What does Congress do? What does a candidate need to do to get elected? How much influence does the media have on public opinion, voting, and policy? Where did the American system of government originate? How does it compare to other governments around the world? How does the Supreme Court make its decisions? Students participate in an election simulation, mock legislative hearings, and a Supreme Court case. State and Federal Constitution requirements are met in this course.

This course will examine the institutions, processes, and participants involved in our national government. The course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics Exam offered by the College Board. The federal and state Constitution requirements will be met by this course. Students who have successfully completed U.S. History, AP U.S. History, or American Government and Politics may take this course. Students will be required to purchase a supplemental book for this course.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

Students learn basic economic concepts to help them define their future role as a consumer. Discussion, simulations, and research on economic topics of interest are explored in this course. The student will meet the state requirement for consumer education by successfully completing the course.

This course focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the nation as a whole. Topics include developing students’ understanding of the nation’s economic performance, economic growth, and international economics. The course also operates as a research seminar, allowing a large degree of freedom to pursue individual/small-group topics that are of particular student interest. Because some math calculations are necessary, students should have successfully completed Algebra 2. The student will meet the state requirement for consumer education by successfully completing this course.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

This course focuses on the choices of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers in the context of the nation’s economic system. The course also operates as a research seminar, allowing a large degree of freedom to pursue individual/small-group topics that are of particular student interest. Because some math calculations are necessary, students should have successfully completed Algebra 2. The student will meet the state requirement for consumer education by successfully completing this course.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

This introductory psychology course is intended to give an overview of the more popular topics in psychology. These include classical conditioning, memory, altered states, dreaming, hypnosis, social psychology, abnormal psychology. Students may take EITHER Psychology 1, Psychology 1 and 2, or AP Psychology. If students take Psychology 1 they become ineligible for AP Psychology unless granted approval by the teacher and department chair.

*Note: Students will be required to buy a separate book for this course.

This course is a continuation of Psychology 1 but taught from the scientific perspective, rather than from the popular perspective. Psychology II is more rigorous and requires more outside reading and research than Psychology I. Topics covered include approaches to and methods of psychology, the brain and behavior, aggression/violence, types of psychotherapy, gender communication, psychology of personality, stress and conflict. A term project is a course requirement. Students may take EITHER Psychology 1, Psychology 1 and 2, or AP Psychology. If students take Psychology 1 they become ineligible for AP Psychology unless granted approval by the teacher and department chair.

*Note: Students will be required to buy a separate book for this course.

This 2 term course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board. Original research and data gathering techniques are a special requirement of this course. Topics include how the brain affects behavior, personality, development, and abnormal psychology, among many others. Students will be required to buy a separate book for this course. Students may take EITHER Psychology 1, Psychology 1 and 2, or AP Psychology. If students take Psychology 1 they become ineligible for AP Psychology unless granted approval by the teacher and department chair.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

What factors influence the development of one’s personality? Why do some people resort to criminal behavior? How do families, schools, and peer groups influence behavior? What dating patterns are unique to American teens? Human interaction within groups and cultures is the focus of this course. Personality development, adolescence, deviance, countercultures and subcultures, and socialization are topics for discussion and study.

This course traces the political, social, and economic development of the United States. Students focus on issues, people, and events that have shaped the American culture from Colonial times to the present. This course is designed to help students develop their historical perspective by examining the rich diversity of thought in United States history. This course is considered writing intensive, meeting the Illinois State requirement for graduation.

Advanced Placement United States History is designed to provide students with the skills and factual knowledge necessary to critically analyze the events, trends, and issues in United States history. This course helps students develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment, reasons and evidence in both oral and in written formats. In addition to the regular readings students will be expected to read an approved monograph each term. Students who have successfully completed World Studies, AP World History, or United States History may take this course.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

This course traces the development of western civilization from the late Middle Ages through the post-Cold War era. Social, political, and economic issues and trends are examined to help students develop their historical perspective.

*It is recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

This course emphasizes global world history, focusing on the history, government, and geography of western and non-western countries. Students will examine the similarities between and among past and present societies and civilizations. Throughout this course, students will develop skills in the reading and analysis of primary and secondary sources. Emphasis will be given to historical writing through free response and document based question essays. Students who have successfully completed World Studies or are eligible for Honors English 1 may take this course.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

What is a lawsuit? What determines if a case is civil or criminal? Civil issues (tort liability, discrimination, family issues, negligence) and conflict resolution (negotiation, mediation, arbitration, court) are explored as well as a current Supreme Court cases. Students participate in mock trials, moot courts, simulations, and legal discussions. This course may be taken concurrently with other law courses.

What rights do you have if you are accused of a crime? When do you need a lawyer? What happens when a conviction is appealed to the Supreme Court? Criminal procedure, 4th Amendment search and seizure, 14th Amendment due process, 5th and 6th Amendment protections, 8th Amendment cruel and unusual punishment, and a current Supreme Court case are explored. Students participate in moot courts, mock trials, simulations, and legal discussions. This course may be taken concurrently with other law courses.

Students study the political, social, and economic factors that led to the war, the war itself, and the effects of the aftermath of the war on American society. Students use a variety of resources and investigative tools in order to ask necessary questions, address relevant issues, and support their findings with evidence. Students develop their own interpretations of the time period based on primary and secondary source research.

Students focus on selected regions of the world such as Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. They examine how history, geography, economics and politics shape human interaction over time. Sample topics include what goods and services a society produces, how persons or groups get power and retain or lose it, how humans adjust to climate and terrain where they live, and what tools and methods people use to solve the various problems they face. Current and historical topics are explored through projects, debate, and simulations. Maps, charts, and data analysis help students understand trends, issues, and events both past and present.

Students focus on selected regions of the world such as Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. They examine how history, geography, economics and politics shape human interaction over time. Current and historical topics are explored through projects, debate, and simulations. Emphasis will be given to skill development in reading, writing, and communication. Students will learn essential strategies necessary for academic success in social studies. Throughout this course students will also learn the role of geography and culture in world history.

This course will provide an opportunity to study the interaction of humans and their physical and cultural environments. Students will examine the five themes of geography and apply them to selected areas of the world. The study includes current developments around the world which affect physical and cultural settings. Physical settings studied will include resources, climate, and environmental condition. Cultural settings will consist of population, political structures, lifestyles, economics, and customs. Major emphasis is given to learning the locations of countries throughout the world. By examining a variety of cultural issues through numerous types of media, students will study the cultural, political, economic, and social aspects of countries around the world.