Social Studies 9 “A” and “B” are required social studies courses that provide students with a strong overview of Early U.S. History and Civics while also providing essential background knowledge and skills for the successful completion of World and U.S. History classes.

831/832 ACCELERATED SOCIAL STUDIES 9 A AND B

Open to: Grade 9 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: None

Accelerated Social Studies 9 is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to examine the content and significance of major events of early American History. Units of study include early cultures in North America, exploration and colonization, life in the English colonies, and the American Revolution. An introduction to American Civics is also included. Units of study are the formation of the new government, the founding documents, the federal government and state and local government.

This pair of courses prepares students for the Advanced Placement program, which is available to students in their sophomore, junior and senior years and is heavily focused on high-level reading, document analysis and historical writing

805/806/807 WORLD HISTORY A, B & C (required unless 835/836/837 substituted)

Open to Grade 10 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: None

World History is a survey course, designed to expose you to the major developments in early historical eras, from prehistory to the present. Cultural and socio-political movements and institutions are investigated along with a look at historical figures and their role in history. By understanding the contributions of the past, its achievements and failures, you will be able to better cope with the present world and future changes.
The course is divided into units covering the following eras: prehistory, ancient history, early world civilizations, new developments in government and society, the age of exploration, industrialization and imperialism, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the fall of Communism and issues of today’s world.

835/836/837 World History B (AP) A, B & C

Open to: Grade 10 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: This course involves lengthy and difficult reading assignments at the college level. The writing assignments are also rigorous

This course will allow students to develop a greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts and interactions with different types of human societies. We will examine the nature of changes in international frameworks and comparisons among major societies. This course will help students develop an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage.

It is strongly recommended that students enrolled in the class take the National AP exam in May. Success in the exam can enable a student to receive college credit or advanced placement standing in many university/college institutions.
Successful completion of AP World History A, B & C fulfills the requirement for 10th grade social studies

809/810/811 U.S. HISTORY A, B & C (required unless 839/840/841 substituted)

Open to: Grade 11 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: None

U.S. HISTORY is a survey which begins with the colonial and Revolutionary eras, continues through the Civil War, Reconstruction, the later 19th Century, Gilded Age and up to the present. In the course, students will consider the important economic, social and political events and issues that have shaped American life. Students will also practice skills that can be used throughout the social studies sequence of courses and later in life including the reading of maps, globes, and charts, using the library and conducting historical research, learning from primary and secondary sources, and gaining knowledge of the states, and geographical features of the United States.

839/840/841 US HISTORY (AP) A, B & C

Open to: Grade 11 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: This course involves lengthy and difficult reading assignments at the college level. The writing assignments are also rigorous
The AP United States History course is intended for students who are highly motivated and have a strong interest in a challenging historical study. The class will study events, and political, economic, and social developments from 1492 - 1975.
Students successfully completing the course may choose to take the National Advanced Placement exam given each spring. Students are strongly encouraged to take the exam. Success in the exam can enable a student to receive college credit or advanced placement standing in many university/college institutions. These schools will give college credit to students whose AP examination grades are considered acceptable.
Successful completion of AP U.S. History fulfills the requirement for 11th grade history.

813 ECONOMICS (required unless 843/844 substituted)

Open to: Grade 12 ONLY 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None

This course will enable you to gain an understanding of the free enterprise system in theory as well as in practice. The economic concepts of scarcity, opportunity cost, incentives, supply, demand, inflation, monetary policy, fiscal policy, absolute and comparative advantage, and balance of trade will be applied.
Fundamental economic skills such as graphic analysis are stressed and used throughout the term.

This course will help you maximize your satisfaction through the introduction of lifetime financial management skills.

843/844 MACROECONOMICS (AP) A & B

Open to: Grade 12 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: This course involves lengthy and difficult reading assignments at the college level. The writing assignments are also rigorous.

The purpose of an advanced placement course in Macroeconomics is to give you a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. This course places particular emphasis on the study of national income, price determination, and macroeconomic performance measures.
Students successfully completing the course may choose to take the National Advanced Placement exam for this course given each spring. Many colleges and universities recognize this examination. These schools will give college credit to students whose A.P. examination grades are considered acceptable.

Completion of Macroeconomics AP fulfills the requirement for Economics.

819 POLITICAL SCIENCE (required unless 849 substituted)

Open to: Grade 12 ONLY 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None

Through an examination of political theory, political behavior, and contemporary domestic and foreign policy problems, you will build upon the political concepts learned during American Experience B. During the researching and writing of an extensive research paper, you will become familiar with a problem-solving, critical thinking model to enhance critical citizenship skills.

849/850 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (AP) A & B

Open to: Grade 12 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: This course involves lengthy and difficult reading assignments at the college level. The writing assignments are also rigorous.

The AP American Government and Politics course is intended for students who are highly motivated and have a strong interest in government, politics and current
events. This class is designed to give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. The class involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific case studies. The course will also examine the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute American political behavior and the influence they have on both personal political decisions and public policy decisions.

Students successfully completing the course may choose to take the National Advanced Placement exam for this course given each spring. Many colleges and universities recognize this examination.

Completion of AP American Government and Politics fulfills the requirement for 12th grade Political Science.

ELECTIVE COURSES

820 ASIAN STUDIES

Open to: Grades 10 – 12 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None

Learn about the largest and most populous continent on earth. This course will examine the geography, history and cultures of South, East and Southeast Asia. Included will be the cultures of India, China, Japan and Korea as well as those of Southeast Asia. Learn how Asia has emerged from its long struggles to become one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Study the many contributions made by a region that has been mostly ignored by the West.

821 AFRICAN STUDIES

Open to: Grades 10 – 12 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None

Expand your knowledge of our human homeland. Beginning millions of years ago with our earliest human ancestors, we’ll move on to early African civilizations and the impacts of the slave trade and European imperialism. We’ll learn about the resistance movements that resulted in the liberation of Africa from foreign domination during the last 40 years. The class will finish with a look at Africans world wide today, both the challenges being faced on the home continent and the global impact of African peoples and cultures around the world, including here in the United States.

822 CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY

Open to: Grades 11 and 12 ONLY 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None
This course provides a systematic study of society and how its institutions, functions and social relationships are essential to greater awareness of how individuals and groups collectively behave. Beginning with conceptual orientation of the discipline itself, selected topics of study will include social institutions, social class and inequality and contemporary social problems.

823 MINNESOTA STUDIES

Open to: Grades 10 – 12 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None
Did you know that Minnesota has an international seaport, cactus plants, the world’s largest ball of twine and a mountain? It's time to study the history, geography, and resources of our own state. In this course we’ll look at the landscape of the prairie, forests, lakes and other diverse topography of the state. We'll study the rich history of Minnesota including the voyageurs, pioneer immigrants, the Dakota Conflict, architecture and much more. We'll focus on natural resources and their correlations with human interaction and other interesting aspects of the North Star State.

824 PSYCHOLOGY

Open to: Grades 11 – 12 ONLY 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None
This course is designed for the high school student who desires a better understanding of human behavior. The course is general in that it presents only the most important psychological concepts and terminology. This course is aimed at all students who wish a better knowledge of adjustment and the healthy personality as it relates to the student's future social, vocation and family roles. Students who want to do well should have a good reading ability and be interested in the topics covered. The course is designed for the students' better understanding of their own behavior.

826 CURRENT EVENTS

Open to: Grades 10 – 12 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None

Current events are issues that affect all students on a daily basis. However, few students ever recognize, analyze, and examine the issues that surround them. This course allows students to look at various sources of current events: local and national newspapers, weekly periodicals, international, national and local broadcasting and Internet web sites/blogs. This course allows students to identify and examine world, national, state and local events and discuss and debate the influence of how these events interact with the political, economic, religious, environmental and cultural systems of our world and the impact on our personal lives. This course gives students a better understanding of their ever-changing world and the importance of following current events and staying informed.

827 CRIMINOLOGY I

Open to: Grades 10 – 12 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None
This course will focus on the Bill of Rights, types of crime, causes for crime, law enforcement, and criminal procedures.
Students will be asked to analyze types of crime and the causes of crime. The class involves completion of group and independent projects.

828 CRIMINOLOGY II

Open to: Grades 10 – 12 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Criminology I
This course will expand upon the knowledge and ideas of Criminology I. It will focus on trial procedures, sentencing guidelines, and the rehabilitation of convicted criminals. You will be expected to work independently on research and class projects.

845 MICROECONOMICS (AP)

Open to: 12th graders who are also registered for Macroeconomics 1 Credit
Prerequisite: This course involves lengthy and difficult reading assignments at the college level. The writing assignments are also rigorous.

The purpose of this course is twofold.
1. To give students an understanding of the principles of microeconomics. The course will place primary emphasis on the nature and function of product and factor markets.
3. To give students the opportunity to work with a local company so that they may better understand the concepts taught in class.
This course will only be offered 3rd term.
Completion of Microeconomics DOES NOT fulfill the requirement for senior economics. THIS IS AN ELECTIVE COURSE.

846/847/848 AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

Open to: Grades 11 and – 12 ONLY 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: This course involves lengthy and difficult reading assignments at the college level. The writing assignments are also rigorous.
This is a college level course on European History from 1400 - to the present. This course introduces students to cultural, economic, political and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping modern Europe. Students will understand the development of contemporary institutions, the role of continuity and change in present-day society. This course also helps students gain an ability to analyze historical evidence and interpretation and to express historical understanding in writing.

Completion of AP European History DOES NOT fulfill the requirement for World History A or B. THIS IS AN ELECTIVE COURSE.