Program of Studies Program of Studies 2019-2020 | Page 30

writing and analytical skills necessary to develop an advanced understanding of US history and become great historians themselves. ELECTIVES Students will be able to choose between a number of courses, some full-year and some semester long, representing a wider array of the social sciences. Economics 0.5 credit Grades 11 and 12 Students will study how individuals and groups make decisions with limited resources in order best to satisfy their wants, needs, and desires. This course will give students a greater understanding of economics ranging from the viewpoint of the individual consumer or small business owner to the global economy. We will study the law of supply and demand, forms of business, labor unions, government finances and their influence on the economy, money and prices, inflation and deflation cycles. The course will relate history and psychology to the study of economics. AP European History discussed. Students will be expected to refine text reading and analysis skills in preparation for college. By the end of the semester students will not only understand how our government operates, but also how they can participate in government to address our collective problems and improve society. AP Government and Politics: United States 1 credit Grade 12 Prerequisite: Placement by instructor AP United States Government and Politics is an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of government and the processes of the American political system, with an emphasis on policy-making and implementation. This course explores the political theory and everyday practice that direct the daily operation of our government and shape our public policies. Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Students will be expected to refine text reading and analysis skills as well as critical inquiry of relevant scholarly articles in preparation for college. Students will be responsible for accessing a range of media news sources in order to keep up with daily events in the nation and the world. All students are required to take the AP Exam. 1 credit Grade 12 Prerequisite: Placement by instructor Napoleon, Bismarck and Churchill are but three figures that have left their mark on the course of modern history yet are rarely addressed in other history class. Through an exploration of the events that have shaped the path of Europe’s existence, a greater understanding of global, national and local topics is possible. Students should expect to be challenged not just with voluminous readings but also in the organization and analysis of new data, through their writing and verbal skills and in myriad other ways which will challenge their understanding of the world. Reaching back as far as 1450 and spanning to the current age, this course will prepare students for the required College Board AP European History exam. AP Human Geography Government 1 credit Grades 11 and 12 Students will become familiar with the economic principles that guide an economic system. Students will study basic economic concepts, measurements of a nation’s economic performance, price-level determination, the financial sector, fiscal and monetary policy, and the implications of international trade and globalization. This course will prepare students for the required College Board AP Macroeconomics exam. 0.5 credit Grades 11 & 12 In this course students will investigate the basic principles and purposes of government, methods of government participation, local and state government, and the three branches of federal government. Current government policies and political issues, the delicate relationship between individual rights and society, and democratic traditions are all investigated and 1 credit Grades 10, 11, and 12 Prerequisite: Placement by instructor In this course students will develop critical thinking skills through the understanding, application and analysis of the fundamental concepts of geography. Students will employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences, and learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. Students will integrate many different content area subjects such as culture, demographics, land use and economics, utilize state-of-the-art technology, and participate in class discussions and debates. AP Macroeconomics (‘20-’21)