Social Studies Curriculum

Courses

The social studies department offers all students a progression of courses designed to develop knowledge and skills in the areas of geography, history, economics, politics, psychology and historiography. The courses progress along several axes: from national histories (USA) to regional (Latin America) histories to world history, from simple facts and narratives to more complex theories and analyses, and lastly from the use of direct primary sources to more complicated statistical and secondary sources.

The department offers a three-year required curriculum that includes World History, U.S. History, Economics (one semester) and U.S. Government (one semester). In addition, students can select from a large variety of electives. Some are designed to supplement the core curriculum through the exploration of new topics or the use of different media, while others provide students with a rigorous expansion of the core curriculum through college-level classes (all Advanced Placement courses).

  • American Government

    Prerequisite: Successful completion of U.S. History.

    American Government, Institutions and Policies is a requirement for all seniors. While it fully covers the formal structures and functions of our political system, it stresses political processes and behavior. Considerable emphasis is placed on the uniqueness of American politics, that it is an evolutionary process growing out of political beliefs and institutional arrangements different from those found in other democratic countries. The course incorporates materials from history, economics, philosophy, jurisprudence, and comparisons with experiences of other nations, both democratic and non democratic. An integral part of the course is an in-depth study of current government affairs as they occur on a weekly basis with their application to the material under study.

  • American Govt.

    Prerequisite: International student.

    This rigorous, college-preparatory class is geared to students who have had little or no prior instruction in the workings of American government. At the conclusion of the course, all students will have a thorough understanding of the nation's political procedures. Students are expected to analyze concepts and detail their understanding in written work at a level commensurate with any college-prep course. Class participation is vital and used as one of the tools for assessing comprehension of material. This one-semester class receives college credit and meets all college and university requirements for American government.

  • AP Art History (OSG)

    Prerequisite: A or higher in at least one year history or instructor approval
     
    Students in AP® Art History examine and critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from diverse cultures spanning 27,000 years. By investigating an image set of 250 works, students develop a contextual understanding of art history from a global perspective. Influences such as patronage, politics, class, belief systems, gender, ethnicity, and cross-cultural interactions inform students’ analysis of the style and content of art. Emphasis is placed on analytical and critical thinking skills, the language of art history, and the methods used by art historians to interpret art objects. Students experience, research, discuss, and write about art, artists, and art making. Upon completion of this course, students will have the tools to recognize important works of art and historical styles as well as understand historical and cultural context. Students in the AP® class are expected to delve deeper into the topics, take AP®-style assessments, and prepare for the AP® Art History Exam in the spring.  This course is College Board and NCAA approved.

  • AP Macroeconomics

    Eligibility:  Must be co-enrolled in an honors/AP math course AND department approval.    

    AP Macroeconomics is an introductory college-level economics course that focuses on the economic performance of an economy at a national level.  Economic models, such as the circular flow of the economy;  and graphs, are used frequently to describe economic situations and to predict and explain likely outcomes.  Lessons are skill development and discussion based, and students often practice models together.  Budgeting and financial planning are discussed after the AP exam in May.

  • AP Microeconomics (OSG)

    Prerequisite:  Completion of AP Macroeconomics at FSHA.  This course is offered through the Online School for Girls (OSG).

    AP Microeconomics is the study of economic principles that apply to the actions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within an economic system.  Topics covered in this course will include: opportunity cost, supply and demand, free trade, economic efficiency, factor markets, monopolies and other anticompetitive markets, as well as government intervention in the economy. Students will explore critical questions, such as: What role do trade-offs, incentives, and marginal thinking play in individual and firm decision making?  How can economies most efficiently use their scarce resources?  How can governments balance efficiency and equality in an economic system?  As an online, college-level course, significant emphasis is placed on independent work and individual accountability. Students will complete collaborative projects, group discussions, problem sets, quizzes, and tests.  The curriculum is developed to prepare students for the AP Microeconomics examination in May.   Strong mathematical reasoning skills and an interest in finance or business (or even politics) will help students in this course.  AP Microeconomics is recommended for juniors and seniors. Meets UC “G” elective requirement and FSHA’s economics requirement

  • AP United States History

    Prerequisite: B in AP  World History AND/OR department approval.

    AP U.S. History is an introductory college-level U.S. history course. In this class, students
    investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from approximately
    1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills and methods employed by
    historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change. The course also provides eight themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: American and national identity; work, exchange, and technology; geography and the environment; migration and settlement; politics and power; America in the world; American and regional culture; and social structures.

  • AP World History

    Prerequisite: Department approval.  Class grades, test scores, and overall GPA, as well as English department recommendation will be taken into consideration.

    AP World History: Modern is an introductory college-level modern world history course. In this class, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from approximately 1200 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change. The course also provides six themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation.

  • Economics

    Prerequisite: None

    Economics is a required course for graduation.  It may be taken in either the Junior or Senior year.  Topics include Keynesian economic principles, wise use of credit, competition, monopolies, investments, inflation, monetary and fiscal policies, world trade, currency adjustments, and foreign and domestic labor policies.  In addition, companies such as Goldman Sachs, Nike, Walmart, and Costco are examined.

  • Honors Government

    Prerequisite: Prerequisite:  B+ or above in AP US History AND/OR department approval.

    Advocacy and Activism: The purpose of this course is to provide a college-level introduction into the field of political science and to foster civic engagement and participation. Students will learn the key functions of U.S. government and politics, as well as explore comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. This course emphasizes a global perspective to prepare students for global citizenship. They will engage in disciplinary practices which include cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, quantitative/qualitative analysis, research, written/oral argumentation. The research portion of this course will focus on a topic related to activism and/or advocacy chosen by each student. Students can study a historical activist movement (successful or unsuccessful), current topics in American politics, and activism best practices (how to organize, sustainable activism). Ideally research projects will result in a specific action that promotes civic engagement and/or participation in the political process.

    This course is recommended for students interested in political science, history, sociology, psychology, international relations, and more. Great for students in all Affinity Groups, as well as Round Square, Mock Trial, Speech and Debate, and TYPE.

  • Psychology: Honors Research Seminar

    Prerequisite: Department approval
    Students in this project-based and student-centered course will design and complete an
    original research project in psychology with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The first semester introduces students to foundations of psychological research, theory, diagnosis, and treatment, with an emphasis on psychological issues related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Each student and partner will then formulate a hypothesis and write a research proposal using published source material. During the second semester, students will execute their research process, which involves scientific data collection and culminates in a formal research summary and community presentation.

    For UC-approved honors credit, students must adhere to the advanced evaluative rubrics, which include conducting preliminary field research and adding a service component to their research process, among others. 
    DEI topics in psychology may include research on needs and services for marginalized groups (racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, homelessness, poverty, etc.), questions about access to services and limitations to that access, or how current research in psychology does or does not adequately serve specific groups.

  • Psychology: Research Seminar

    Prerequisite: Department approval
    Students in this project-based and student-centered course will design and complete an
    original research project in psychology with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The first semester introduces students to foundations of psychological research, theory, diagnosis, and treatment, with an emphasis on psychological issues related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Each student and partner will then formulate a hypothesis and write a research proposal using published source material. During the second semester, students will execute their research process, which involves scientific data collection and culminates in a formal research summary and community presentation.
    DEI topics in psychology may include research on needs and services for marginalized groups (racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, homelessness, poverty, etc.), questions about access to services and limitations to that access, or how current research in psychology does or does not adequately serve specific groups.

  • U.S. Government: Honors Research Seminar

    Prerequisite: Department approval
    US Government: Activism and Advocacy: The purpose of this course is to provide a college-level introduction into the field of political science and to foster civic engagement and participation. Students will learn the key functions of U.S. government and politics, as well as explore comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. This course emphasizes a global perspective to prepare students for global citizenship. They will engage in disciplinary practices which include cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, quantitative/qualitative analysis, research, written/oral argumentation. The research portion of this course will focus on a topic related to activism and/or advocacy chosen by each student. Students can study a historical activist movement (successful or unsuccessful), current topics in American politics, and activism best practices (how to organize, sustainable activism). Ideally research projects will result in a specific action that promotes civic engagement and/or participation in the political process.

    For UC-approved honors credit, students must adhere to the advanced evaluative rubrics, which include conducting preliminary field research and adding a service component to their research process, among others. 
    This course is recommended for students interested in political science, history, sociology, psychology, international relations, and more. Great for students in all Affinity Groups, as well as Round Square, Mock Trial, Speech and Debate, and TYPE. 

  • U.S. Government: Research Seminar

    Prerequisite: Department approval
    US Government: Activism and Advocacy: The purpose of this course is to provide a college-level introduction into the field of political science and to foster civic engagement and participation. Students will learn the key functions of U.S. government and politics, as well as explore comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. This course emphasizes a global perspective to prepare students for global citizenship. They will engage in disciplinary practices which include cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, quantitative/qualitative analysis, research, written/oral argumentation. The research portion of this course will focus on a topic related to activism and/or advocacy chosen by each student. Students can study a historical activist movement (successful or unsuccessful), current topics in American politics, and activism best practices (how to organize, sustainable activism). Ideally research projects will result in a specific action that promotes civic engagement and/or participation in the political process.
    This course is recommended for students interested in political science, history, sociology, psychology, international relations, and more. Great for students in all Affinity Groups, as well as Round Square, Mock Trial, Speech and Debate, and TYPE. 

  • U.S. Hist.

    Prerequisite: International Student

    This rigorous, college-preparatory class is geared to students who have had little or no prior instruction in the history of the United States. At the conclusion of the course, all students will have a thorough knowledge of important dates, events and people in U.S. history. Students are expected to analyze concepts and detail their understanding in written work at a level commensurate with any college-prep course. Class participation is vital and used as one of the tools for measuring comprehension of material. This one-semester class receives college credit and meets all college and university requirements for U.S. history.

  • U.S. History

    Prerequisite: None

    This course surveys the political and cultural history of the United States from its beginnings to the present while emphasizing significant events of the twentieth century. Following an investigation of the nation’s origins and the impact of the Revolutionary War, students will learn about the effects of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and industrialization on American life. They will also explore the change in the ethnic composition of American society, the movement toward equal rights for minority groups, the expanding role of the federal government, and the United States as a world power. Additionally, students will consider domestic and foreign policies as well as examine the causes of major social problems in historical events. Students will synthesize information from a variety of primary and secondary sources in order to construct sound arguments pertaining to America’s history.

  • Women's and Gender Studies: Honors Research Seminar

    Prerequisite: Department Approval

    This full-year elective course provides an introduction to the way gender shapes individuals, social institutions, and cultural norms. In this discussion- based course, students will critically read, interpret and reflect upon key concepts in the field. Topics may include the social construction of gender; how systems of privilege and oppression shape individual lives; race/ethnicity, class, and gender as intersecting systems; how various media contribute to our understanding of gender; interpretations of feminism; women's issues though a global lens; looking at American history through a feminist/intersectional lens; and the role of gender in politics. In addition, this course will introduce students to the research methods necessary for successful design and completion of their Senior Research Project. 

    For UC-approved honors credit, students must adhere to the advanced evaluative rubrics, which include conducting preliminary field research and adding a service component to their research process, among others. 

    Examples of recent Women’s and Gender Studies research topics include: idealized motherhood, transgender athletes, internalized misogyny, queer coding in films, the impact of reconstruction era policies on black families, colonialism and the gender binary, the effects of language barriers on receiving quality health care, the representation of adolescent girls in film and television, disordered eating and thinness within Asian American culture, societal perceptions of women with tattoos, and public vs. private schools’ approach to sex education.
    Note: This could be an excellent choice for members of the Feminists in Action club or the Tologs QSA.

  • Women's and Gender Studies: Research Seminar

    Prerequisite: Department Approval

    This full-year elective course provides an introduction to the way gender shapes individuals, social institutions, and cultural norms. In this discussion- based course, students will critically read, interpret and reflect upon key concepts in the field. Topics may include the social construction of gender; how systems of privilege and oppression shape individual lives; race/ethnicity, class, and gender as intersecting systems; how various media contribute to our understanding of gender; interpretations of feminism; women's issues though a global lens; looking at American history through a feminist/intersectional lens; and the role of gender in politics. In addition, this course will introduce students to the research methods necessary for successful design and completion of their Senior Research Project. 
    Examples of recent Women’s and Gender Studies research topics include: idealized motherhood, transgender athletes, internalized misogyny, queer coding in films, the impact of reconstruction era policies on black families, colonialism and the gender binary, the effects of language barriers on receiving quality health care, the representation of adolescent girls in film and television, disordered eating and thinness within Asian American culture, societal perceptions of women with tattoos, and public vs. private schools’ approach to sex education.
    Note: This could be an excellent choice for members of the Feminists in Action club or the Tologs QSA.

  • World Hist II

    Prerequisite: None

    World History II exposes students to geographic factors and political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and artistic forces that have shaped human history from the Renaissance to the present.  Major topics include the influence of classicism in Western culture, the rise of democracy, advances in technology, and the cause and course of two world wars.  Goals of the course include developing critical reading, historical thinking, research, writing, and presentation skills. This course satisfies the sophomore social studies requirement.

Social Studies Faculty

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