: None Grades: 10-12
ADVANCED PLACEMENT VIRGINIA/U.S. HISTORY – 1 Credit
The AP VA/US History course is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S. History. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials – their relevance to a given interpretative problem, reliability and importance – and weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship.
The AP exam costs approximately $80 and this expense will be the responsibility of the student and/or parent.
Prerequisite: Teacher Permission and placement essay Grade: 11