Social Studies Academic Courses

Grade 9
 

World History (SS642) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

World History examines our past, explains our present, and imagines our future. It is a story about us.

The course explores the questions: Where did everything come from? How did we get to where we are now? Where do humans fit in? Where are things heading?

Using the World History Project/OER online curriculum, this interdisciplinary course integrates history, science, and the humanities.

Students analyze videos, animations, and articles while participating in cooperative classroom activities.

Students develop the ability to use intuition, make connections, and evaluate the authority, evidence, and logic of claims across disciplines and time periods.

They learn to engage with new ideas and information while using evidence and original sources to construct, write, and present effective arguments.

Throughout the year, STEM connections are made to students' career technical programs.

Students develop critical thinking skills and broader perspectives to better understand the world around them.

World History prepares students for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) by teaching key college- and career-ready skills.

Honors World History (SS643) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

Honors World History is an accelerated course for motivated students with a strong interest in social studies and proficient reading, writing, and analytical skills.

The course examines the major global thresholds that have had the greatest impact in shaping the modern world.

Using the World History Project/OER online curriculum, students explore how developments in art, religion, society, geography, science, and government have influenced the world we live in today.

Throughout the year, STEM connections are made to students' career technical programs.

Students develop historical thinking through active inquiry and research using multiple sources.

They analyze multiple perspectives and interpretations while completing informative and argumentative writing tasks.

Honors World History prepares students for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) by teaching key college- and career-ready skills.

Grade 10
 

Civics/American Government (SS210) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

Civics/American Government is a required course for graduation.

The course prepares students to exercise their political responsibilities as thoughtful and informed citizens.

Students develop an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship and the importance of responsible civic participation.

Topics include the historical development of government and political systems, the rule of law, the United States Constitution, federal, state, and local government structures, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Students investigate local, state, and national issues, participate in discussions, and develop informed opinions through a variety of writing activities.

This course prepares students for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) by developing key college- and career-ready skills.

Honors Civics/American Government (SS211) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

Honors Civics/American Government is an accelerated course for motivated students with a strong interest in social studies and strong reading and writing skills.

Civics is a required course for graduation.

The course prepares students to become thoughtful and informed participants in American government.

Students examine the historical development of political systems, the rule of law, the United States Constitution, federal, state, and local government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Students investigate local, state, and national issues, participate in discussions, and develop informed opinions through a variety of writing activities.

This course prepares students for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) by reinforcing key college- and career-ready skills.

Grades 11–12
 

Modern U.S. History (SS310) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

Modern United States History builds upon the historical foundations established in Civics/American Government.

Using a chrono-thematic approach, students examine people, events, and movements that shaped the United States, focusing on changes in American identity, the economy, foreign affairs, science, lifestyle, and technology.

The curriculum provides multiple opportunities for students to understand how historical issues develop over time.

Students analyze and evaluate a variety of documents, sources, and perspectives.

Throughout the year, connections are made to students' trade and technical programs.

Students develop historical thinking through inquiry, research, analysis of multiple perspectives, and informative and persuasive writing.

Honors Modern U.S. History (SS311) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

Honors Modern United States History is an accelerated course for motivated students with strong reading and writing skills.

The course builds upon the historical foundations established in Civics/American Government.

Using a chrono-thematic approach, students study people, events, and movements that shaped the United States, focusing on changes in American identity, the economy, foreign affairs, science, lifestyle, and technology.

The curriculum provides multiple opportunities for students to understand how historical issues evolve over time.

Students analyze and evaluate a variety of documents, sources, and perspectives.

Throughout the year, connections are made to students' trade and technical programs.

Students develop historical thinking through inquiry and research using multiple sources while completing informative and persuasive writing assignments.

United States History to 1877 – UConn ECE (SS718) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

This college-level course surveys the political, economic, social, and cultural development of American history through the Civil War and Reconstruction.

The course has two primary goals: to provide students with a strong foundation in early United States history and to introduce them to historical thinking and analysis.

Topics include exploration, conquest, settlement, the relationship between culture and the environment, the formation of national identity, and the concept of American exceptionalism.

Students develop critical thinking, reading, and writing skills through a variety of texts.

To be successful, students should be independent, self-motivated, and prepared to participate in seminar-style discussions.

Students who enroll in the UConn Early College Experience (ECE) program and successfully complete this course are eligible to earn three (3) UConn college credits for HIST 1501.

This course fulfills the Social Studies graduation requirement.

Grades 11–12
 

United States History since 1877 - UConn ECE (SS719) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

This college-level course for advanced learners’ surveys political, economic, social and cultural developments in American History from 1877 to the present. Students will consider political, economic, cultural and social histories while paying particular attention to gender, race, sexuality, class, region and shifting global contexts. This class draws upon a variety of texts and will develop critical thinking skills, reading and writing skills. To be successful in this course, students need to be independent, self-motivated and ready to take on the challenge of participating in seminar-style discussions.

Students who enroll in the UConn Early College Experience (ECE) program and successfully complete this course are eligible to earn three (3) UConn credits for United States History since 1877 course (HIST1502). This course meets the graduation requirements for Social Studies.

Economics (SS625) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

In economics, students will examine the choices that people make to satisfy their needs and desires. Students will be introduced to the basics of economic principles and the importance of understanding how to think like an economist. This course will provide students with the fundamental economic ideas, concepts and skills necessary to reason logically about economic issues that affect their lives as workers, consumers, producers and citizens. In the second part of the course, students will learn how choices influence occupational options and future earning potential. Students will also learn to apply decision-making skills to evaluate career choices and set personal goals. The course content is designed to help the learner make wise spending, saving, investing and credit decisions and to make effective use of income to achieve personal financial success.

Economics - UConn ECE (SS661) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

This college-level course for advanced learners provides a general introduction to micro- and macroeconomics. Economic concepts to be taught include opportunity costs, demand and supply, incentives, comparative advantage, inflation and employment policies, the balance of international payments, and economic growth. To be successful in this course, students need to be independent, self-motivated and ready to take on the challenge of participating in seminar-style discussions.

Students who enroll in the UConn Early College Experience (ECE) program and successfully complete this course are eligible to earn three (3) UConn college credits for the Essentials of Economics course (ECON1000).

Honors Economics (SS630) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

Honors Economics is an accelerated course that focuses on key micro- and macroeconomic concepts as well as key economic philosophies and their application to specific issues and topics. Current issues of economic policy and practice and the role of public policy in economic decision-making are studied. An understanding of the operation of a free-market economy and the influence of contemporary forces upon it constitutes the major purposes of the study. This course requires high-level reading, writing and analytical skills.

Economics and Law (SS626) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

In this course, one semester focuses on Economics and the other semester focuses on Law, students will study about choices that people make to satisfy their needs and desires. The course will provide them with fundamental economic ideas, concepts and skills necessary to reason logically about key economic issues that affect their lives as workers, consumers, producers and citizens. In Law, students are introduced to the American legal system and the impact of law on the daily life of the individual. Students learn about their legal rights and responsibilities, various kinds of laws and lawmaking bodies as well as fundamental civil and criminal procedures. The course provides a study of criminal law, juvenile justice, torts, consumer and housing and family law.

Honors Economics and Law (SS627) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

In this accelerated course for advanced learners, one semester focuses on Economics and the other semester focuses on Law, students will study about choices that people make to satisfy their needs and desires. The course will provide them with fundamental economic ideas, concepts and skills necessary to reason logically about key economic issues that affect their lives as workers, consumers, producers and citizens. In Law, students are introduced to the American legal system and the impact of law on the daily life of the individual. Students learn about their legal rights and responsibilities, various kinds of laws and lawmaking bodies as well as fundamental civil and criminal procedures. The course provides a study of criminal law, juvenile justice, torts, consumer and housing and family law.

Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights (SS710) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

This course is an in-depth study of the Holocaust as well as genocide and terrorism in the 20th century to the present. The course will focus on the historical, social, political, intellectual, cultural and economic causes and consequences of the Holocaust as well as current examples of genocide and terrorism. Students will use the process of inquiry to identify issues, form questions, investigate resources and draw conclusions.

Introduction to Human Rights - UConn ECE (SS723) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria

This college-level course for advanced learners provides an introduction to the interdisciplinary study of human rights through the lens of law, justice, ethics, and morality. Students will study and consider the history of human rights and the creation of international human rights law. Students will then reflect on the evolution of how human rights is considered today in different cultures and focus in on specific, current human rights issues. By the end of the semester, students will have developed an understanding of human rights as international law and as a movement formed around a set of values shared by individuals and communities across the globe. They will also be familiar and have grappled with critiques and responses to the human rights framework and have learned policy and advocacy strategies to secure human rights for all people.

Students who enroll in the UConn Early College Experience (ECE) program and successfully complete this course are eligible to earn three (3) UConn college credits for the Introduction to Human Rights course (HRTS1007).

AP Human Geography (SS721) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

This course is equivalent to an introductory college-level course in human geography. The course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students study the distribution, processes, and effects of the human population on our planet. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. Students learn how to use and interpret maps, data sets, geographic models, GIS, aerial photographs and satellite images.

AP U.S. Government and Politics (SS606) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

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 behavior. 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, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project. This course fulfills the state mandated Civics Requirement.

AP Psychology (SS676) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

AP Psychology is an introductory college-level psychology course. Advanced Placement Psychology introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavioral and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the methods psychologists use to explore the processes involved in normal and abnormal perceptions, thoughts, feelings and actions. Students will actively participate in simulations, demonstrations and experiments as part of the course. As a college level course, students taking AP Psychology should be aware of the demanding work and grading expectations of this course.

Black and Latino Studies (SS668) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

This is a one credit, year-long elective course pursuant to Connecticut Public Act No. 19-12. This course will provide students with the opportunity to consider the scope of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino contributions to U.S. history, society, economy, and culture. It utilizes Connecticut’s Social Studies Framework themes and inquiry-based approach to deliver a content rich and personalized learning experience. The course is an opportunity for students to explore accomplishments, struggles, intersections, perspectives, and collaborations of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino people in the U.S. Students will examine how historical movements, legislation, and wars affected the citizenship rights of these groups and how they, both separately and together, worked to build U.S. cultural and economic wealth and create more just societies in local, national, and international contexts.

Honors Black and Latino Studies (SS664) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

This is a one-credit, year-long elective course pursuant to Connecticut Public Act No. 19-12. Honors African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies is an accelerated course for the motivated student who has a strong interest in social studies and is a proficient reader and writer. The course will provide students with the opportunity to consider the scope of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino contributions to U.S. history, society, economy, and culture. The Honors course will integrate both Black and Latino history into a thematic approach utilizing Connecticut’s Social Studies Framework themes and inquiry-based approach to deliver a content rich and personalized learning experience. The course is an opportunity for students to explore accomplishments, struggles, intersections, perspectives, and collaborations of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino people in the U.S. Students will examine how historical movements, legislation, and wars affected the citizenship rights of these groups and how they, both separately and together, worked to build U.S. cultural and economic wealth and create more just societies in local, national, and international contexts.

Law (SS610) (1 credit)

(NCAA Approved Course)

In Law, students are introduced to the American legal system and the impact of law on the daily life of the individual. Students learn about their legal rights and responsibilities, various kinds of laws and lawmaking bodies as well as fundamental civil and criminal procedures. The course provides a study of criminal law, juvenile justice, torts, consumer and housing and family law. Discussions, role plays, demonstrations and debates will be used to develop student understanding of the complexity of the legal system and individual rights and liberties.