Social Studies
CORE SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES/ICR: 9, 10 2.5 credits
This course will provide an overview of the history of Africans and their descendants across the globe, including but not limited to African civilizations prior to European colonialism, encounters between Africa and Europe, movements of Africans to the Americas and elsewhere, and development of Black communities in and outside Africa. Learners will explore the complex interplay among the political, economic, and cultural forces that shape our understanding of the historic achievements and struggles of African-descended people in the United States and their relation to others around the world. In addition to the curricular materials, students will have the opportunity to select a topic for further exploration and in-depth research. A variety of texts and community resources will be used to provide applicable and real-world examples related to the content.
All CHPS students must take this course as a graduation requirement.
AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES 9, 10, 11, 12 5 credits
In this course students will examine the history, politics, culture, and economics of North American people of African descent. This interdisciplinary course reaches into a variety of fields—literature, the arts and humanities, political science, geography, and science—to explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans. Students will learn about the achievements of the African American community and their role in shaping American society and culture. Using an evidence-based approach, students will understand the challenges and triumphs faced by African Americans in helping to shape American history including its institutions and sociopolitical systems.
This course may be taken as another option to satisfy the graduation requirement.
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS H: 9 5 credits
This course examines the cultural and historical developments in the world since 1400. The thematically oriented course includes the study of the impact of religion and trade on society and government; political, social, and economic revolution; war and genocide; nationalism, communism, and global interdependence in the 21st century. Required readings include primary source documents and literature. This course is designed for students with excellent reading, writing, and oral communication skills.
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS A: 9 5 credits
This course examines the cultural and historical developments in the world since 1400. The thematically oriented course includes the study of the impact of religion and trade on society and government; political, social, and economic revolution; war and genocide; nationalism, communism, and global interdependence in the 21st century. Required readings include a variety of primary source documents. This course is designed for students with above average reading, writing, and oral communication skills.
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS A/ICR: 9 5 credits
This course examines the cultural and historical developments in the world since 1400. The thematically oriented course includes the study of the impact of religion and trade on society and government; political, social, and economic revolution; war and genocide; nationalism, communism, and global interdependence in the 21st century. Required readings include a variety of primary source documents. This course is designed for students with above average reading, writing, and oral communication skills. This course is co-taught and is available for students with an IEP.
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS CONCEPTS: 9 5 credits
The course is a survey of the development of major civilizations within Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East from 1400-present. The curriculum is designed to emphasize the development of various skills. These skills include writing and revision, note-taking, content reading, main idea, technology, oral presentations, map interpretations, vocabulary, organization, cooperative learning, critical thinking and problem solving, and current events. Using a thematic approach, the course will explore various topics concerning diverse peoples of the world including gender and minority issues, economic systems, technological advancements, conflict resolutions, art, literature, music, and religious and philosophical traditions. This course is only available to students with IEPs.
UNITED STATES HISTORY I
AP US HISTORY I: 10 5 credits
This class, the first in a two-year sequence, is one of the most challenging courses offered by the Social Studies Department. It provides a study of historical events, concepts, interpretations, and themes within a framework of a US history survey course from colonial times to 1900. It is designed for highly motivated students with excellent proficiency in reading and well-developed analytic writing skills. The rigors of the course include complex primary source readings, AP-styled assessments including multiple choice, free response and document-based questions, and command of a college-level textbook. Students will be asked to respond to sophisticated questions about the past, relate these questions to the present, identify new questions, and pursue individual topics of interest. In addition, these students should be prepared to analyze multiple interpretations of the past and develop new interpretations that respond to the needs of the present. Participants in this course are expected to prepare for and take the AP US History Exam at the end of US History II AP.
US HISTORY I A: 10 5 credits
This course allows students to examine historical events, concepts and themes within the framework of a US history survey course from colonial times to 1914. It is designed for students who have above average proficiency in reading, well-developed writing and oral communications skills, and an interest in history. In addition, students will be required to analyze multiple interpretations of American History and explain why these interpretations emerged when they did.
US HISTORY I A/ICR: 10 5 credits
This course allows students to examine historical events, concepts and themes within the framework of a US history survey course from colonial times to 1900. It is designed for students who have above average proficiency in reading, well-developed writing and oral communications skills, and an interest in history. In addition, students will be required to analyze multiple interpretations of American History and explain why these interpretations emerged when they did. This course is co-taught and is available for students with an IEP.
US HISTORY I CONCEPTS: 10 5 credits
This is a full year survey course in American History from colonial times to 1877. The program emphasizes selected events, people and themes from the American past, but, at the same time, it provides a broad overview of American history. This course is not theoretical in nature; rather it emphasizes practical knowledge and practical skills. It is especially designed for Social Studies students who need concentrated instruction and practice to improve their reading, writing, and oral communications skills in a historical context. This course is only available to students with IEPs.
UNITED STATES HISTORY II
AP US HISTORY II: 11 5 credits
PREPARATION: Successful completion of US History I
This course is a continuation of the US HISTORY I AP program, one of the most challenging courses offered by the Social Studies Department. In this course, highly motivated students pursue a rigorous college level survey of historical events, concepts, interpretations, and themes in American History from 1900 to the present. This course is designed for students who are excellent readers, have well-developed skills in research, written and oral communications, an awareness of current events, and a particular interest in American history and government. Students must be willing to participate in a variety of student-centered activities including debates and role-playing exercises. Participants in this course are expected to prepare for and take the AP US History Exam at the end of the year.
US HISTORY II A: 11 5 credits
PREPARATION: Successful completion of US History I
In this course, students will continue the survey of American History begun in US History I (studying 20th century to the present day). Following the pattern set in US History I A, students will examine the historical events, concepts, and themes that shaped the Twentieth Century, and discuss and evaluate differing interpretations provided by historians. This course is designed for students who are excellent readers, have well-developed skills in research, written and oral communications, an awareness of current events, and a particular interest in American History and government. Students must be willing to participate in a variety of student-centered activities including debates, role-playing exercises and independently researched presentations and projects.
US HISTORY II A/ICR: 11 5 credits
PREPARATION: Successful completion of US History I
In this course, students will continue the survey of American History begun in US History I (studying 20th century to the present day). Following the pattern set in US History I A, students will examine the historical events, concepts, and themes that shaped the Twentieth Century, and discuss and evaluate differing interpretations provided by historians. This course is designed for students who are excellent readers, have well-developed skills in research, written and oral communications, an awareness of current events, and a particular interest in American History and government. Students must be willing to participate in a variety of student-centered activities including debates, role-playing exercises and independently researched presentations and projects. This course is co-taught and is available for students with an IEP.
US HISTORY II CONCEPTS: 11 5 credits
PREPARATION: Successful completion of World Civilization Concepts and US History 1 Concepts or CST Placement This is a full year survey course in American History from 1877 to Present times. The program emphasizes selected events, people and themes from the American past, but, at the same time, it provides a broad overview of American History. This course is not theoretical in nature; rather, it emphasizes practical knowledge and practical skills. It is especially designed for Social Studies students who need concentrated instruction and practice to improve their reading, writing, and oral communications skills in a historical context. This course is only open to students with IEPs.
CORE SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES
AP ECONOMICS: MICROECONOMICS AND MACROECONOMICS: 11, 12 5 credits
The purpose of an AP course in Microeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the larger economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product markets and includes the study of factor markets and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. The purpose of an AP course in Macroeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. Such a course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price determination, and also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, economic growth and international economics. This course is designed for students who are excellent readers, have well-developed skills in research, written and oral communications, an awareness of current events, and a particular interest in the social sciences.
AP PSYCHOLOGY: 11, 12 5 credits
This course is a challenging one-year study of psychology. It is designed for the highly mature and motivated academic student who is interested in a systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Students will be exposed to psychological facts, principles and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields of psychology. Topics of study include the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, cognition, motivation and emotion, development, personality, abnormal behavior and its treatment, and social psychology. In addition, students will learn about practice and critically evaluate research methods used by psychologists. Students will also be working toward preparation for the recommended Advanced Placement examination in May.
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY: 10, 11, 12 (E) 5 credits
AP European History is designed for the highly motivated student who is interested in pursuing an intensive overview of the people, places, and events encompassing European history from 1350 to the present and offers the opportunity to receive dual credit hours through Camden County College. The course is taught at the college level. It deals with events, interpretations, and themes in the context of Europe and traces the global impact of these events. The students will be required to respond to complex questions of the past, identify new questions, and pursue individual topics of interest. The students will also be asked to read various historical interpretations of the past as well as primary and secondary sources written at various times and in various European countries. They should be willing to participate in a variety of student- centered activities and take the advanced placement examination in May.
AP WORLD HISTORY- MODERN: 10, 11, 12 5 credits
The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. The course emphasizes relevant factual knowledge deployed in conjunction with leading interpretive issues and types of historical evidence. Focused primarily on the past thousand years of the global experience, the course builds on an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that along with geography, set the human stage beginning in 1200 CE Periodization, explicitly discussed, forms the organizing principle for dealing with change and continuity from this point to the present. Specific themes provide further organization to the course, along with consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study. This course is designed for students who are excellent readers and have well-developed writing and critical thinking skills. Students should be willing to take the A.P. exam in May.
AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT & POLITICS: 11, 12 5 credits
The AP course in U.S. Government will give students an analytical perspective on government in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and the analysis of specific examples. It requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. government. The students will become acquainted with a variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. This course is designed for students with excellent reading comprehension, analytical writing, and oral communication skills.
PSYCHOLOGY A: 11, 12 5 credits
This advanced level course is designed for the college-bound student who is interested in studying psychology. Topics under study include biological bases of behavior, stress, memory, motivation and emotions, sensation and perception, learning, states of consciousness, personality development, social psychology, and abnormal behavior. Students will also learn about and practice experiments, surveys, and case studies as they are used by psychologists to understand human behavior and mental processes. Students are expected to have advanced reading and writing skills and a willingness to participate in classroom demonstrations, suggestions, role-playing simulations, and to perform outside reading and research. This course prepares the student for college psychology as well as addressing issues relevant to one’s personal life experiences and future careers.
PHILOSOPHY: ETHICS & the ART OF THINKING: 9, 10, 11, 12 (E) 2.5 credits
Who determines what behaviors and practices are considered ethical? How do individuals and cultural groups with varying ethical perspectives co-exist and support one another in their freedoms and outlooks? “Philosophers contribute to public discussions… not by telling you what to think but by providing an assortment of concepts and theories you can use to decide what to think for yourself.” (Kwame Anthony Appiah) The goal of this course is to provide students with a foundation in ethical decision making and moral reasoning. Students will learn the philosophical roots of ethical thought, a variety of ethical
perspectives from around the world, and a framework for moral reasoning. Through the examination and analysis of hypothetical, real-world, and personal dilemmas, students will work to find solutions that are grounded in sophisticated moral reasoning and to make choices that will benefit their long-term goals and improve their relationships and communities.
PHILOSOPHY: PURPOSE & THE ART OF LIVING: 9, 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits
Students today face unprecedented challenges, including mental health concerns, information overload, cultural polarization, and uncertainty about the future. While they gain academic knowledge across disciplines, they often lack structured opportunities to consider life’s central questions: Why am I here? What do I value? How does one live a good life? Drawing from philosophy, world religions, mythology, psychology, and literature, students will explore themes such as love, friendship, death, justice, and forgiveness. Through the lens of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, Socratic dialogues, Stoicism, world mythologies, and modern works on flourishing and positive psychology, students will be challenged to reflect on their own values and cultivate a framework for making meaningful life choices. The class aims to blend scholarly rigor with practical wisdom, making philosophy relevant and transformative for high school learners. Students will develop the skills to think critically, disagree respectfully, argue carefully and flexibly, and begin to define their place in the world on their own terms.
UNITED STATES HISTORY 1945 TO PRESENT: 10, 11, 12 (E) 2.5 credits
The purpose of this course is to focus on the major political, social, cultural, and economic events, which have shaped the nation since the conclusion of World War II. It is an area of American history filled with monumental issues, which affected the American people at the apex of their power in the “American Century.” This elective is charged with a built-in motivation that it studies a time most recent to the student. Strong analytical skills and the motivation to be critical are necessary for the course.
WOMEN’S HISTORY in the US from the 16TH CENTURY
to the PRESENT: 10, 11, 12 (O) 2.5 credits
In this course, students will study the diverse experiences of the women who have played a pivotal role in the development of a modern United States. In combining a variety of research methods students will explore the intersection of gender, class, and ethnicity in shaping the experiences of women over the last 5 centuries in the United States. Additionally, students will participate in a collaborative project that seeks to compare and contrast the lives and roles of American women throughout periods of United States history and they will construct an argument for how these women overcame the different political, social, and economic roles of their times.
UNIQUE ELECTIVES AT EAST
AMERICAN LAW: THEORY AND PRACTICE A: 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits
This course was first designed for students who were leaning towards a career in the legal field, but it now offers much more to a wide variety of students. It provides practical information and problem solving opportunities that may develop knowledge and skills needed to survive in our law based society. Every purchase, lease, contract, marriage and divorce, and every crime places the citizen face to face with the law. This course will help students understand their legal rights and responsibilities, and will provide experience with everyday legal problems and the ability to deal with such situations. Active student involvement is the key to the course, and case studies, role playing problems, and other activities provide an assortment of materials and approaches that will appeal to a variety of students.
UNIQUE ELECTIVES AT WEST
THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM: CRIMES, COURTS,
AND TORTS: 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits
The foremost goal of the American early leaders was to create a government of laws not of men. The American Legal System introduces students to the national and local laws and legal institutions that will affect every aspect of their lives as Americans. Designed for the active participant, the course requires students to role play and participate in mock trials. Each student must learn to “think like a lawyer.” Faced with hypothetical scenarios in constitutional, tort, and criminal law, students must identify legal issues and advocate the position of their clients. The Art of Trial Advocacy will be the focus of the culminating project. Students will learn the strategies for delivering an opening statement, questioning witnesses during direct and cross-examination, introducing physical evidence, and delivering a closing argument while prosecuting or defending a hypothetical case. Strong analytical skills and the motivation to be critical are necessary for the course.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN SOCIAL STUDIES
Social Studies electives in history, economics, psychology, and humanities provide a broad understanding of the development of human societies. They prepare students for careers in a global society by explaining how the past has shaped current political and economic systems and conflicts. By teaching the research methods of the social sciences, they prepare students for advanced study and research in history, economics and business, and psychology. All elective courses in the social sciences and humanities emphasize communication skills, including writing and public speaking. Most importantly, they teach critical thinking and decision making.