The social studies courses are designed to challenge students to seek a unified understanding of the past, and to comprehend the complexities of life in the world today. We feel this can best be accomplished in a meaningful way by showing students they need to be aware of the development of society's institutions and that they are a vital part of a continuing process.
U.S. HISTORY: Grade 9, Year=2 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
Note: HIS151 & HIS152 may be substituted by special permission during a meeting with the Freshman Academy Counselor, a 4-year high school plan must be presented. All students may take HIS151 & HIS152 as elective credit in grades 10-12.
- History is our nation's common memory. It binds us together in the present and helps us understand how to meet the challenges of the future.
- This is a survey course with the focus on the human face of history. Emphasis is placed on how historical events have influenced students' lives and how their lives might have been affected if events had happened differently. Emphasis is also placed on their ability to think critically and reflectively because with this ability they become citizens who can make informed and responsible decisions.
- One of the goals of this course is to make students aware of the dynamic nature of American history described in the words of famous historian Arthur M. Schlesinger: "The Genius of America lies in its capacity to forge a single nation from peoples of remarkably diverse racial, religious, and ethnic origins... The American identity will never be fixed and final; it will always be in the making." #2000
*AP U.S. HISTORY: Grade 10, Year=2 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
- AP U.S. History will intensively examine America’s development in the areas of social, political, cultural, economic, and diplomatic factions from the Civil War to present day. The aim of this course is to provide students with a deeper understanding of America’s past, present, and future while developing higher level thinking, reading, and writing skills. This course will be fast paced and rigorous, with the students taking a greater responsibility for their own learning. A successful student in this course will be highly motivated, an excellent reader, and possess above average writing skills. This is an honors course and expectations placed on students will be high, as will the time demands. #0000
WORLD HISTORY: Grade 11, Year=2 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
- The History of Civilization studies people and events that shape or change the way people live on earth. Thus, this course will investigate the conceptual knowledge of history - the "how" and "why" of change and the recurring themes that provide continuity to our past and present. Special emphasis will be given to the ever-expanding interacting community, the impact of technology on major cultures and the trend toward a global culture and its effect on "traditional values." Students will utilize a variety of resources such as video, primary sources and computer resources, library resources, and texts to investigate the history of civilization and the changes that have affected mankind. #2101
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: Grade 10-12, Semester=1 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
- The purpose of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the major concepts of the U.S. Constitution and to provide understanding of both the structure and processes of the American political system.
- This course acquaints students with the facts about the foundations of governmental institutions. Instruction is given in the vocabulary, organizational structures, institutions, laws, and legal opinions that make up the framework of American government. The intent is to provide a firm knowledge base, which is a prerequisite to understanding.
- This course also provides instruction in political behavior. Informal processes, pressures, compromise, and the problems of government are all provided to allow students to see government in operation, believing it necessary for students to understand those processes that are in large part responsible for most political decision making.
- American Government attempts to blend knowledge of structure and political behavior in an attempt to give students an appreciation for effective citizen participation in the political process and thus to motivate positive, active citizenship. #2205
ECONOMICS/FINANCIAL LITERACY: Grade 11, Semester=1 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
- Economics is the study of how individuals, households, businesses, and government decide to employ their given talents and resources to best meet their many needs and desires. The course will acquaint students with the basic theories and laws that govern production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Topics such as: prices, business organization, money, banking, labor, and comparative economics systems will be covered. Students will also cover basic personal finance including budgeting, planning for college, and investing. #2201
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: Grade 9-12, Semester = 1 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
Note: The Advanced Placement program provides willing and academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to study and learn at the college level. AP courses are taught at the college level incorporating both college level reading and writing. The College Board does not deny any student from taking an AP course; however, students should be academically prepared. OHS strongly recommends that students who wish to enroll in an AP course have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- The AP Human Geography 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 employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socio-economic organization and its environmental consequences. They will also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. The curriculum reflects the goals of the national Geography Standards (2012). #2310
AP MACROECONOMICS: Grade 11-12, Year=2 CR, No Prerequisite. This course offered only even years beginning Fall 2020, RAI Approved
Note: The Advanced Placement program provides willing and academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to study and learn at the college level. AP courses are taught at the college level incorporating both college level reading and writing. The College Board does not deny any student from taking an AP course; however, students should be academically prepared. OHS strongly recommends that students who wish to enroll in an AP course have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- AP Macroeconomics will give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination, and also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Strong algebra skills are necessary for successful completion of this course. #2208
AP MICROECONOMICS: Grade 11-12, Year=2 CR, No Prerequisite. This course offered only odd years beginning Fall 2019, RAI Approved
Note: The Advanced Placement program provides willing and academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to study and learn at the college level. AP courses are taught at the college level incorporating both college level reading and writing. The College Board does not deny any student from taking an AP course; however, students should be academically prepared. OHS strongly recommends that students who wish to enroll in an AP course have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- AP Microeconomics will give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product markets and includes the study of factor markets and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. #2207
PSYCHOLOGY: Grade 11-12, Semester=1 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
- Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. Students will understand that Psychology uses systematic and scientific processes to study behavior and mental processes. Students will use inquiry-based investigations to explore concepts such as research methods and to analyze human behavior from biological, behavioral, cognitive, and sociocultural perspectives. Students will be able to take the major theoretical approaches of psychology and apply to their daily lives. Students will investigate how an individual can influence group behavior and how the group can influence an individual’s behavior and thoughts. #2303
AP PSYCHOLOGY: Grade 10-12, Year=2 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
Note: The Advanced Placement program provides willing and academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to study and learn at the college level. AP courses are taught at the college level incorporating both college level reading and writing. The College Board does not deny any student from taking an AP course; however, students should be academically prepared. OHS strongly recommends that students who wish to enroll in an AP course have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- AP Psychology is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, experimental and research methodology, as well as ethics associated with psychology. All students who take this class must be willing to accept a challenging and rigorous amount of course work, they should be highly motivated, strong readers, and possess an outstanding work ethic. The aim of the course is to provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in an introductory college psychology course. To obtain college credit for the course, a student must take and pass the AP Psychology test with an acceptable score. #2304
SOCIOLOGY: Grade 10-12, Semester=1 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
- Sociology involves the scientific study of society. The course includes the following: research methods, culture, norms, roles, groups, social stratification, social institutions, socialization, collective behavior, social change, and social problems. #2302
THE HOLOCAUST – An IN-DEPTH STUDY: Grade 10-12, Semester=1 CR, No Prerequisite, RAI Approved
- Students will examine the Holocaust from a variety of perspectives and sources, including but not limited to fiction and non-fiction texts, personal testimonials, video, and in-class discussion. This class also requires an active role from the students through reading various points-of-view, participation in class discussions, and forming opinions based upon their views of the information provided. This class not only focuses specifically on the Holocaust, it examines the overarching concept of Genocide both historically and throughout the contemporary world today. #2004
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS: Grade=9-12, Year=2 CR, Prerequisite=IEP Team Decision
- Students will focus on essential social studies skills including US and World history, government, and financial literacy. Emphasis is also placed on their ability to think critically and reflectively because with this ability they become citizens who can make informed and responsible decisions. Topics such as: prices, business organization, money, banking, labor, and comparative economic systems will be covered.
INTRO TO US HISTORY: Grade=9, Year=2 CR, Prerequisite=IEP Team Decision
- Intro to US History is a yearlong course, a modified curriculum of the general education US History course. Emphasis is placed on how historical events have influenced students’ lives and how their lives might have been affected if events had happened differently. Emphasis is also placed on their ability to think critically and reflectively because with this ability they become citizens who can make informed and responsible decisions. #321, 3212
INTRO TO WORLD HISTORY: Grade=10, Year=2 CR, Prerequisite=IEP Team Decision
- Intro to World History is modified from the general education World History course. The History of Civilization studies people and events that shape or change the way people live on earth. Thus, this course will investigate the conceptual knowledge of history- the “how” and “why” of change and the recurring themes that provide continuity to our past and present. Special emphasis will be given to the ever-expanding interacting community, the impact of technology on major cultures and the trend toward a global culture and its effect on “traditional values.” #323, 3232
INTRO TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT/ECONOMICS: Grade=11-12, Year=2 CR, Prerequisite=IEP Team Decision
- Intro to American Government/Economics is modified from the general education American Government and Economics courses. The first semester is modified coursework from American Government which gets students familiar with the facts about the foundations of governmental institutions. Instruction is given in the vocabulary, organizational structures, institutions, laws, and legal opinions that make up the framework of American government. The intent is to provide a firm knowledge base, as well as an appreciation of effective citizen participation in the political process and thus to motivate positive, active citizenship. The second semester is modified coursework from Economics. The course will acquaint students with the basic theories and laws that govern production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Topics such as: prices, business organization, money, banking, labor, and comparative economic systems will be covered. #325
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