MHS Social Science Department

Social Science

GRADES	COURSES OFFERED	CREDITS
9,10	Civics	1/2
9,10,11,12	World History I & II	1
9,10,11,12	Geography	1/2
9,10,11,12	Sociology	1/2
11	U.S. History	1
11,12	Economics	1/2
11,12	Psychology	1/2
11,12	AP European History	1

NOTE: U.S. History is a required course for all juniors.

CIVICS

1/2 credit

(1 semester)

Grades: 9,10
Prerequisite: None
This course develops study involving the citizen and government on the local, state, and national levels. The textbook used is Street Law: A Course In Practical Law. The law-related course is to provide practical information and problem-solving opportunities that develop in students the knowledge and skills necessary for survival in our law-saturated society. The curriculum includes case studies, mock trials, role plays, small group exercises, opinion polls and visual analysis. Emphasis on topics of law introduction, adult criminal justice, juvenile criminal justice, consumer law, housing law, family law, and individual rights and liberties will be conducted throughout the semester.

WORLD HISTORY I & II

1/2 or 1 credit

(1 semester or 1 year)

Grades: 9,10,11,12
Prerequisite: None
The first semester of this course covers prehistoric cultures, the Fertile Crescent, ancient Egypt, ancient India, ancient China and the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. Reading and writing skills are emphasized. A project is done for each major unit that is covered.

The second semester covers the Byzantine Empire, the Middle Ages, the Golden Ages of China and Japan, civilizations of India and Southeast Asia, Africa, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Spanish Empire, and Elizabethan England. This course provides an excellent cultural background for other high school courses and later college work. A project is also done for each major unit that is covered.

GEOGRAPHY

1/2 credit

(1 semester)

Grades: 9,10,11,12
Prerequisite: None
The emphasis of this course is on developing a geographic (spatial) perspective of the world, discovering and understanding basic geographic concepts, using various tools of analysis (maps, ground-level photographs, graphs, and the globe), promoting greater environmental awareness on a personal level, and generating an active interest in the international scale of human affairs.

SOCIOLOGY
1/2 credit (1 semester)

Grades: 9,10,11,12
Prerequisite: None
This course will focus on how people relate to one another and influence each other's behavior. The topics to be studied will include: age (putting emphasis on adolescence), culture, class systems, race, family, and deviance. The course will include much discussion about how, why and what is the influence of socialization on these groups.

U.S. HISTORY
1 credit (1 year)

Grade: 11
Prerequisite: None
The first quarter of this survey course will focus on completing the State of Illinois mandates of the U.S. Constitution, Illinois State Constitution, and the flag tests. The first quarter will also cover units on the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

Second quarter units will cover: "Rebuilding the Nation (l865-1900)," "Transforming a Nation (1865-1914)," "Becoming a World Power (1865-1914)."

Third quarter units will cover: "The U.S. in World Affairs (1900-1920)," "The Roaring Twenties (1920-1929)," "The Great Depression/The New Deal (1929-1939)."

Fourth quarter units will cover: "The Second World War (1939-1945)," "Post-War America (1945-present)."
Primary sources and case studies will also be examined.

ECONOMICS
1/2 credit (1 semester)

Grades: 11,12
Prerequisite: None
This course is a survey of principles of economics. Practical as well as theoretical applications will be discussed. Major components of the course consist of basic economic vocabulary and background in a free enterprise economy, the theory of supply and demand, the theory of the firm, and an introduction to investing which includes the stock market and retirement savings options. A book report and an analysis of a corporate annual report are two projects that will be completed during the semester as well as oral reports on economic issues. The course does NOT meet the requirement for consumer education.

PSYCHOLOGY
1/2 credit (1 semester)

Grades: 11,12
Prerequisite: None
This course follows the American Psychological Association's standards for a one-semester, eight-unit high school psychology class. Topics include historical and contemporary perspectives, careers in psychology, research methods and ethics, biology and behavior, sensation and perception, consciousness, memory, child development, intelligence, and personality.

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY
1 credit (1 year)

Grades: 11,12
Prerequisite: World History I and II or permission from instructor
In this course, students acquire knowledge of the basic movements and events that occurred in Europe during the time period from approximately 1450 to the present. These movements and events are explored through three themes: intellectual and cultural history, political and diplomatic history, and social and economic history. In addition, students learn how to analyze historical documents and how to express their historical understanding in writing. Students are required to prepare a book review each semester and to prepare projects related to a variety of topics. In summary, this course requires extensive reading and writing.

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