Course Descriptions for Social Studies

SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM GOALS

The goal of the social studies department in Rich Township is to guarantee that all graduates, regardless of future career endeavors, will have the necessary skills and educational background to be strong citizens, economic planners, community leaders, and analytical thinkers, as they seek to improve and fully participate in the society in which they live. Additionally, by the end of the 12 th grade year, students who have completed the Rich District 227 Social Studies Program will be able to:

•  Understand political systems with an emphasis on the United States

•  Understand economic systems, with an emphasis on the United States

•  Understand the history of Illinois , the United States , and other Nations

•  Understand world geography and the effects of geography on society

•  Understand social systems with an emphasis on the United States

Course Number: D12/13

Course Title: Freshman Social Studies I/II

Prerequisite: Staff Placement

This course consists of one semester of civics and one semester of geography. The course is specifically aligned to meet state goals for political science, early high school economics, and geography. The course will expose students to essential skills in social science such as interpreting primary sources, charts, graphs, and statistical data. Geography students will understand and apply the five themes of geography as well as various types of map interpretation. The course will also expose students to the basics of leadership and citizenship in a participatory democratic society. Civics students must pass the United Stated Constitution and United States Flag tests to receive credit for this course.

Course Number: D14/15

Course Title: Geography

Prerequisite: None

This course emphasizes the five themes of geography with additional cultural geography topics. Students will be exposed to important political and topographical features of both the Western and Non-Western world through the use of atlases, video, and text.

Course Number: D22/23

Course Title: United States History B

Prerequisite: Grade 11

A survey of U.S. History with emphasis on developing comprehension skills, this class fulfills the graduation requirement for U.S. History. This class is essentially a survey of U.S. History teaching about the state and federal constitutions, the use and display of the flag, women in American history, and the contributions of native Americans and African Americans. Additionally, ethnic contributions to the development of the United States are extensively covered.

Course Number: D24/25

Course Title: United States History

Prerequisite: Grade 11

A graduation requirement at Rich Township High Schools, as well as a statutory requirement for all students in Illinois schools, this course is a survey covering U.S. History from the Colonial period to the present. Major personalities and cultural developments of American civilization are covered along with American relations with the world community. The overall objective of the course is to provide the student with a general understanding of the development of this country, and includes the state requirements for teaching the state and federal constitution, the use and display of the flag, women in American history, and contributions of Native Americans and African Americans. Additionally, ethnic contributions to the development of the United States are extensively covered.

Course Number: D38/39

Course Title: Advanced Placement U.S History

Prerequisite: Grade 11, Teacher Recommendation

The Advanced Placement U.S. History course is a college level introduction to major personalities and cultural developments of American civilization. The overall objective of the course is similar to U.S. History D24/25; however, students are expected to possess strong writing and analytical skills. Students are expected to take the national AP U.S. History test in May; an acceptable score may grant them college credit. This course also fulfills Rich Township and Illinois school graduation requirements.

Course Number: D48/49

Course Title: AP European History

Prerequisite: Senior Standing and Teacher Recommendation

This one-year AP European History Course offers college bound seniors an opportunity to sharpen their critical reading, writing, and analytical skills as they gain knowledge of major developments in European history from 1450 to the present. The work load approximates that of an introductory college course. Students in this course are qualified to take the European History Advanced Placement Examination in May for possible credit and/or advanced placement in the college of their choice.

Course Number: D52/53

Course Title: History of World Civilizations B

Prerequisite: Grade 10

A two-semester course surveying the development of human culture and civilization from pre-history through contemporary events. This course is specifically designed for students in need of additional work on reading skills, map skills, writing skills, and thinking skills, (memorization, cause-effect relationships, drawing conclusions, and comparing and contrasting). State requirements concerning the teaching of the Holocaust are met through this course.

Course Number: D54/55

Course Title: History of World Civilizations

Prerequisite: Grade 10

This course provides a broad overview of the development of civilizations of the world. It traces the progression from early civilization's influence on the emerging global development to the modern interacting world with emphasis on geography, people, resources, the arts, and society. Students should develop an understanding of the inter-relatedness of the global community. Vocabulary development, study skills, critical reading and thinking skills as well as writing well-developed paragraphs and essays are integrated into the course.

Course Number: D58/59

Course Title: AP World History

Prerequisite: Grade 12 and Teacher Recommendation

Advanced Placement World History is a college-level course in World History covering the period from 1000 to the present. The course involves intensive study of world cultures, paying special attention to change over time and comparing the effects of common phenomena on different cultures. Reading of primary source documents and world literature will be included. Students who take the AP World History exam in May have the opportunity to earn college credit for the class.

Course Number: D62

Course Title: Current Issues

Prerequisite: Grade 11 12

Current Issues is a one semester course designed to involve the student in the investigation and understanding of a variety of contemporary world events, social issues, and cultural attitudes through the use of print media, TV and radio, and the internet. Students will research and produce written analyses of news stories on political, social, cultural, and economic events and how those events affect and reflect society in our ever-changing world. Students must be able to handle critical reading of current periodicals and conduct thoughtful research. They must be able to organize themselves to complete independent research projects.

Course Number: D66

Course Title: Economics Honors

Prerequisite: Grade 12 and Teacher Recommendation

This one semester course fulfills the Consumer Education graduation requirements for the above-average student. The course will examine the allocation of scarce resources among members of society and the recent performance of the U.S. Economy from the perspective of several schools of economic thought. Topics to be studied include: supply and demand, investment and savings, advertising, income distribution, and national economic policies. Students will be able to recognize, interpret, and synthesize varied economic policies and philosophies. They will gain economic tools useful to consumers and citizens.

Course Number: D74/75

Course Title: History and Thought of Western Man

Prerequisite: Grade 10 and Teacher Recommendation

History and Thought of Western Man (HTWM) is an interdisciplinary two-year, team-taught course designed for highly motivated gifted students. The two-year sequence covers the history, literature, philosophy, and the arts of the Western world from ancient Egypt to the present. Students are introduced to college-level reading and a variety of advanced topics and activities. A research paper is required. Students who successfully completed all four semesters of HTWM will receive two semesters of Social Studies credit and two semesters of Language Arts credit. Since HTWM satisfies the History of World of World Civilizations requirement, students who fail any semester of HTMW must take History of World Civilizations in order to fulfill the graduation requirement.

Course Number: D76

Course Title: African-American History

Prerequisite: Grade 11

African-American History is a one semester multi-disciplinary examination of the African-American experience. History, political science, sociology, economics, and psychology will be used to gain information about and insight into what being African-American in the United States has meant and continues to mean for African Americans. This course will present issues raised in contemporary and past society. These issues will be explored through a seminar approach. Students will read about experiences and present their interpretations and ideas to class members. Discussions will be used to draw conclusions based on the data and historical records.

Course Number: D77

Course Title: African-American History H

Prerequisite: Senior Standing

See African American History D76. Honors credit may be received through successful completion of differentiated assignments that involve well-developed, independent research. Strong reading and writing skills are necessary for successful completion of the requirements.

Course Number: D81/82

Course Title: Psychology

Prerequisite: Grade 11 - 12

Psychology is the study of individual behavior. This one-semester class begins with a focus on the historical roots of psychology as well as contemporary perspectives of behavior. In addition topics such as learning, memory, personality, intelligence, experimental designs, creativity, and human development are also included in this course. In addition to required textbook readings, in class experiments are conducted, and independent research projects will be completed. Differentiated honors credit requires successful completion of more in-depth research and reading than the regular course requires.

Course Number: D83

Course Title: Sociology

Prerequisite: Grade 11 12

This one-semester course will involve students in the study and analysis of the factors and forces operating in U.S. society. Emphasis is placed on the process of socialization, culture, social interaction, and organization, as well as a focus on social institutions and societal problems. In addition to the course textbooks, students will be assigned outside readings on the units being taught. Students will also be required to conduct a research project in an area of interest so independence in research skills is expected.

Course Number: D86/87

Course Title: Advanced Placement Psychology

Prerequisite: Credit earned in English 10 and Geometry

This one year Advanced Placement course in Psychology introduces the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental process of human beings and other animals. Included is a consideration of the psychological facts, principles and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology and the methods psychologists use in their science and practice.

Course Number: D96/97

Course Title: American Studies

Prerequisite: Grade 11 and Teacher Recommendation

American Studies is a two-semester, interdisciplinary class integrating the study of Rhetoric, American Literature, and U.S. History, art and music. Students who select this course must also select American Studies English. The survey of U.S. History covers early exploration to the 1900's. The U.S. Constitution Test must be passed during the second semester. Students who fail either semester of the Social Studies portion of this course must make up the necessary credits in U.S. History before graduation. Students may select the honors/advanced placement option for a weighted grade. Students selecting this option will prepare for the Advanced Placement U.S. History examination in May. Summer reading is required.