All students are required to earn 3 social studies credits (U.S. History & Geography, U.S. Government & Civics (1/2), Economics (1/2), and World History & Geography).  Students will take US History in 11th grade.  Students are required to take the Challenge Exam for this course to earn an EPSO towards Ready Grad status. 

Tennessee History  (10)

• Prerequisite: None

Students will examine the history of Tennessee, including the cultural, geographic, economic, and political influences upon that history. Students will discuss Tennessee’s indigenous peoples as well as the arrival of EuroAmerican settlers. Students will analyze and describe the foundation of the state of Tennessee. Students will identify and explain the origins, impact, and aftermath of the Civil War. Students will discuss the rise of a manufacturing economy. Finally, students will examine and discuss the Civil Rights Movement and Tennessee’s modern economy and society.

World History and Geography (9)

• Prerequisite: None

This course is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the Industrial Revolution (1700s) through the Contemporary World through historical analysis, problem solving, understanding cause and effect, and geographic analysis and understanding. 

U.S. Government and Civics (10)

• Prerequisite: World History and Geography 

This course is the study of the structure, purpose, and operations of federal, state, and local governments.  This course teaches students the rights and responsibilities of individual citizenship. This is a 9-week course (½ semester; ½ credit) paired with College and Career Prep to complete a full semester of coursework.  

Economics (12)

• Prerequisite: US History & Geography 

This course addresses how individuals and nations make choices for using available but scarce resources to satisfy their unlimited wants and needs. This is a 9-week course (½ semester; ½ credit) and is paired with Personal Finance (½ semester; ½ credit) to complete a full semester of coursework. 

Sociology / Dual Enrollment  (11-12)

• Prerequisite: GPA of 3.0; ACT Reading of 19 or 3.6 GPA

This course focuses on the analysis of human social interaction, patterned social relationships, and social change. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical perspectives and principles of explanation used by sociologists, as well as the basic concepts such as culture, socialization, social organization, social deviance, and social stratification. 

Psychology / Dual Enrollment  (11-12)

• Prerequisite: GPA of 3.0; ACT Reading of 19 or 3.6 GPA

A survey course dealing with the scientific analysis of human behavior and mental processes. 

U.S. History and Geography (11)

• Prerequisite: None

This is a survey course that provides students with an investigation of important political, economic, and social developments in American history from the Industrial U.S. (1870s) to present day. Students will be engaged in activities that call upon their skills as historians (i.e. recognizing cause and effect relationships, various forms of research, expository and persuasive writing, reading of primary and secondary sources, comparing and contrasting important ideas and events, using technology, and verbal presentation). This course meets the requirement for high school graduation and culminates with a state end-of-course exam (EOC).

Honors U.S. History (11)

• Prerequisite: B or higher in 10th Honors; Teacher recommendation

This rigorous, college-preparatory course explores major themes, events, and movements in United States history, emphasizing critical thinking, historical analysis, and strong reading and writing skills. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources, participate in discussions, and complete research-based assignments at an accelerated pace. This course meets the requirement for high school graduation and culminates with a state end-of-course exam (EOC).

AP U.S. History / Advanced Placement (11)

• Prerequisite: B or higher in World History and Geography 9
• Preparation for Exam: Advanced Placement U.S. History Exam offered by the College Board in May
• Offered: Spring 
• Requirement:  Assignments over winter break

The AP program in United States History is a one-semester course designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States history.  The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses which mimics the demands of a full-year introductory college course. 

AP Human Geography (web) / Advanced Placement  (11-12)

• Prerequisite: None
• Preparation for Exam:  AP Exam 

This 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 socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They 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).

AP Macroeconomics (web) / Advanced Placement  (11-12)

• Prerequisite: None
• Preparation for Exam:  AP Exam 

AP Macroeconomics is a college-level course that introduces students to the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination. It also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.

AP Microeconomics (web) / Advanced Placement  (11-12)

• Prerequisite: None
• Preparation for Exam:  AP Exam 

AP Microeconomics is a college-level course that introduces students to the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.

AP Psychology / Advanced Placement (11-12)

• Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation 

The purpose of the AP course in Psychology is to introduce the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Included is a consideration of the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Students are strongly encouraged to take the AP Exam in Psychology at the end of the course. 

AP US Government (web) / Advanced Placement  (11-12)

• Prerequisite: None
• Preparation for Exam:  AP Exam 

AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project.

Personal Finance (12)

• Prerequisite: None
• Graduation Requirement

Personal Finance is a course designed to develop skills in the use of financial principles in making business decisions.  Students will research job qualifications and employment opportunities in finance.  The course includes a study of the allocation of financial resources, the effects of finance and credit institutions on the business community and the impact of financial decisions on the consumer market.  Ethical issues will be presented in this course.  This is a nine-week course (½ semester) paired with Economics (½ semester) to complete a full semester of coursework.