Social Studies
| American History - Survey and Regular - These courses follow the pathway of American History from the time of Civil War Reconstruction to the present. Students will gain insight and understanding into America's culture, polotics, and society. The class will involve a combination of teaching methods including lecture, discussion, historical films and documentations, and student activities. | American
History - Required; 2 credits |
| World Geography - World Geogrpahy is a social science course offered early in the senior high program to stregthen and expand the knowledge of geography, which students have already acquired, and to then build on this foundation, knowledge of worldwide geographic forces, which have come to play so vital a role in our lives. This study of geography leads to an understanding of those forces and points out the meaning and relationship of geographic facts, geopolitical concerns, and the functional interdependence of all people and places of the world. | |
| Religion in America - Available 2006-2007; The heart of the course will be a brief study of the main relgions in Emerica, comparing their beliefs and practices. Smalled sects like the Amish, sults like Rev. Moon's group, and eastern relgions like the Buddhists will also be examined for their impact. The oigins of the Christian faith will be followed to the United States. The relationship between church and state will be traced through American history. Related topics such as abortion, mercy killings and death education may be included if time permits. | |
| Iowa in the World - Available 2007-2008; The course will inform students aboutimportant past events, individuals, and geography of this state. It will meet the requirments of a semester of world studeiss, so considerable emphasis during class will be given to Iowa's contribution and place in world affairs today. The class will involve a combination of teaching methods including lecture, discussion, and student activities. | |
| Ancient World History - Available 2007-2008; This course is designed to give students an in-depth look at how past cultures have impacted our modern society. Students will study the beginnings of civilization; the earliest civilazations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China and Indial the ancient cultures of Freece and Rome, the Middle Ages and Renaissance; and the arely cultures of America, East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. | |
| 20th Centuary World History - Available 2006-2007; This course is designed to be an examination of the fundamental historic theme that shaped the twentieth century, including their impact on our modern society. Students will experience and gain perspective of history from the standpoint of the various world regions covered in this course. Special emphasis will be placed on the events surrounding the World Wars, Cold War, terrorism, fall of communism, and the development of modern world societies. | |
| Current Problems and Issues - In this course students will involve temselves in the most current local, national and international news by reading major news magazines and newspapers and through participating in discussions. The primary methord of instruction will place emphasis on in-class reading of current events and individual work, rather than the traditional text and lecture-centered approach. This course should be of value to both non-college and college-bound students. The following are general indicidual and/or group requirements for students: (1) All students, on a weekly basis, will spend a specified amount of time reading news items relating to local, state, national and international affairs. (2) Topics may be specified by the teahcer. Evaluation will be based on prepared exams and written assignments. | |
| Sociology - Available 2007-2008; This course is designed to introduce students to the sociological study of group behavior. The major areas of study include the development of sociology, culture, and its influence on group behavior, the organization of society in regard to its structure and institutions (such as marriage and family), and also various social issues | |
| Psychology - Psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of the individual. This class will meet the needs of those going on to college as well as those who plan to end their education when their high school career ends. This course will focus on the following: the development of phycology as a science, the key individuals who have influenced psycholody's developmen, developmental psychology, personality development, learning, remembering and forgetting, as well as how we deal with stress in normal and adnormal manners, and the treatment of abnormal behaviors. | |
| Economics - Available 2007-2008; This course is designed to introduce the student to the study of economics. The primary focus of study will involve the economic principles that apply to the market system used by the United states, but students will become acquainted with alternate economic systems as well as the interaction between systems in the international sphere. The course will attempt to divide macroeconomics and microeconomics into semester units and will include such topics as Economics as a Social Science, Business Organizations in America, Prices & the Market System, Competition and Monoplies, Money & Banking, and Government Fiscal Policy. | |
| United States History (AP) - Prerequisite: 1 year of American History - This is a gull-year course in American history emphasizing the perios from colonization to the present. AP History is a course, which has been designed to provide a college level experience, and students taking the course are provided with the option of taking and Advanced Placement examination for possible college credit. It is highly advised that students considering taking this course have an interest id history, the ability to read well, and a willingness to learn. This course is a challenge, but it can be quite rewarding to the student as well. Students considering this course are advised to visit with the instructor. | |
| American Government - Principles and Regular - Emphasis is placed on the study of the structure and function of the three branches of the national government. Major consideration is given to the study of modern political and economic systems, federalism, the U.S. Constitution, political parties, voting behavior, the electoral process, civil rights, and federal and state taxation. The study of the structure and function of state and local government is investigated when scheduling permits. | |