Social Studies       

The Social Studies Department of Centennial High School offers a variety of course offerings covering all aspects of the social studies field.  A student must pass United States History, Economics, American Government and World History or World Geography to graduate.

Contemporary Issues Grade Level:  9^th

Contemporary Issues Grade Level: 12^th

Credit:  ½ (semester)

Contemporary Issues is designed as a seminar class using current events to enlighten students’ awareness of news in and around their local community and nation.  It will provide an opportunity to develop their oral and written communication skills.

Sociology

Grade Level:  9^th - 12^th

Credit: ½ (semester)

Sociology is the study of people in groups. Using scientific methods, the course will explain how and why people live as they do. The course will examine the social process with a focus on linking personal experience and the larger social issues.

U.S. History

Grade Level: 11^th or 12^th 

Credit: 1 (full-year)

U.S. History regular is a comprehensive study of the American Nation.  The curriculum covers the Reconstruction Era, the Industrial Revolution, to the U.S. becoming a free world leader.  Some outside reading is required.

U.S. History Honors

Grade Level:  11^th

Credit: 1 (full-year)

Teacher Recommendation

U.S. History Honors is an accelerated course which details events in American history from Reconstruction to the present.  The course material is similar to regular U.S. History but requires more detailed work on a faster pace.  Students write historical and analytical essays, interpret primary documents, plus additional outside assignments which include outside required reading each nine weeks.

U.S. History AP

Grade Level: 11^th

Credit: 1 (full-year)

Teacher recommendation & parental approval                                                           

U.S. History AP is a college-level course which traces America's past from pre-discovery to post-World War II in an in-depth manner.  Students earn high school credit and may earn college credit by taking the Advanced Placement Examination.  Discussion/essay format testing is used as well as extensive outside reading, historical and analytical essays, research assignments and debate style discussions.  Critical and analytic thinking are an imperative aspect of the course.  Students are expected to take the College Board AP.

World History

Grade Level: 9^th& 10^th

Credit: 1 (full-year)

Curriculum includes an overview study of ancient civilizations of the world from prehistoric man to the present with focus from 1500 to present. 

World History Honors            

Grade Level: 9^th or 10^th

Credit: 1 (full-year)

Teacher Recommendation

This course is a more in-depth study of the leading civilizations of the world from prehistoric man to the present.  Outside reading may be required with a focus from 1500 to the present.

European History AP

Grade Level: 10^th, 11^th, or 12^th

Credit: 1 (full-year)

World History background suggested; teacher

recommendation, & parental approval required

This course covers European History from the Renaissance (late 1300’s) to the present.  The course will touch on themes such as the political, economic, social, religious, and intellectual developments throughout European history.  Key skills of essay writing and working with primary sources will be emphasized in the course.  Students are expected to take the AP European History Exam.  Outside reading is required.

Economics

Grade Level: 12^th

Credit: ½ (semester)

Required for graduation

Economics is a social science how man's wants and needs are met.  This is also the study of supply and demand.  The process involves the problem of scarcity and the element of production, i.e. - land, labor, and capital.  Consumer aspects are covered in banking, credit, insurance, labor, and how business is organized for production.  Economic systems of other nations are also studied.

Economics Honors

Grade Level:  12^th

Credit:  ½ (semester)

Teacher Recommendation

Economics honors is an accelerated course which requires more reading, detailed work, outside assignments, and projects than regular economics.

U.S. Government

Grade Level:  12^th

Credit: ½ (semester)

Required for graduation

American Government is a one semester course focusing on the structure and participation in the American political process.  Emphasis is placed on the federal level of government.

U.S. Government Honors

Grade Level:  12^th

Credit:  ½ (semester)

Teacher Recommendation

U.S. Government honors is an accelerated course which requires more reading, detailed work, outside assignments, and projects other than the regular U.S. Government course. 

U.S. Government  AP

Grade Level: 11^th or 12^th  

Credit: ½ (semester)

Teacher recommendation & parental approval

U.S. Government and Politics AP will give students a good basic understanding of the political system within the United States.   The will study policies and procedures which create our political system.  Students must take the AP exam in May.

U.S. Government Comparative AP

Grade Level:  11^th or 12^th

Credit:  ½ (semester) to be taken with US Government AP for a full credit

Teacher recommendation,

US Government AP, and parental approval

Comparative Government and Politics is designed to provide students with its conceptual tools necessary to develop an understanding of the world’s diverse political structures and practices. The core of the course is focused on the governments of Great Britain, France, China, and the former Soviet Union.  These are the four countries generally covered in a college level comparative governments course.  In addition the students will choose one developing country on which to focus.  Choices could include India, Mexico, Nigeria or others.

Psychology I & II

Grade Level:  10^th, 11^th, or 12^th

Credit: 1 (full-year)

Psychology I deals with physiological processes, personality theory, stress management, research processes, six schools of psychology, suicide and depression, and personality assessment.  The second semester continues seeking to understand human behavior. Main topics of study include motivation, emotion, abnormal behavior, social psychology, and human development. 

Psychology AP

Grade Level:  11^th or 12^th

Credit:1 (full-year)

Teacher recommendation

(Psychology I & II not required)

Major content areas include history and approaches to psychology, research methods, statistics, ethics in research, biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception states of consciousness, learning theory, cognition motivation and emotion, developmental psychology, personality theory, testing and individual differences, abnormal psychology, treatment of psychological disorders, and social psychology.  This course will prepare students to take the psychology AP exam.

Consulting and/or Direct Services through Student Support Services are available through an IEP for: World History & U.S. History

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