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Civics

This one-semester course prepares students for informed and responsible participation as citizens in the American representative system. Students deepen their awareness of the values expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other foundational documents of the United States. Students learn the purposes and structures of government within the American federal system. Students gain a deeper understanding of the role of the United States in its relations with other nations. Students also learn how citizens exert influence on public affairs and decisions. By participating in this course, students are better prepared to exercise the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Criminology

Criminology isn’t about solving cases and catching perpetrators. Criminologists work to understand why crime happens in the first place. They also focus on how to prevent and address crime. As you go through this course, you’ll be given a series of challenging situations that need the mindset of a criminologist to navigate successfully. The course will encourage you to analyze a range of criminal acts, from shoplifting to hate crimes. By the end, you’ll have an opportunity to envision alternative strategies for dealing with crime in our society and in your own school environment in particular.

Economics (Dual Credit)

This dual credit course is designed to fulfill 1.0 full credit toward high school graduation requirements, including 0.5 credit of Social Studies (Economics Strand) AND 0.5 credit of Personal Finance. Students will be provided an overview of the ways that economics affects the lives of individuals and how individuals, through their economic choices, can shape their world. This one-semester course provides an overview of the basic principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics, including: a) economic theory; b) supply, demand and price; c) economic systems; d) business cycles; e) investments; f) the role of government, g) international trade; and h) consumer choices. Students will also apply the principles of this course to issues related to personal finance.

Essentials Economics

Economic decisions affect us every day of our lives. Understanding economics means thinking about how scarcity, or limited resources, requires us to make choices and evaluate one option against others. In this course, students will recognize examples of economics in your daily life. Students will see how the economic choices of larger groups, like businesses and governments, affect students and others. As students’ progress through the course, students will recognize that the costs and benefits of choices connect individuals and groups around the world. The purpose of this course is to help students become a smart consumer who understands the flow of an economy between individuals, businesses, governments, and the rest of the world. This course is not NCAA eligible.

Essentials U.S. Government

Responsible citizenship, including civil and political participation is essential to maintain a representative government that truly represents the people of the United States. In this course, students learn about the structure of government and how it shares power at the local, state and federal levels. This course also explores founding principles that inspired the Constitution and Bill of Rights, preserving the freedoms that students experience daily. Students will examine the processes of each branch of government, the election process, and how citizens can impact public policy. The media, interest groups and, influential citizens provide examples of how the government can be effected by informed and active participants. Students will examine the U.S. Court system, and become a part of the process by participating in the judicial decision making process. They will also discover ways the United States interacts with countries around the world, through domestic policy, foreign policy and human rights policy. This course is not NCAA eligible.

Essentials U.S. History A

This is a survey course of United States history focusing on the period from the Industrial Revolution through the present. The United States began as an experiment in freedom and democracy. Since its establishment, the country and its people have endured social, political and economic revolutions. In this course, students will investigate the people, events and ideas that have shaped the United States. Students are asked to analyze and evaluate decisions made by political, business, and military leaders. Emphasis is placed on connections between events of the past and present.

Essentials U.S. History B

This is a survey course of United States history focusing on the period from the Civil War through the present. The United States began as an experiment in freedom and democracy. Since its establishment, the country and its people have endured social, political and economic revolutions. In this course, students will investigate the people, events and ideas that have shaped the United States. Students are asked to analyze and evaluate decisions made by political, business, and military leaders. Emphasis is placed on connections between events of the past and present. This course is not NCAA eligible.

Essentials World History A

Join modern time travelers Ali and Soo-jin as they journey through World History and help students discover how world events and eras are connected. In Segment 1, students will learn how the Roman Empire developed in two very distinct directions. Next, students will discover the great intellectual and cultural contributions of the Islamic Empires. They will journey through the Middle Ages of Europe and Japan to learn how knights and samurais lived. While investigating the rise and fall of some of the great kingdoms of the Americas and Africa and then travel back to the Europe of the Renaissance and Reformation era. Segment 2 begins with a bang as students learn about advancements in science and thought during the Age of Enlightenment, as well as the social and political revolutions that followed as a result. As students meander through the 19th century, they will learn about the transformation from an agricultural to an industrial world and the many changes that resulted from that shift. Students will then learn about the interconnectedness of nationalism and colonialism and the two massive world wars that were the end result. As students approach the finish line, they will learn about development in our modern world and the implications that historical events have on us today. This course is not NCAA eligible.

Essentials World History B

Join modern time travelers Ali and Soo-jin as they journey through World History and help students discover how world events and eras are connected. In Segment 1, students will learn how the Roman Empire developed in two very distinct directions. Next, students will discover the great intellectual and cultural contributions of the Islamic Empires. They will journey through the Middle Ages of Europe and Japan to learn how knights and samurais lived. While investigating the rise and fall of some of the great kingdoms of the Americas and Africa and then travel back to the Europe of the Renaissance and Reformation era. Segment 2 begins with a bang as students learn about advancements in science and thought during the Age of Enlightenment, as well as the social and political revolutions that followed as a result. As students meander through the 19th century, they will learn about the transformation from an agricultural to an industrial world and the many changes that resulted from that shift. Students will then learn about the interconnectedness of nationalism and colonialism and the two massive world wars that were the end result. As students approach the finish line, they will learn about development in our modern world and the implications that historical events have on us today. This course is not NCAA eligible.

Personal Finance

Personal Finance examines the decision-making processes behind earning money, spending money, saving and investing to build wealth, use credit, insure one’s self and one’s possessions, and invest in an education. This course is aligned to the Michigan’s K-12 Personal Finance standards adopted in 2023. It is designed to fulfill a 1/2 credit in personal finance that meets subject area content expectations developed by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) required for high school graduation.

Psychology

Introduction to Psychology. This course introduces the student to the various ways that the scientific field of psychology has, and continues to, explore questions concerning the human mind and behavior. Lessons are specifically designed to allow the student to connect with the content in such a way that they learn more about themselves and others while deepening their understanding of the complex interactions between the human mind, body, and behavior.

Sociology

This course provides an overview of sociological theories, methods, and concepts such as culture and socialization, introducing the student to the ways that their lives are affected by the people and social institutions around them. In addition, students will learn about social problems and the impact they have on society.

U.S. History and Geography A

This is the first course of a two-course sequence. The purpose of U.S. history instruction is to foster civic-mindedness, global awareness, and social responsibility. Historical knowledge can empower the development of American citizenship values, active participation, and informed decision-making based on critical inquiry and analysis.. Assignments include short-form free response essays, primary document analysis, and investigative projects. Students will develop social studies-specific skills, including chronological reasoning, historical interpretation of perspective, inquiry, causal thinking, and argumentation.

U.S. History and Geography B

This is the second course of a two-course sequence. The purpose of U.S. history instruction is to foster civic-mindedness, global awareness, and social responsibility. Historical knowledge can empower the development of American citizenship values, active participation, and informed decision-making based on critical inquiry and analysis. Assignments include short-form free response essays, primary document analysis, and investigative projects. Students will develop social studies-specific skills, including chronological reasoning, historical interpretation of perspective, inquiry, causal thinking, and argumentation.

World History and Geography A

This course is the first course of a two-course sequence offering a comparative study of how and why economic, social, political and intellectual factors shaped and defined the history of Western and non-Western civilizations in the ancient, medieval, and early modern eras. This course also incorporates a geographical perspective to help students visualize, comprehend, and ask questions about why the human and physical systems occur in particular patterns and combinations, where they are on Earth’s surface, why they are there, and the consequences for people and the environment. This course has been designed to align with the principles of the State of Michigan’s High School Social Studies Content Standards and Expectations.

World History and Geography B

This course is the second course of a two-course sequence offering a comparative study of how and why selected economic, social, political, and intellectual revolutions of the modern world have transformed and shaped contemporary European and non-Western cultures. This course also incorporates a geographical perspective to help students visualize, comprehend, and ask questions about why the human and physical systems occur in particular patterns and combinations, where they are on Earth’s surface, why they are there, and the consequences for people and the environment. This course has been designed to align with the principles of the State of Michigan’s High School Social Studies Content Standards and Expectations and the Common Core State Standards.