411 - WORLD HISTORY   1.0 credit )
This full-year course is designed to take students around the world on a journey through time. In each unit students will analyze history, geography, and culture through different points of view, historical evidence, and enduring themes that lead to the state of the modern world. This is a fast-paced course designed to challenge students to think beyond what they've already learned in history, using complex texts and communicating through advanced level writing and discussion. PREREQUISITE: Freshman or Sophomore Standing.

412 – AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY  1.0 credit 
This full-year course is designed to explore how humans have understood, used, and changed the surface of Earth. Students will use the tools and thinking processes of geographers to examine patterns of human population, migration, and land use. In addition, the course exposes students to economic theories and models as well as world religions and the origins and diffusion of languages. PREREQUISITE: Subject to Department Approval; To have a successful, complete experience in this AP course, students must complete the AP Human Geography Exam; Recommended for path to AP US History.

421 - FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT  0.5 credit 
This is a one-semester course in which students will study the Constitution as the basis for our political system, along with federal, state and local governments. This course is required as a prerequisite for U.S. History and is required for graduation. PREREQUISITE: Sophomore Standing.

420 - ACCELERATED AMERICAN GOVERNMENT  0.5 credit 
This one-semester course helps students develop the skills and strategies necessary for achieving success in social science Advanced Placement courses. The course focuses on the structure, formation and function of American government and the early history of the United States. This course will introduce content in more depth than the Foundations of American Government class. PREREQUISITE: Sophomore Standing and Department Approval; Recommended for path to AP US History.

461 – PERSONAL FINANCE & ECONOMICS  0.5 credit 
In this one-semester course students will gain an understanding of the “economic way of thinking” and how it is used in life decisions. Economic thinking focuses on how to meet people’s unlimited wants with limited resources. It will be applied to the study of personal investing, the stock market, different business enterprises and the role of prices in the economy. This course is important for all students, especially for those who are up to the challenge of unpacking the economic questions in life. Personal Finance and Economics or AP Macroeconomics is required for graduation.

460 - AP MACROECONOMICS  1.0 credit 
This is a full-year course offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors. The course is designed to help students develop critical-thinking skills through the understanding, application, and analysis of fundamental economic concepts. Students will be expected to apply economic logic to a wide variety of real-world and hypothetical situations. The goal is to understand the “linkages” describing the chain of events leading to economic conclusions. This AP course can be taken even if a student has passed the regular Economics course. PREREQUISITE: Completed application and Department Approval; Rotating course - will be offered in 25-26, not in 26-27; In order to have a successful, complete experience in this AP course, students must complete the AP Macroeconomics Exam; Personal Finance and Economics or AP Macroeconomics is required for graduation.

456 - INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY  0.5 credit 
This one-semester course is designed to introduce students to the study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. Students will learn about psychological principles and phenomena seen in real life, as well as research methods used to study human behavior. The course will instill knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can be applied to the student’s own life. PREREQUISITE: Junior or Senior standing

455 - AP PSYCHOLOGY   1.0 credit 
This course will dive deep into the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Students will learn psychological theories, principles, and phenomena with an emphasis on applying those concepts to real life. Students will also learn about the research methods and data analysis psychologists use to explain human behavior. This college level course offers the possibility of obtaining AP credit and requires significant independent work, but will instill knowledge, skills and attitudes to the student’s own life. PREREQUISITE: Junior or Senior standing and completed application and Department Approval. To have a successful, complete experience in this AP course, students must complete the AP Psychology Exam.

431 - US HISTORY: 1800 - PRESENT  1.0 credit 
This is a general survey, full-year course of the history of the United States, covering the period from 1787 to the recent past. Students will learn about the political, social, and economic factors that shaped America. US History or AP US History is required for graduation. PREREQUISITE: Junior standing and Foundations of American Government.

434 - AP UNITED STATES HISTORY  1.0 credit 
This full-year, Advanced Placement course is an in- depth study of the history of the United States from the age of discovery to the present. It emphasizes the political, social, and economic factors that shaped American institutions. This course is taught at a college level and requires significant independent effort on the part of the student. US History or AP US History is required for graduation. PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, Successful completion of Accelerated American Government and/or Department Approval. To have a successful, complete experience in this AP course, students must complete the AP US History Exam.

415 - DIVERSITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS  0.5 credit 
This is a one-semester course designed to expand our understanding of human rights, what that means, and how they are both honored and violated. The centerpiece of this course is the Universal Doctrine of Human Rights, established after World War II. The diversity component will analyze the history of American diversity to its present-day situations and attempt to find the vessels that bring understanding and resolution. PREREQUISITE: Junior or Senior standing.

465 - SOCIOLOGY  0.5 credit  
This one semester course, examines the fundamental concepts of Sociology. Its main purpose is for students to develop an understanding of how larger social forces affect our everyday lives and behavior. Some of the topics discussed will be conflict, interactionist and functionalist theory, labeling, sociological imagination, aspects of culture, research methods, communication and social norms. PREREQUISITE: Junior or Senior standing.

851 - THE CONTEXT OF WESTERN CULTURE 1700 TO PRESENT – Art History  0.5 credit 
In this one-semester course students will investigate issues, define movements, and contextualize the history of art through cultural happenings. Students will research the interaction of art and recent society with emphasis on Modern through Contemporary periods. This course covers the biographical and societal contributions of major artists, the development of notable mediums, changes in critical attitudes towards art, and prepares students for college-level Art History and theory. The Advanced Placement Test is optional. This course is required for AP Portfolio students and is open to all interested Juniors and Seniors. A class museum visit to Chicago is required. This course counts towards a student’s Social Science credit requirements.