The Cherokee County School District Social Studies curriculum prepares students to become participating citizens of a democratic society in an increasingly interdependent world. Through social studies education students should acquire a continuing interest in their society; develop a respect for the dignity and worth of all persons; and achieve the depth of understanding and loyalty to democratic ideas and the skills necessary to accept responsibilities and rights of citizenships.
Three and one-half (3.5) units of credit are required in social studies; one unit in U.S. history, one unit in world history, one-half unit in government, one-half unit in economics and one-half unit in world geography/freshman focus.
Social Studies Courses
World Geography
Investigates regions of the world and how these regions influence the historical, economical, political, and cultural development in an interdependent world. Includes geographic concepts, physical phenomena, and the relationship of people to their environment. Includes environmental issues and decision-making skills. Covers regions, location (position on earth’s surface), place (physical and human characteristics), relationships within places and movement (human interaction on the earth).
Honors World Geography
Uses National Geographical themes of place (physical and cultural characteristics) location (relative and absolute), regions, human-environment interaction, movement (goals, ideas, and people). Analyze the United States as a globally interdependent melting pot of the world. Outside sources are used to compare different regions, climate, economics, government, and cultural landscapes.
Economics
Focuses on the systems; covers fundamental economic concepts, comparative economic systems, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economic interdependence. Stresses the ability to analyze critically and apply to the decision-making process as well as personal finance decisions.
Advanced Placement Microeconomics
AP Microeconomics is an introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.
World History
Emphasizes the political, cultural, economic and social development, and growth of civilizations. Analyzes the development of change beginning with ancient civilizations, the emergence of nations through trade/communications, intellectual development, scientific development, emergence of nation’s states, nations in conflict and the emerging interdependence of nations in the twentieth century.
Honors World History
Investigates the factors influencing the political, cultural, economic and social development of civilizations. Analyzes the development of change beginning with ancient civilizations, the emergence of nations through trade/communications, intellectual development, scientific/technological development, emergence of nation’s states, nations in conflict and the emerging interdependence of nations in the twentieth century. Integrates outside sources to identify current trends.
Advanced Placement World History
Conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement World History examination. Covers intellectual and cultural history, political and diplomatic history and social and economical history.
United States History
Investigates the United States, its people, institutions, and heritage. Covers discovery and settlement, colonial society, the American Revolution, Constitution and the New Republic, Age of Jefferson, Nationalism, Sectionalism, Territorial Expansion, Civil War, Reconstruction, Industrialization, Progressive Era, World War I, Depression, New Deal, World War II, The Cold War, through Modern Times.
Honors United States History
Analyzes the history of the United States from the age of exploration through Modern Times. Covers discovery and settlement, colonial society, the American Revolution, Constitution and the New Republic, Age of Jefferson, Nationalism, Sectionalism, Territorial Expansion, Civil War, Reconstruction, Industrialization, Progressive Era, World War I, Depression, New Deal, World War II, the Cold War, through Modern Times.
Advanced Placement United States History
Conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement United States American History examination. Covers discovery and settlement, colonial society, the American Revolution, Constitution and the New Republic, Age of Jefferson, Nationalism, sectionalism, territorial expansion, Civil War, Reconstruction, Industrialization, Progressive Era, World War I, Depression, New Deal and World War II through the present.
Current Issues
Analyzes current issues, influences that are related to these issues, and examines how decisions are made concerning these issues.
American Government
An in-depth study of the American political system. This course focuses on the foundation, principles, and structure of the American system of government. Examines the role of political parties, social factors as they relate to the role of the citizen, and analyzes the decision-making process that is a part of the system of American political behavior. Covers federalism, separation of powers, influences on the formulation and adoption of the Constitution, political beliefs, political parties and elections, interest groups, institutions and policy processes and civil liberties and civil rights.
Advanced Placement American Government
Conforms to College Board topics for Advanced Placement American Government. Covers the Presidency, Congress, Judicial branches of government as well as the federal bureaucracy. Covers the fundamental principles of the Constitution and amendments as they have been interpreted over time, (federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, civil rights and liberties). Analyzes the changes in political beliefs and parties, over time the role of the media, and changes in the formation of policy.
Sociology
Investigates principles of sociology, the individual in groups, social institutions, social control, and the use of research methods to examine social problems.
Psychology
Investigates the principles of psychology, developmental psychology, heredity, and environ-mental aspects of psychology, learning theory, personality, intelligence, social disorders, and research methods used in the study of psychology. Integrates and reinforces social studies skills.
Advanced Placement Psychology
The purpose of the AP course in Psychology is to introduce the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Included is a consideration of the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Students also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.
The Individual and the Law
Analyzes the foundations and functions of the American legal system. Examines types of laws, the individual's relationship to the law and major court decisions. Integrates and reinforces social studies skills.
U.S. History in Film
Explores United States History through film. This course includes analysis and interpretation of events through both print and film.