| SOCIAL STUDIES |
| Global HISTORY I and II Global History is an eighty-week, two-year course that deals with world history from the time of pre-historic peoples to the present day. It is based on the premise that a person ought to have an awareness of history beyond the borders of the United States. The United States is a multi-cultural society and people have come here from every corner of the globe. This course attempts to tell the story of those other areas of the globe. As one of the requirements for graduation, students will have to take and pass the New York State Regents in Global History. Global History and Geography I (9R) : 1121 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit This course introduces the students to the dimensions of Global History - history, geography, economics, and political science and government. It deals with the first four Eras of Global History, including pre-historic peoples, the Ancient Worlds of Rome, the Middle East and China, World Religions, and the histories of China, Japan, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Europe from 1000 C.E. until the mid-1700’s. There are fifteen Themes and Concepts that act as organizers for the course. This first course in Global History will conclude with a final exam modeled on the NYS Regents. Global History and Geography II (10R) : 1221 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Students will continue with the histories of China, Japan, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Europe, beginning in the mid-1700's. The course will conclude with an analysis of economic interdependence, globalization, modernization, and issues concerning human rights and the environment. Students are required to take and pass the NYS Regents in Global History at the end of this course. Pre-Advanced Placement History (Global History 9H) : 1920 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Students in this course will receive an enriched program as they are introduced to the dimensions of history, geography, economics, political science and government. Students who take this course will be expected to complete more in-depth analytical writing assignments and read independently from a variety of higher level sources. This course prepares students for 10th grade Advanced Placement level coursework. Taught at Durgee Jr. High School ONLY. Advance Placement (AP) World History : 1211 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit This is a full year course for 10th grade AP World History. Students must have completed Pre-Advanced Placement History. This course will increase student understanding of World History historical themes and contributions. The purpose of AP World History is to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts in different types of human societies. The course offers balanced global coverage, with Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania all represented. Higher level reading, comprehension, and writing skills are expected, as well as the ability to move at an accelerated pace. All students are expected to take the Advanced Placement World History examination in May. A fee will be charged for the exam. Students must also take the Global History Regents Exam in June in order to meet the requirement for a NYS Regents diploma. United States History & Government 11R : 1321 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit This program begins with an in-depth analysis of the United States Constitution - its origins, its characteristics, and its implementation as a system of government. Domestic and international events and trends will be analyzed. The focus is on historical thinking skills. US History and Government will end with the Regents exam. Advanced Placement (AP) American History: 1311 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Students eligible for this course will be identified on the basis of standardized test scores, grade averages, and teacher recommendation. This course is open to Seniors and Juniors. Juniors may take it in lieu of Social Studies 11R. Students must take the Advanced Placement American History examination in May. A fee will be charged for the exam. A student can earn 1 unit of high school credit and up to three hours of college credit. This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college freshman survey American History course. It includes chronological and thematic developments in American History. Historical interpretation and evaluation are stressed. Juniors will take the NYS Regents exam. Participation in Government / Economics : 1414 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit This is an integrated course of analysis of political and economic ideas related to public issues, economic decision-making, and the process for studying political issues. This course includes the basic economic concepts and understandings which all persons need to function effectively and intelligently as citizens and participants in the economy of the United States and the world. Additionally, the course provides students with skills to critically investigate problems facing our government such as funding for education, lack of funding for Social Security, the perception of the US in international arenas, the boundaries of free speech, and many other topics. This course provides the framework for making informed political and economic decisions. 12R/PIG/ECO/LIT (OCC ENG 103) Participation in Government / Economics 1412 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Literary Issues and Argument 0413 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Pig/Eco/Lit is a two-period, co-curricular, team-taught course designed to help students understand and nurture what it means to be a citizen in a Democracy through the use of literature, writing, discussion, and media. It combines current government issues and concepts of citizenship with analytical reading of classical authors as well as argumentative writing. This course is specifically designed to get you involved in your own learning and in the processes of government. You become an active member of the class while simultaneously becoming familiar with writing techniques and styles to improve your own level of ability. PIG/ECO/LIT studies literature spanning the classical work of Plato to today’s most influential authors, such as Tim O’Brien, William Golding and Ernest Hemingway. This course will help students understand the connection between literature and the socioeconomic and sociohistorical context in which they were written and assist them in developing opinions on the issues explored. Topics discussed include communication, government, citizenship, media, and current issues. This option provides college credit in English only. Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government & Politics / Economics: 1441 :40 Weeks : 1 Credit AP U.S. Government and Politics studies the operations and structure of the U.S. government and the behavior of the electorate and politicians. Students will gain the analytic perspective necessary to critically evaluate political data, hypotheses, concepts opinions and processes. Along the way, they’ll learn how to gather data about political behavior and develop their own theoretical analysis of American politics. They’ll also build the skills they need to examine general propositions about government and politics and to analyze the specific relationships between political, social and economic institutions. The equivalent of an introductory college-level course, AP U. S. Government and Politics prepares students for the AP Exam and for further study in political science, law, education, business and history. All students are expected to take the Advanced Placement U.S. Government & Politics examination in May. A fee will be charged for the exam.
Introduction to Psychology : 1435 : 20 Weeks : 1/2 Credit Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes. This course explores a wide range of topics related to human behavior from physiology to abnormal psychology. “Introduction to Psychology” offers a hands-on approach to studying introductory psychological principles. Students who take this course will be expected to complete a number of writing assignments and participate in class activities. This course is highly recommended for college bound students who will be required to take Psychology courses after graduation from high school. Advanced Placement AP Psychology : 1440 :40 Weeks : 1 Credit The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. All students are expected to take the Advanced Placement Psychology examination in May. A fee will be charged for the exam. Introduction to Sociology : 1439 : 20 Weeks : 1/2 Credit Sociology is the study of how people, groups, and societies differ from and interact with one another. Like the natural sciences, the goal of sociology is to find order out of seeming chaos - to look for patterns in behaviors of social groups that on the surface may look like random variations. It is the intent of this course to deal with both how to study human behavior in social settings and the study of selected patterns of behavior. Criminal Law : 1436 : 20 Weeks : 1/2 Credit The course is designed to give students a practical understanding of law and the legal system which will be of use in their everyday lives. Students will improve their understanding of the fundamental principles and values underlying our constitution, laws, and the legal system in general. The course promotes an awareness of current issues and controversies relating to criminal law and provides an opportunity to consider and clarify attitudes toward the role that law, lawyers, law enforcement officers, and the legal system play in our society. Hopefully, this kind of course will bring about a greater sense of justice, tolerance, and fairness in students, and also encourage effective citizen participation in the legal system. Topics include an introduction to law and legal systems, criminal justice, including its application to juveniles, and individual rights and liberties. History of Sports : 1438 : 20 Weeks : 1/2 Credit This course is a chronological history of modern sports beginning with the Industrial Revolution and continuing through yesterday’s headlines. The course will investigate the origins of today’s sports in England and the United States as well as its heroes. It will analyze the political, social, and economic impact of modern sports through the lens of the modern Olympics, women’s rights, civil rights, business, professional and amateur athletics, and much more. Advance Placement (AP) Africian Studies: 1213: 40 weeks: 1 Credit AP African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with authentic and varied sources. Students explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment. Students in the course will develop skills across multiple fields, with an emphasis on developing historical, literary, visual, and data analysis skills. This course foregrounds a study of the diversity of Black communities in the United States within the broader context of Africa and the African diaspora. |
