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Program of Studies » Social Studies Department

Social Studies Department

This in-depth course will give students a concentrated view of the world’s history from ancient times to the present. Students will be expected to master many social studies skills such as using research and reference materials and analyzing and interpreting primary sources. This course will prepare the student for future Honors and AP courses in the social studies curriculum. Placement by Student Personnel Services; review of standardized test scores; an “A” average in 7th and 8th grades.
 
 
This course gives students an overview of the world. Emphasis is placed on Western Civilization, but African and Asian history is also covered. The main objective is for students to master many social studies skills such as correctly using research and reference materials, differentiating between fact and opinion, and interpreting maps, charts, and graphs. Placement by Student Personnel Services; review of standardized test scores; a “B” average in 7th and 8th grades.
 
 
This year-long chronological course will study world history from ancient civilizations to the 21st century. Students will be expected to demonstrate many historical skills such as defining historical terms, evaluating the problems and achievements of major periods in world history, and interpreting maps, charts, and historical reference material. Placement by Student Personnel Services; review of standardized test scores; a passing grade in 7th and 8th grade history class.
 
 
This course begins the AP course work in U.S. History. This course is a study of U.S. History from the period of exploration through Reconstruction and the Gilded Age ending with the election of 1892. This course is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and events in U.S. History. Students will do two oral seminars, one research paper and various document based questions using primary sources. Successful completion of Honors World History with a “B” average and teacher recommendation, or successful completion of Advanced World History with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.
 
This year-long course is a chronological survey which will examine American History from the period of discovery through Reconstruction. Particular attention is paid to the domestic and foreign policy of each presidential administration. Students must be able to identify and analyze major events in American History including cycles, trends, turning points, and relationships between past and present. They will be expected to do oral and written research assignments throughout the year. Successful completion of Advanced World History with a “B” average and teacher recommendation, or successful completion of World History with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.
 
This year-long chronological course will study American History from the period of discovery through the Reconstruction after the Civil War. Students will be expected to demonstrate many historical skills such as defining historical terms, evaluating the origin and processes of our government, differentiating between fact and opinion, and interpreting maps, graphs, and charts. Successful completion of World History is required.  
 
This course is a chronological study of U.S. History from the late 19th century to the present. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, and interpretation of original documents. Students will examine in detail, the foreign and domestic policy of the presidential administration of the time period. Students need to possess solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to study. A summer research paper is required by all students enrolling in this course.  Students in this course will be prepared to take the Advanced Placement United States History exam for possible college credit.
 
Successful completion of Honors U.S. History I with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.
 
Students are required to take the AP exam. 
 
 
This year-long course is a chronological survey of American History from the late 19th century to the present. Particular attention will be paid to the achievements and reforms of the presidential administrations of the 20th century. Students must demonstrate the ability to analyze major events in the history of the 20th century through oral and written research.
 
Successful completion of Advanced U.S. History I with a “B” average and teacher recommendation, or successful completion of U.S. History I with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.
 
 
This year-long chronological course will study American History from the late 19th century to the present. Students will be expected to demonstrate many historical skills, such as defining historical terms and evaluating the achievements of the presidential administrations of the 20th century. Students should also be able to express a knowledge and understanding of the events which made America a world power.
 
Successful completion of U.S. History I is required.
 
 
This course will emphasize a basic survey of major events and trends in European History form approximately 1450 to the present. Particular attention will be given to the intellectual, cultural, economic, diplomatic, political, and social developments of the European countries during modern times. Students will be expected to analyze historical documents, both primary and secondary, and express their understanding in discussion as well as writing. Students in this course will be prepared to take the Advanced Placement European History exam for possible college credit.
 
Successful completion of AP U.S. History II with a “B” average and teacher recommendation, or successful completion of Advanced U.S. History II with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.
 
This year-long, in-depth course will provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that of an introductory college course in psychology. The course will introduce the student to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals in context. The student will study the following 14 content areas: history and approaches, research methods, biological basis of behavior, sensation and perception, state of consciousness, learning, cognition, motivation, and emotion, developmental psychology, personality, testing and individual differences, abnormal psychology, treatment of psychological disorders and social psychology. Students will be prepared to take the Advanced Placement Psychology exam for possible college credit.
 
Successful competition of Honors US 1 or AP US History with a “B” average and teacher recommendation, or successful completion of Advanced US I or II with an “A” average and teacher recommendation.
 
Students are required to take the AP exam.   
 
This year-long introduction to psychology will give students an in depth overview of the subject. Among some of the topics studied will be what is personality and where does it come from, how does our mind process information, the significance of psychological testing, the effects of stress and conflict on the body, and what psychological abnormalities develop, adjustment in society, and treatment. At the end of this course students will have a better understanding of self and will be better able to successfully interact with the environment.
 
Successful completion of Advanced U.S. History I with a “B” average and teacher recommendation, or successful completion of U.S. History II with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.
 
It is the purpose of this course to present a mature and academic focus on some of the most important events of the 20th century. An examination of the intent, means, and methods of various genocidal movements will be explored with the purpose of understanding, prevention, and fostering an awareness of human rights for all peoples. The course will require extensive reading and writing. It will especially focus on the literature, art, music, and film of the Holocaust. This course is offered as a dual credit college course. The course requirements are rigorous, and students should anticipate devoting significant time to individual study.
 
There will be a separate tuition payment of $400 due to Richard Stockton College to earn college credit. Students will be required to take a final examination.
 
Successful completion of AP U.S. History II with a “B” average and teacher recommendation, or successful completion of Advanced U.S. History II with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.
 
It is the purpose of this course to present a mature and academic focus on some of the most important events of the 20th century. An examination of the intent, means, and methods of various genocidal movements will be explored with the purpose of understanding, prevention, and fostering an awareness of human rights for all peoples. The course will require extensive reading and writing. It will especially focus on the literature, art, music, and film of the Holocaust.
 
Successful completion of advanced U.S. History II with a “B” average and teacher recommendation or successful completion of U.S. History II with an “A” average and teacher recommendation is required.  
 
This year-long course will cover the history of modern America from 1945 to the present. America in the 20th Century will concentrate on such topics as the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, and Watergate. The course will also include an analysis of the presidential terms since 1945 and a special focus on the war on terror.
 
Successful completion of U.S. History II is required.  
 
This full year class will critically examine the various components of the criminal justice system. The operation of the police, the courts, and corrections will be covered in detail. The relationship between the criminal justice system and the community, as well as current issues in criminal justice will be discussed. The contemporary challenges of terrorism, homeland security, and emergency management will be examined. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the criminal justice system in general and within New Jersey in particular. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
 
The honors section of this course is offered as a dual credit college course; therefore, there will be a separate tuition payment of $400 due to Richard Stockton College to earn college credit. This course is offered only to seniors, and students will be required to take a final examination.
 
Intro to Law offers students a cursory view of the US legal system and the court process. The class begins with civics and court structure. Students will learn the important differences between civil and criminal and state and federal laws and courts. Students will apply classroom lessons to real world cases, current events and hypothetical cases that touch on constitutional law, family law, real estate and business issues.
 
The goal of the class is to help students begin to understand how the legal process and laws touch every area of society. Due to mature content this course is recommended for juniors and seniors.
 
AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, students will complete a political science research or applied civics project.
 
Required Pre-requisites: Rising Juniors: Honors US History I with a “B” average, or Advanced US History I with an “A” average. Rising Seniors: Advanced US History II with an “A” average, or AP US History with a “B” Average.
 
Students are required to take the AP exam.