SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT
The goal of the Social Studies Department is to assist student development through acquaintance with democratic institutions and their attendant responsibilities, and to foster a knowledge and a respect for history and tradition recognizing that they provide a necessary link with the past and a bridge to the future. Additionally, the members of the department strive to emphasize an empathy for the varied cultures of our world, as well as our nation and its institutions, thereby encouraging students to value the necessity of cooperation and compromise.
GLOBAL STUDIES 9 (Required) Course #310 Credit: 1.0
This course is an analysis of the physical, cultural, economic and historical aspects of the world from prehistory until 1500.
GLOBAL STUDIES 10 (Required) Course #320 Credit: 1.0
This course completes the two-year state requirement for Global Studies and is an analysis of the physical, cultural, economic and historical aspects of the world from the 1500’s to the present time. All the students are required to take the Regents exam at the end of the two-year sequence.
UNITED STATES HISTORY (Required) Course #330 Credit: 1.0
This course approaches the study of United States History from the view of class, ethnicity, gender, race and foreign policy. Particular attention is given to the role of women in United States History. Students are prepared to take the New York State Regents exam in U.S. History.
ADV. PLACEMENT U.S. HISTORY Course #331 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: 90% average in Global Studies 10 and the approval of the Global Studies 10 teacher.
This is a course designed to provide students with analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials from United States History. Students will learn to assess historical materials, analyze and interpret primary sources and write analytical historical essays and research papers. The course focuses on the Advanced Placement curriculum to prepare the students for the exam in May. All students enrolled in the course are expected to take the AP exam. The cost of the exam is approximately $90.00.
ECONOMICS (Required) Course #340 Credit: 0.5
This course provides a working knowledge of the fundamental laws of economic theory, builds an understanding of the generation of wealth in the private and public sectors of our economic system, explores the relationship between political and economic forces, and prepares the student with the academic and technological skills needed to enter an ever changing market place.
GOVERNMENT (Required) Course #341 Credit: 0.5
This course is designed to develop an understanding and an appreciation of the American constitutional system, to examine the machinery of our contemporary political system, and to foster a sense of civic awareness and encourage active participation in civic affairs.
ADVANCED EURO. HISTORY Course #349 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: 90% average in Global Studies 10 and U.S. History and the approval of the US History teacher, or successful completion of AP United States History.
This is an in depth survey of modern European history (1500 – present). The course includes extensive readings and analysis of original sources, in depth resources into causes and effects of events, biographical studies and shifting pertinent boundaries and alliances. Students are expected to sit for the AP exam in May. The cost of the exam is $90.00.
HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY (Elective) Course #144 Credit: 0.5
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors and Seniors
This course will offer a survey of some of the main figures in the history of philosophy. These will include some of the following: Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, and others. The objective of the course is not simply to learn about the figures, but rather to discuss the fundamental questions of human existence through their texts. These questions include, but are not limited to: what is knowledge and what can we know? What is happiness and how can we achieve it? Is there a stable human nature and, if so, what is it like? What is the relationship between philosophy and theology? What are our moral obligations? The contemplation of these questions will help students develop critical thinking, argumentation skills, logical rigor, and mental flexibility, thus preparing them for the type of thinking required in college-level courses. But most of all, it will make students into more developed human beings capable of greater wonder and deeper thinking.
THE HISTORY OF ART (Elective) Course #360 Credit: 0.5
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors and Seniors
This semester-long elective introduces juniors and seniors to the rich and varied history of art across cultures and historic time periods. Students will explore major artistic movements—from ancient civilizations through the modern and contemporary eras—while examining how art reflects social, political, religious, and cultural contexts. Through a combination of visual analysis and discussion students will develop the skills to interpret and evaluate works of art. The course will cover a diverse range of media, including painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, visual literacy, and making connections between historical developments and artistic expression. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper appreciation for the role of art in human history and a stronger ability to analyze and discuss visual culture in an informed and thoughtful way.
HISTORY OF WORLD WAR I (Elective) Course #350 Credit: 0.5
Prerequisites: Open to Seniors
This semester-long class will seek to have students engage this cataclysmic event in numerous ways, including but not limited to its impact on culture, art, poetry, literature, film, and the everyday lives of those who lived through it.
Students will read primary, secondary sources and literature about the conflict. They will also be pushed to recognize the war’s impact on our city and their communities (ex: WWI memorials in NYC) and to further contemplate how the “War to End All Wars” helped form the world that we live in today.
HISTORY OF WORLD WAR II (Elective) Course #351 Credit: 0.5
Prerequisites: Open to Seniors
This semester-long class will seek to have students take a deeper dive into the biggest conflict the world has ever seen. Students will inspect the causes, experience, and aftermath of the Second World War. Throughout the semester they will inspect primary sources, secondary sources, and literature about the conflict. Students will also investigate numerous aspects of WWII from the homefront to the frontlines.
