Springfield High School Curriculum Guide

Social Studies

World History I (8th grade) #1955

In this course we begin our study with medieval Europe. Next we move to the Byzantine Empire, Russia and the Muslim World. Africa, Asia, the Renaissance and the Reformation precede our study of the Global Age. The course concludes with the Age of Absolutism which explores the Russian and Prussian empires through the mid 1700s.

World History II - Academic #1910 (1 credit)

Resuming the story of world history started in World History I, this course begins by reviewing the Age of Monarchy, traces the Age of Revolutions and includes such topics as imperialism in Africa and Asia, the World Wars. Concludes with the early cold war years. Grade 9. Prerequisite: World History I

World History II - Honors #1915 (1 credit)

Requires a B in current Honors course or an A in current Academic course. Grade 9. Prerequisite: World History I

U. S. History I - Academic #1925 (1 credit)

Eighteenth and nineteenth century United States will be the focus of both a chronological and thematic study. Colonization, the Early National Period, the Civil War, the West, political and economic growth and industrial development are some of the topics used in the examination of the formation of U.S. culture. Grade 10.

U. S. History I - Honors #1930 (1 credit)

Requires a B in current Honors course or an A in current Academic course. Strong writing skills necessary. Grade 10.

U. S. History II - Academic #1940 (1 credit)

Twentieth century United States is the focus of this course. The world wars, the depression, post-war prosperity, Korea and Vietnam as well as social and cultural developments such as the civil rights movement of the modern United States will be examined in both chronological and thematic approaches. Grade 11. Prerequisite: U.S. History I. (AP US History may be substituted)

U. S. History II - Honors #1945 (1 credit)

Requires a B in current Honors course or an A in current Academic course. Grade 11.(AP US History may be substituted)

U.S. History - Advanced Placement #1960 (1 credit)

This accelerated course dealing with analysis and interpretation of American history prepares the student for the College Board Test given in the spring. Many colleges will give credit or recognition to those who score highly on the test. Grade 11. Prerequisite: U.S. History I and teacher recommendation. (Every-other-day all year)

Global Studies - Academic #1977 (1 credit)

Global Studies provides students with an enhanced grasp of world affairs. The curriculum emphasizes current political, economic and social conditions in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Within the context of the course, organizations and agreements of international nature are addressed including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Requires above average reading and writing skills. Grade 12.

Global Studies - Honors #1979 (1 credit)

Requires a B in current Honors course or an A in current Academic course. Grade 12.

Intro to Psychology - Academic #1980 (1 credit)

This course provides students with an introduction to the study of human behavior through a highly personalized examination of traditional topics related to psychology. Specific content areas include personality and its development, states of consciousness including sleep and dreams, the brain and nervous system, learning and memory, intelligence, sensation and perception, emotion and motivation, stress and abnormal psychology. Methods of study include experiments, case studies, independent research, and stimulating texts and supplemental materials combined with an emphasis on discussion and collaboration. Grades 11-12

Psychology - AP #2283 (1 credit)

AP Psychology covers much of the same content, but students are required to take the Advanced Placement Exam for Psychology in the spring, which requires an additional time commitment for advanced instruction and independent study. Successful students will receive AP credit. This course is also available for dual enrollment for college credit in cooperation with MCCC. (3 college credits). Prerequisite: 11th/12th grade honors students, 10th grade Gifted/Quest, or successful completion of Academic Psychology with teacher recommendation.

Abnormal Psychology #1982 (.5 credit)

Abnormal Psychology curriculum includes an historical investigation of mental illness and an analysis of major models and divergent theories that attempt to explain psychologically disturbed behavior. Specific disorders included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychological Disorders (DSM) are described and analyzed, as are the major current psychotherapies. Grades 11-12. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Psychology course.

Anthropology #1950 (.5 credit)

Anthropology is the holistic study of humankind from both the biological and cultural perspectives. Students will be introduced to its various sub-disciplines, with an emphasis on primatology and archaeology. They will explore various ideas on the origin of humanity, including creationism and evolution by natural selection. Human physical and technological development will be traced using a multimedia approach. In addition, students will also engage in a comparative study of cultural institutions and universals, including in-depth studies of family and kinship patterns, marriage types, political and economic structures, religion and magic and the relative concepts of beauty and art. Grades 10-12.

Sociology #1986 (.5 credit)

In this elective, students will first be introduced to the sociological perspective and methods of investigation. They will also examine several major approaches to understanding how society functions and how individuals and groups interact, compete and cooperate with each other. Students will then apply these skills and knowledge as they go on to examine key sociological issues, including deviance, crime, violence, social class, gender, race, and death and dying. Grades 10-12.