World History - UC Approved

Grade level: 10th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: None

Course description:
World History builds upon what the students have learned during social studies in the 7th and 8th grades.  With this foundation, students are ready to understand the causes and developments of World War I, the unsettled period between 1920 and 1932, and World War II.  The final units include the Cold War period, and 20th century developments in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, where students will gain perspective on current events in those regions.  By the end of the year the students should have established a mental timeline that extends to the present day.

World History Honors*

Grade level: 10th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: B+ (88%) or higher in Literature Honors and History Department Head approval

Course description:
World History Honors course builds upon what the students have learned in the 7th and 8th grades. The course begins with a brief review focusing primarily on the Renaissance, Reformation and Revolution. By late-September students will tackle new material and study the 19th century, including the emergence of industry, Cultural Revolution, nationalism, and imperialism. With this foundation, students will be ready to understand the causes and developments of World War I, the unsettled period between 1920 and 1932, and World War II. The final units will include the Cold War period, and 20th century developments in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, where we will gain perspective on current events in those regions. By the end of the year the students should have established a mental timeline that extends to the present day.

*As an honors class this course requires students to do more reading than a regular history class. The History Department guidelines for honors classes emphasize the importance of higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context. Thus, students will be required frequently to improve their skills by analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating primary and secondary historical sources and then writing down their observations and assertions.

U.S. History - UC Approved

Grade level: 11th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: None

Course description:
U.S. History builds upon knowledge of American History from 8th grade. Students will review our nation’s beginnings and democratic ideals from the colonial period through Reconstruction. Major emphasis will then be placed on the social, economic, technological, and political issues of the Twentieth Century, always looking for the clear evidence of God’s controlling hand in a biblical worldview. Students will work to bring about an awareness that all history relates to God, His creation, His Son and His return. This course will hope to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the cause and effect that historical events have had on mankind.

U.S. History Honors* - UC Approved

Grade level: 11th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in both World History and World Literature and History Department Head approval

Course Description:
U.S. History honors builds upon knowledge of American History from 8th grade. Students will review our nation’s beginnings and democratic ideals from the colonial period through Reconstruction. Major emphasis will then be placed on the social, economic, technological, and political issues of the Twentieth Century, always looking for the clear evidence of God’s controlling hand in a biblical worldview. Students will work to bring about an awareness that all history relates to God, His creation, His Son and His return. This course will hope to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the cause and effect that historical events have had on mankind.

*As an honors class this course requires students to do more reading than a regular history class. The History Department guidelines for honors classes emphasize the importance of higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context. Thus, students will be required frequently to improve their skills by analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating primary and secondary historical sources and then writing down their observations and assertions.

U.S. History Advanced Placement* - UC Approved

Grade level: 11th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in both World History Honors and World Literature Honors and History Department Head approval

Course description:
AP U.S. History will give students a thorough exposure to the history of the United States, from the time of the first arrival of European settlers to the present. The first semester will cover approximately the years 1600 to 1900 and the second semester will cover 1900 until today. As a foundation students will need to know many “people, places and dates,” but they will definitely be expected to use this knowledge to understand, analyze and discuss social, political and economic trends and factors that influenced the various eras of our American past.

*As an Advanced Placement class meant to equal a freshman college course, this class requires students to do significantly more work than a regular history class. In order to succeed, students should possess solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to spend considerable time to homework and study. All students in this class will be expected to pay for and take the AP U.S. History exam in May 2010; a primary class goal will be to prepare for this test. AP curriculum guidelines stress higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context. Thus, students will be required frequently to improve their skills by analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating primary and secondary historical sources and then writing essays to express their observations and assertions.

Civics - UC Approved

Grade level: 12th grade (One Semester)

Pre-requisite: None

Course description:
Civics is designed to help students learn about American Government. Students learn about their responsibility as an American Christian to know the facts and to be prepared to help elect officials that are aligned with Christian beliefs and morals. This course is a study of the American Constitution with emphasis on congressional structure and function, powers of the President, and landmark decisions of the Supreme Court. The evolution of the American federal system through Constitutional amendment will also be examined, along with modern American politics and contemporary issues in the world today.

Economics – UC Approved

Grade level: 12th grade (One Semester)

Pre-requisite: None

Course Description:
Economics is the study of how people try to satisfy what appears to be seemingly unlimited and competing wants through the careful use of relatively scarce resources. A basic understanding of economics can help make sense of the world around us. During the course of this one semester class, students will demonstrate the capacity to identify and verbalize their understanding of the basic economic problems and institutions of the nation and the world. Also, students will make reasoned decisions with regards to economic issues, including problems of scarcity, choices, and economic efficiency.

Civics/Economics Honors*

Grade level: 12th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in both U.S. History and American Literature and History Department Head approval

Course description:
Civics/Economics Honors provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the operation of American national government. To accomplish this, students develop analytic perspectives for interpreting, understanding, and explaining political events in this country. The subjects that the course covers include the Constitution, policy making institutions such as the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary branches of government. Students will discuss public opinion and the media, political participation and voting behavior, political parties, interest groups, and civil liberties and civil rights. Students will prepare to vote, participate in community activities, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship in a global society. Throughout this course students will also gain an understanding of economic concepts and principals.

*As an honors class this course requires students to do more reading than a regular history class. The History Department guidelines for honors classes emphasize the importance of higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context. Thus, students will be required frequently to improve their skills by analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating primary and secondary historical sources and then writing down their observations and assertions.

Humanities – UC Approved

Grade level: 12th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: None

Course description:
This course begins with the premise that art comes from ideas/emotions and form. The course then demonstrates how this is played out in European History. This course serves as a preparation time for the Senior Study Tour in Europe. Students will begin with a survey European History and discuss the major philosophic trends during a given period. Subsequent units will focus on a particular art form and each form will be surveyed in a chronological fashion.