AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 11and 12: teacher recommendation.

Advanced Placement European Historyis offered to juniors and seniors. This course allows for a more in-depth studyof the Renaissance Period through post World War II Europe. Religion, politics,economics, and social problems are analyzed as interactive forces in thedevelopment of European History and the effect upon the World's development incivilization A great deal of emphasis is placed on research, class discussion,note-taking, and writing. Students are given the opportunity to take theAdvanced Placement Test that could qualify for college credit. The test isgiven each May. This is an Advanced Level 110 course.

 AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: grades 11and 12; teacher recommendation.

This course is designed to givestudents an analytical perspective on government and politics in the UnitedStates. It meets the audit requirements of the College Board AP Central. Thecourse includes an intense analysis of the Constitution, the study of generalconcepts used to interpret U.S. politics, and the evaluation of specificexamples. It requires students to become familiar with various institutions,groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. For all intents andpurposes, the course is taught on a college level with a goal for students, ifthey so choose, to take the Advanced Placement College Board at the end of theyear.

Since the course will also includestandards and requirements of our basic government class for 11th graders,students who elect this course will not be required to take the regular class.Students who elect to take AP Government must meet all or some of the followingrequirements:

1. 11th or 12th grade status with atleast an 85% in Social Studies. (A student who is younger may take the courseonly if they meet the remaining requirements and determination by an authorizedteam of teachers and administration such as a GIEP team.)

2. Recommendation from a SocialStudies Teacher.

3. Demonstrate Proficient orAdvanced Writing Skills through: (a) PSSA Writing Scores or (b) present anacceptable two page sample of writing ability.

4. Successful completion of HonorsAmerican Government with an 89% or higher.

5. Complete a required summerassignment: (a) read the entire Constitution; (b) follow the news and be ableto pass a quiz on the summer's main political stories.

This is an Advanced Level 110course.

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Seniorsand juniors; 85% grade point average or above in World Cultures and AmericanCultures; and a strong interest in history. This is an Advanced Level 110course.

This advanced course allows for anin-depth study of American history from the colonial period to post World WarII. Politics, economics, religion, and social conditions are analyzed asinteractive forces. The course emphasizes critical thinking and analyticalwriting skills. Students are required to read a variety of sources and writeessays/papers. The course is designed to prepare students for college work andfor the Advanced Placement Test.

AMERICAN CULTURES

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

The ninth grade American Culturescourse is a required study of the development of the present day Americancultures system. It includes a cursory review of pre-Civil War America and amore thorough study of the post-Civil War growth of this unique society. Allselections of study are designed to include materials from 1865 to present.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

This course is designed to acquainthigh school students with the governmental system under which they live.Specifically, the course covers a foundation of the dynamics of the Americansystem of government through growth, adaptation, and innovation. It is a studyof the role of citizenship, American foreign policy, major global events and theconstitution. Students analyze the functions of the legislative branch,executive branch, and the judicial branch. Comparative political and economicsystems will be studied as well as the operation of state and localgovernments. A study of United States government is heavily emphasized in thecourse.

ATP AMERICAN CULTURES

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

The ATP American Cultures Coursefollows the same curriculum as the regular American Cultures Program except atan accelerated place. Instruction provides a review of Civil America and anin-depth study of the United States during the post-Civil War Period to thepresent. The class concentrates on historical events and people who areessential to the fabric of the American past. Furthermore, current events arestressed. Because the class is accelerated, opportunities are afforded toparticipate in a variety of experiences including field trips, projects,competitions, and seminars.

ATP GOVERNMENT

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

The ATP Government course is anaccelerated course which follows the same curriculum and expectations as theregular Government course. This class addresses the same graduationrequirements but instruction provides greater depth and analysis. Because theclass is accelerated, students are afforded the opportunity to participate in avariety of experiences including field trips, projects, competitions, andseminars.

ATP WORLD CULTURES

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

The ATP World Cultures course is anaccelerated course which follows the same curriculum and class expectations asthe regular World Cultures Program. Instruction provides greater depth andanalysis. Students concentrate on the development of major cultures such asChina, India, the Middle East, and Africa as relative to our own culture in theUnited States. European movements such as the Renaissance, Reformation,Imperialism, and Enlightenment will be examined for the influences thesemovements had upon the rest of the world. Because the class is accelerated,students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a variety ofexperiences including field trips, projects, competitions, and seminars.

CONTEMPORARY WORLD ISSUES I

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 9and 10.

This course provides an opportunityfor all students to broaden their public awareness and to increase theirability to analyze and cope with daily events. Important people and places inthe news are studied. The course is organized as a forum for studentcollection, analysis, and discussion of current news events. Student materialsare newspapers, magazines, the CNN Newsroom, and other supplementary resourcesdealing with the news media and related concerns.

CONTEMPORARY WORLD ISSUES II

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement:Contemporary World Issues I; Grades 9 and 10.

This course provides students anopportunity to analyze all phases of the news. Students use a variety ofsources for current information. Magazines, television, and newspapers are usedto provide course content. Time is spent learning how to critique those newssources. Improving speaking and writing skills is also a course objective.

HONORS AMERICAN CULTURES

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Successfulcompletion of 8th Grade Social Studies and teacher recommendation. Note: Allstudents must obtain an 85% or higher yearly average in 8th Grade SocialStudies (Freshmen Only).

Following the same curriculum pathas American Cultures, this course provides additional opportunities to explorevarious time periods and groups of people with an in-depth study of Americafrom 1865 to present. This writing-intensive course allows students to expressideas on the subject matter in both traditional and non-traditional ways.Profound discussions relate content to current events. Two historical novelsprovide outside information to enhance student understanding of the timeperiods. In addition, focus is placed on the examination of primary sourcesthroughout the American experience.

HONORS AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Successfulcompletion of American and World Cultures with a grade of 85% or higher, aboveaverage PSSA Reading and Writing scores, have a strong, motivated interest inAmerican Government and Politics.

The class acquaints high schoolstudents with the governmental system under which they live. The role ofcitizenship, foreign policy, and global events are examined. Comparativepolitical and economic systems are analyzed as well as the operation of stateand local governments. There is a strong emphasis on current political events.Students are expected to develop analytical research, reading, andcommunication skills. This course requires extra outside reading and writingexercises not routine to a standard government course.

HONORS WORLD CULTURES

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: An 85%grade point average in 9th grade American Cultures and teacher recommendation.

This class follows the curriculumfor World Cultures with added investigation of society, politics, economics,and military actions. Students have the opportunity to research topics ofinterest and share information. Class focuses on periods of history and thedetailed examination of unique and critical events. The students read severalsupplemental books, primary sources, and articles during the course. Emphasisis placed on class discussion and writing.

INTRO TO ECONOMICS

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 9,10, 11, 12

Economics is the social sciencewhich investigates how people use their limited resources to satisfy theirextensive wants. This course in economics surveys the fundamentals ofeconomics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and world economic systems. Apartial list of specific topics, case studies, models and concepts for analysisincludes: supply, demand, graphing, money, credit, banking, national debt,stock market, employment, investing, saving, economics isms, inflation,business organizations, and labor unions.

MODERN ASIAN STUDIES

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Successfulcompletion of World Cultures or teacher approval. Grades 11 and 12.

This course seeks to understandAsia's significance in the 21st century with a specific cultural focus onIndia, China, and Japan. Furthermore, this class facilitates learning by usingprimary sources, current events, foreign films, and other enrichments. Thestudent examines historical background to give him or her a firm foundation forcultural studies and current events. In addition, the class enjoys field tripsto local restaurants, theaters, and universities. Class discussion is veryimportant.

PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 9,10, 11, and 12

This course will surveyPennsylvania's history, geography, and government while exploring the richheritage of the people and events that strengthen America. This course serves agateway to Pennsylvania's past, present, and future. Another focal point forthis course is the examination of our community's local history.

PSYCHOLOGY

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 11and 12.

Psychology is a critical thinkingcourse that studies the behavior of humans and animals as well as mentalprocesses. This semester course uses a college level reading text and requiresthree written essays, including one research paper and one creative opinionessay. Since classroom participation is an important part of the evaluationprocess, good attendance and respectful attention to the viewpoints of othersis absolutely essential. Topics explored include: how psychologists performresearch; learning and conditioning; mental health issues, sensation andperception, and current issues. Classroom discussions may include controversialissues and will encourage students to defend, examine, and reassess widely heldbeliefs in the light of current psychological research.

SOCIOLOGY

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 11and 12.

Sociology is a behavioral sciencethat focuses on the study of human relationships. The course emphasizes theexploration and appreciation for cultural diversity. Students highlighttraditional American values in order to identify the principles of socialcontrol, social change, socialization, peer group pressure and the influence ofheredity and environment. Much of the course content deals with the challengesof adolescence in a complex dynamic society.

 20TH CENTURY MILITARY HISTORY

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 10,11, and 12.

This is a reading intensive coursethat examines the major wars of the 20th Century through literature. Topicsinclude the Spanish American War, the World Wars, the Vietnam Conflict as wellas the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Students have the opportunityto read a variety of genres such as short story, poetry, and novels from famousauthors such as Stephen Crane, Ernest Hemingway, and a variety ofcontemporaries. The role of the author within war is examined as well as theconflicts themselves. Students should have a strong interest in militaryhistory.

WORLD CULTURES

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

World Cultures is a required coursefor sophomores. This course provides an overview of history from Roman Age tomodern times. Students explore the rise and fall of ancient empires and thepolitical, economic, and social problems shaping history from the Middle Agesto post World War II. Students compare the various political systems includingcommunism, socialism, totalitarianism, and democracy. Emphasis is onestablishing and improving basic skills of reading, note-taking, and writing.Class participation and group work are very important.

WORLD GEOGRAPHY

one semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 10,11, and 12.

World Geography is a social sciencewhich investigates the relationship of man and his natural environment. Thisparticular study is broken into four distinct units: tools of geography(globes, maps, diagrams, etc.), the physical makeup of the planet (land, water,and atmosphere), man's changes to this geographic environment, and the culturesrelated to each region.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

fall semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

This course is an introductorysurvey of international relations. The purpose of this course is to familiarizestudents with the leading international policies from major countries aroundthe globe. The course examines how current political trends, basic geography,basic economics, and culture actually impact the country's policies andleaders. Access to out-of-class forms of media such as newspapers and magazinesare required.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

full year

1 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement: Grades 11and 12.

This course is an intensive study ofthe U.S. in its current role as a global superpower. Studies also focus onwestern democracies as they relate to less developed countries and currentsituations. This course requires out-of-class access to multiple forms of mediasuch as newspapers, magazines, on-line news services and video. Classroomdiscussions of student research findings are important facets of this class.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

spring semester

1/2 credit

5 periods/week

Prerequisite Requirement:International Studies.

This course promotes a better understanding ofthe International relations framework, its concepts, context, and substantiveissues. Since International Studies focuses on the United States' perspective,International Relations focuses on the European perspectives and the role ofthe European Union. Research and presentations are mandatory. The origin andnationality of students participating in this course is taken into account forthese projects. In addition, this class requires a considerable amount ofout-of-class access to multiple forms of news media. Classroom discussions ofstudent research findings are an important facet of this class.