JHS Social Science Classes

   The social science department offers the following classes. Links to course pages will be added as pages are created by JHS teachers. If a class is taught by more than one teacher, the teachers will be listed in parentheses after the class name.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (1-2)

Grade: 11
Prerequisite: None

The American Government courses are designed to provide the student with information and activities that will generate an interest in becoming an active citizen of the United States. Each class includes the basic core program and individual teachers will follow the core program and provide for advanced assignments as the course demands.

Text and materials will be used to help students evaluate the current domestic and foreign affairs of our American Government. Phase 1-2 (General American Government) will provide instruction directed at students with reading difficulty. Students considering attending college or advanced technical studies should not select this course.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (3)

Grade: 11
Prerequisite: Ability to read at grade level

The American Government courses are designed to provide the student with information and activities that will generate an interest in becoming an active citizen of the United States. Each class includes the basic core program and individual teachers will follow the core program and provide for advanced assignments as the course demands. Text and materials will be used to help students evaluate the current domestic and foreign affairs of our American Government. Phase 3 (College American Government) provides instruction directed at students reading at grade level.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT U. S. HISTORY (4)

Grade: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: U. S. History

The Advance Placement (AP) course in United States History is designed for qualified students who wish to complete studies in secondary school equivalent to a college introductory course in U. S. history. The course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States history. The Program prepares students for the Advanced Placement United States History Examination (optional) which is given in May. Students who perform satisfactorily on the exam are granted college credits and/or advanced placement by more than 2,900 colleges and universities worldwide.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT WORLD HISTORY (4)

Grade 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

The purpose of the Advanced Placement (AP) course in World History is to prepare qualified students in understanding the evikytuib of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. Focused primarily on the past thousand years of the global experience, the course builds on an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that along with geography, have set the stage for the world of the 21st Century. The program prepares students for the Advanced Placement World History Examination (optional) and the Advanced Placement European History Examination (optional) which are both given in May. Students who perform satisfactorily on either one or both of the exams are granted college credits and/or advanced placement by more than 2,900 colleges and universities worldwide.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT AMERICAN GOVERNMENT(4)

Grade: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

The American Government courses are designed to provide the student with information and activities that will generate an interest in becoming an active citizen of the United States. Each class includes the basic core program and individual teachers will follow the core program and provide for advanced assignments as the course demands. Text and materials will be used to help students evaluate the current domestic and foreign affairs of our American Government. Phase 4 (Advanced Placement American Government) provides instruction directed at students reading above grade level. This course is designed to prepare the student for the Advanced Placement Exam.

UNITED STATES HISTORY (1-2)

Grade: 9
Prerequisite: None

This course begins with World War I, and will cover material up to the present time. Most work will be completed in class with the textbook presenting the story of the American nation in a very basic and simplified language.

UNITED STATES HISTORY (3-4)

Grade: 9
Prerequisite: None

This course begins with World War I and will cover material up to the present time. Most textbook work will be completed outside of the class and emphasis will be on preparation of the student for success in college.

LIVING THROUGH U.S. HISTORY (1-2)

Grade: 9
Prerequisite: None

The “Living Through History” program is a creative hand on approach to United States History beginning with the Progressive Era and continuing up to the present time. Although U. S. History forms the framework; the program is composed of concepts drawn from all fields of the social sciences. Students are given roles on the first day of the program and then proceed to follow their “family” through the story of American History. They create and develop a nation and the progress and growth of the nation is paralleled by the events that occur through out American History. Textbook is the same one that is used for U. S. History.

LIVING THROUGH U.S. HISTORY (3-4)

Grade: 9
Prerequisite: Ability to read at or above grade level

Same as Living Through History (1-2) but expanded.

WORLD GEOGRAPHY (1-2)

Grade: 10
Prerequisite: None

This course is designed to teach students the urban, economical, historical, cultural and physical aspects of geography. Emphasis will be on the study of state benchmarks and standards that have been established for the study of geography. This course will provide instruction directed at students with reading difficulty. Text and materials will include technological components.

WORLD GEOGRAPHY (3-4)

Grade 10
Prerequisite: Ability to read at grade level

This course is designed to teach students the urban, economic, historical, cultural and physical aspects of geography. Emphasis will be on the study of state benchmarks and standards that have been established for the study of geography. This course emphasizes critical thinking skills, an awareness of process in addition to memorization of facts. Text and material will include a strong technological component.

ECONOMICS (1-2)

Grade: 10
Prerequisite: None

The Economics courses are designed for the student who will continue their education in college or technical studies. Economics deals with the study of how society, using limited resources, goes about producing, distributing, and consuming goods in order to satisfy their unlimited wants. Each class includes the basic core program and individual teachers will follow the core program and provide for advanced assignments as the course demands. Students will participate in a Computer Economic Simulation in competition against students from throughout Michigan. An adult business-industrial advisor (provided by Junior Achievement) will work with each class (on a weekly basis) to further the student’s understanding of work, pay, and economic success.

ECONOMICS (3-4)

Grade: 10
Prerequisite: Ability to read above grade level

The Economics courses are designed for students who will continue their education in college or technical studies. Economics deals with the study of how society, using limited resources, goes about producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services in order to satisfy unlimited wants. Each class includes a basic core program, and individual teachers will follow the core program and provide for advanced assignments as the course demands. An adult business-Industrial advisor (provided by Junior Achievement) will work with each class on a weekly basis to further the students' understanding of work, pay, and economic success.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ECONOMICS (4)

Grade: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Passing Economics (3-4)

Advanced Placement Economics prepares the students for passing both the AP Microeconomics and the AP Macroeconomics exams in May. During the first semester, students will learn in detail about Microeconomic theory, including supply and demand, costs, market structures, and international trade. The second semester deals with Macroeconomics, which involves aggregate demand / aggregate supply, and the many different economic theories. Students who pass the AP Economics exam in May will receive college credit any of 2,900 colleges and universities worldwide.

CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW I

Grade: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

Criminal and Civil Law intends to provide students with a practical understanding of law and the legal system that they use in their everyday lives. Students will research and discuss the human values underlying the legal system, the concept of rights and responsibilities. Emphasis will also be on the range of protection for citizens reflected in the body of contract and consumer laws. Text and primary resources will be used for the course.

CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW II

Grades: 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Criminal Civil Law I, or proficiency in this area as deemed by instructor.

Students will explore in depth the law and the legal system, with emphasis in the area of criminal justice. The focus also will be on mock court trials, trial procedure, Supreme Court cases and participation in student court and conflict resolution. Text and primary resources will be used for this course.

MICHIGAN HISTORY (1-3)

Grade: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

Michigan History is the study of the state of Michigan from pre-historic times to the present. It includes a study of the industry, resources and variety of interests and activities within the state. It also includes a study of geography as well as a study of Jackson County.

PSYCHOLOGY (4)

Grade: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

This is a class designed for students considering pursuing a college education and will present the physiological and psychological development of man from birth through old age. The various psychological stages through which man passes are presented through a textbook, recent research articles relating to human behavior, films exploring specialized areas of psychology, and activities designed to allow students to apply concepts learned. An average or above reading level is required for satisfactory comprehension of assigned materials.

SOCIOLOGY

Grade: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

Sociology is the science that studies human society and social behavior. Its main interest is how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior. Areas of emphasis include cultural values, development of self, defiance and crime, class system, discrimination, status and roles, the family, school, church, and collective behavior and social movement.

WORLD RELIGIONS (3-4)

Grade: 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

This course will introduce the student to the five major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, also included will be a brief study of select groups or movements that have appeared in the American religious scene: Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science and other groups as time permits.