Social Studies

Graduation Requirements

3 Credits of Social Studies

  • 1 Credit of US History

  • .5 Credit of Government

  • 1.5 Credits of Social Studies Electives

Advanced Career Endorsement Requirement

  • 1 Credit of US History

  • .5 Credit of Government

  • 1.5 Credits of Social Studies Electives

Advanced Endorsement Requirement

3 Credits of Social Studies

  • 1 Credit of US History

  • .5 Credit of Government

  • 1.5 Credits of Social Studies Electives

Advanced Honors Endorsement

3 Credits of Social Studies

  • 5 Credit of World Geography

  • .5 Credit of World History

  • 1 Credit of US History

  • .5 Credit of Government

  • .5 Credit of Social Studies Electives

Global Issues

Global Issues provides students with an opportunity to encounter international issues with undefined problems. Students will create new information to extend their learning. Students will gain an appreciation of learning in teams as they set their course on coming to a rational conclusion using problem-based and technology-based learning. Students will fully understand that they are truly global citizens and that responsibility lies at the core of good citizenship.

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Spanish Immersion Global Issues

Global Issues provides students with an opportunity to encounter international issues with undefined problems. Students will create new information to extend their learning. Students will gain an appreciation of learning in teams as they set their course on coming to a rational conclusion using problem-based and technology-based learning. Students will fully understand that they are truly global citizens and that responsibility lies at the core of good citizenship.

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Early History of Mankind

Picture how it was to be a teenager during the times when the great religions were born, to sit with the creators of civilization; to walk with the famous Iceman in his ill-fated trek through the Alps of 5,000 years ago; to witness the building of the Great Pyramids of Giza, to feel the thrill of ultimate competition in the first Olympic Games; to be awed by the Seven Wonders of the World; to watch the gladiators duel in the Colosseum; to report the burying of great resort cities Mount Vesuvius; to fight beside King Richard the Lion-Hearted or the Great Saladin in the Crusades; to witness the dreaded Black Plague; to train with knights and live in great castles; to walk with Jesus or Muhammad; to sail in the legendary longboats of the Vikings as they set foot in North America, or to sit with the great lords and knights as they make futile plans to stop the Golden Hordes of the Mongolian Genghis Khan. Live your early history and see how it formed your world today.

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World History

This course reconstructs the historical narrative of Western Europe and the Atlantic World from 1300 to 1939. Within this course, students will encounter the political, economic, social, and technological progressions that have shaped the modern world we live in today. Students will be expected to recognize themes of comparison and causation from the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, the Age of Exploration, Age of Absolutism, the Enlightenment, the American and French Revolutions, the Industrial Revolution, the Rise of Imperialism, World War I, and the Rise of Fascism in the western world. Students will also study the methods and techniques used by historians to construct an accurate account of the past.

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AP World History: Modern

Do you have an interest in learning about post-classical civilizations including European, Asian, African, and American cultures, or the rise of the world's religions? Would you like to develop your skills of critical reading and writing? These are just a few of the areas covered in AP World History. This course offers motivated students the opportunity to look in-depth at the processes that have resulted in the knitting of the world into a tightly integrated whole. This course is a two-semester study of World History beginning in 1200 C.E. to the present. The approach is to let students “do history” by guiding them through the steps a historian would take in analyzing historical events. The course offers balanced global coverage with Africa, The Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania represented.

Syllabus Approved by College Board

World Geography 1

Locate places in the world using a map and/or globe; analyze and interpret data presented on maps, charts, graphs, tables, and atlases; use critical thinking skills in applying physical geography concepts to describe how people live in various regions; develop the understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and people that inhabit the earth; enrich the comprehension of geography through the use of technology.

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Spanish Immersion World Geography 1

Locate places in the world using a map and/or globe; analyze and interpret data presented on maps, charts, graphs, tables, and atlases; use critical thinking skills in applying physical geography concepts to describe how people live in various regions; develop the understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and people that inhabit the earth; enrich the comprehension of geography through the use of technology.

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World Geography 2

Demonstrate competent use of maps, globe; and atlases; identify and explain how humans continue to modify the physical environment in ways that reveal their cultural values; analyze in-depth aspects of cultural, physical, and political geography.

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AP Human Geography

Explore the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surfaces; use spatial concepts and landscape analysis to analyze human social organization and its environmental consequences; study the methods and tools geographers use in their space and practice.

Syllabus Approved by College Board

Psychology 1

This course prepares students for college psychology by incorporating hands-on activities, group activities, and multi-media units with an emphasis on reading and writing skills. Units included are Brain and Behavior, Sensation and Perception, States of Consciousness, Research Methods, Learning, and Memory. This follows the APA National Content Standards. This is an excellent opportunity to apply academic principles to real-life situations.

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Psychology 2

Builds on units addressed in Psychology I and includes motivation and emotion, lifespan development, intelligence, thinking and language, mental illness, and personality assessment. Students will employ multi-media, hands-on, and group activities, complete a research project demonstrating their understanding of psychological concepts.

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AP Psychology

The purpose of this class is 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 methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Solid reading and writing skills, good attendance, and a willingness to devote time to homework and study are necessary to succeed in this course. Recommended but not required – Biology or Anatomy/Physiology.

Syllabus Approved by College Board

Sociology

Sociology is the science of group relationships. It explores patterns of group behavior in social situations, such as family, religion, and school. Sociology explores the origins, functions, and interrelationships in culture, religion, crime, sexuality, family, old age, media, advertising, addictions, etc.

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Modern US History

Although the focus of this yearlong course is the 20th century, the first semester of this course includes the Civil War, Reconstruction, Westward Expansion, and Industrialization. The major units encompass foreign and domestic policy. The emphasis on foreign issues relates to the world wars, the Cold War, Vietnam, and terrorism. The domestic policy stresses the Jazz Age, the Great Depression, Civil Rights, and the Counter culture.

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American Studies

American Studies is a yearlong survey course combining the study of American history with American literature and composition. This two-period block class provides an interdisciplinary approach to the three required courses. The chronological study of history from the pre-Civil War period to the present blends an appreciation for different literary genres throughout our nation’s history, helps students develop critical reading and writing skills, focuses on vocabulary building, and includes art, music, and other cultural developments of historical eras. This class meets daily in a two-period block. If successfully completed, the student earns one credit for American history, 0.5 credit for American Literature, and 0.5 credit for Composition. Most students register for this course for their junior year of high school.

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AP United States History

AP US History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a college freshman survey course. It is a two-semester survey of American history from the age of exploration and discovery to the present. Students will study political, social, economic, diplomatic, intellectual, and cultural history. Solid reading and writing skills, a willingness to devote time to homework and study, and good attendance are necessary to succeed in this course. Students are expected to take the AP exam in the spring. College credit may be earned by passing this exam.

Syllabus Approved by College Board

Government

Students will study the U.S. Constitution and acquire knowledge of the fundamental principles of the American governmental system. Students will study the three branches of government, the American political system, the basic fundamental rights and responsibilities of American citizens, and state and local government.

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AP United States Government

Students will complete an advanced comprehensive study of American government and politics. Topics of study will include the American Federal System; political parties, elections, and voting; Congress; the Presidency; federal courts; the media and public opinion; and civil rights and liberties.

Syllabus Approved by College Board

Economics

Have you ever wondered why some businesses (and individuals!) thrive and make millions while others struggle just to survive? Understanding economics and the way the various economic systems work may answer that very question. Economics deals with the way in which individuals, households, firms, industries and

Governments decide to employ their given talents and material resources to best satisfy their many needs. A deeper understanding of economics will enable you to understand and evaluate the U.S. economy and to participate in it more fully. You will discover that there is more than one way to organize an economy and that the successful U.S. model, which is organized around the private sector, is just one of several possibilities available.

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AP MacroEconomics

AP MacroEconomics is a course designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the principles of economics in examining aggregate economic behavior. Students taking the course can expect to learn how the measures of economic performance, such as GDP, inflation, and unemployment, are constructed and how to apply them to evaluate the macroeconomic conditions of an economy. Students will also learn the basic analytical tools of macroEconomics, primarily the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model and its application in the analysis and determination of national income, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of fiscal policy and monetary policy in promoting economic growth and stability. Recognizing the global nature of economics, students will also have ample opportunities to examine the impact of international trade and international finance on national economies. Various economic schools of thought are introduced as solutions to economic problems are considered.

Syllabus Approved by College Board

Indigenous Studies of the Oceti Sakowin

First semester: Students will learn about Indigenous people from the time of post-European contact to the present. Students will be introduced to the tribes in South Dakota.

Second semester: Students will learn about Federal Indian policy involving tribes across the United States. Students will learn more about the culture of the Indigenous people in the United States through the scope of the Indigenous people of South Dakota. Students will understand how US Government and Indigenous Sovereign Nations work together.

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Sports & Society

Sports and Society will focus on the role that sports have played in helping shape American society. Topics covered will include the impact of sports on civil rights and women's rights, sports as an expression of patriotism, sports as a way of defining what it means to be an American, and sports as a form of political expression.

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