Social Studies

Course Number: 2109310 WORLD HISTORY STANDARD
La Salle Number: 304 Credit: 1
Pre-requisite(s): None

The purpose of this course is to enable students to prepare for their future by examining the past. Students will acquire an understanding of the political, social, and economics development of civilization. The course will begin with an overview of pre-history and continue into the present era. Development of reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking skills will be emphasized.

Course Number: 2109310 WORLD HISTORY
La Salle Number: 303 Credit: 1
Pre-requisite(s): 45th national percentile or higher on the verbal section of the STS High School Placement Test.

The purpose of this course is for the student to acquire an understanding of the political, social and economic development of civilization. The course will begin with an overview of pre-history and continue into the present era. This class will be taught through the extensive use of lectures, class discussions, essays and videos. Development of critical thinking skills on all relevant history interpretations will be fostered.

Course Number: 2109320 WORLD HISTORY HONORS
La Salle Number: 302 Credit: 1
Pre-requisite(s): 8th Grade GPA in English and History of 3.5; Verbal skills section of the High School Entrance Exam – 80th national percentile.

This course traces the development of civilization from pre-historical times to the present. The themes covered in the course include political and economic development, the influence of geography on cultures, the growth of science and technology, and the effect of contact between cultures.

Course Number: 2109380 AP EUROPEAN HISTORY
La Salle Number: 311 Credit: 1
Pre-requisite(s): PSSS English and Social Studies Test – 80th percentile; departmental recommendation.

The purpose of this course is to develop the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems, content, and materials of European historic development. This is done by focusing on persistent themes and changes in history and by applying historical reasoning to seek solutions to contemporary problems.

Course Number: 2100310 US HISTORY
La Salle Number: 317 Credit: 1
Pre-requisite(s): None

The purpose of this yearlong course is to give students an overview of the chronological development of US History from the 15th century AD to the 20th century. This course will focus on the social, political, economic, cultural and scientific advancements that have affected the foundation, development, and growth of our country to the present day.

Course Number: 2100320 US HISTORY HONORS
La Salle Number: 316 Credit: 1
Pre-requisite(s): 70th national percentile on the verbal section of the PSSS or PSAT; departmental recommendation.

The purpose of Honors US History is to challenge the student to explore the cultural, political, economic and social patterns of our nation’s development from times of early exploration to the modern day. The student of US History Honors will also learn how to analyze current issues in a historical context.

Course Number: 2100330 AP US HISTORY
La Salle Number: 318 Credit: 1
Pre-requisite(s): 85th percentile on the verbal section of the PSSS or PSAT; departmental recommendation.

AP US History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn students college credit. It is a two-semester survey of American history from the age of exploration and discovery to the present. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original documents and historiography. A short research paper linking American literature and history is required.

Course Number: 2102310 ECONOMICS
La Salle Number: 332 Credit: .5
Pre-requisite(s): None

The purpose of this course is to acquire an understanding of how society structures, arranges, and distributes its resources to meet its wants. It will deal with the way that individuals, households, firms, industries, and governments decide to employ their given talents and materials to best meet their many desires. Moreover, students will analyze the economic forces by examining their impact and involvement as consumers, investors, workers, citizens, taxpayers and builders. Ultimately, they will understand how all of us are responsible not only for using our resources wisely, but also for electing those who shape our national economic policies.

Course Number: 2102320 ECONOMICS HONORS
La Salle Number: 331 Credit: .5
Pre-requisite(s): 65 or higher national percentile on the verbal section of the PSAT and departmental recommendation.

The purpose of Honors Economics is to challenge the student to explore the science of scarcity and the problems, which the modern world must face when confronted by the fact that natural resources are limited. Students will be encouraged to formulate viable opinions as to how the nations of the world can cooperate within the global economy, which has emerged in the 20th century. Students will also analyze economic forces by examining their impact and involvement as consumers, investors, workers, citizens, taxpayers and builders. All students enrolled in this course will be required to present a research paper on a previously approved economic topic before the completion of the semester.

Course Number: 2106310 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
La Salle Number: 336 Credit: .5
Pre-requisite(s): None

The purpose of this course is to give students the opportunity to learn and understand how our government works and how the dynamics of political forces unfold. Contents will include, but not be limited to, analyzing the structure of American government, studying how the decision-making process is shaped by a balance of power, how the guarantee of freedoms and rights evolved from the Constitution, what role the political parties and interest groups play in determining policies, and how the “American way of life” influences the national political mechanisms. Moreover, students will see the importance of their civic duties and the impact that their involvement in the American political process can have on themselves and society at large.

Course Number: 2106320 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HONORS
La Salle Number: 335 Credit: .5
Pre-requisite(s): 70 or higher percentile on the verbal section of the PSAT and a departmental recommendation

The purpose of American Government Honors is to challenge the student to explore the formation and current status of the United States Government. All students enrolled in this course shall engage in an extensive study of the US Constitution and examples of several State constitutions and their implications in the lives and rights of all citizens. The course will include: analyzing the structure of the American Government, studying how the decision-making process is shaped by a balance of power, what role political parties and interest groups play in determining policies, and how the “American way of life” influences the national political mechanisms. Students will be required to present a research paper on a topic of current debate within the American political scene.

Course Number: 2106420 AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
La Salle Number: 337 Credit: .5
Pre-requisite(s): 85 or higher percentile on the verbal section of the PSAT and a departmental recommendation.

This course will give students a critical perspective on politics and government in the United States. It requires familiarity with various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political reality. Specific content to be covered will include, but not be limited to, an understanding of federalism and the separation of powers, the development of the Constitution, the process of politics, the nature of public opinion, the role of political parties and interest groups, the major formal and informal institutional arrangements of powers, and the development of civil liberties and civil rights. Course outline will adhere to the guidelines of the College Board. Completion of this course may qualify student for college credit.

Course Number: 2107300/2107310 PSYCHOLOGY I / II
La Salle Number: 342/343 Credit: .5
Co-requisite(s): Sociology or Psychology II

The purpose of these introductory courses is to give the students an overview of the social science, which studies human behaviors. This course shall investigate, but not be limited to, the different theories of personality development, from Freudian theory to modern Behaviorist theories. Throughout the courses students shall be encouraged to question the possible merits and failures of the respective psychological theories and to give informed opinions, through the study of the class text and of the topics which shall be discussed. The content will include motivation and emotion, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, statistical research, critical-thinking and decision-making skills

Course Number: 2108300 SOCIOLOGY
La Salle Number: 339 Credit: 5
Co-requisite(s): Psychology I

The purpose of this course is to give the student an overview of the science, which studies human relationships. During the course, students shall investigate the different sociological theories and their importance in the interpretation of our society and its structure. Students shall also be encouraged to investigate and discuss some of the social problems, which are confronting modern day society, and to investigate possible solutions to these problems.

Course Number: 2104600 MULTICULTURAL STUDIES
La Salle Number: 346 Credit: .5
Co-requisite(s): American Mosaic

This course provides juniors and seniors with the opportunity to acquire an understanding of multicultural studies. Topics include, but are not limited to, the influence of geography on the social and economic development to Native American culture, African-American and Hispanic culture. The influence of major historical events on the development of a multicultural American society and a study of the social and economic aspects of American Indians, Hispanic, Asian-Americans, and African-Americans are also included.

Course Number: 2103300 WORLD GEOGRAPHY
La Salle Number: 300 Credit: .5
Pre-requisite(s): None
Co-requisite(s): Global Studies

This course will study the world cultural regions in terms of location, physical characteristics, demographics, historical changes, economic activity and land use.

Course Number: 2104320 GLOBAL STUDIES
La Salle Number: 380 Credit: .5
Pre-requisite(s): None
Co-requisite(s): World Geography

This course will provide the student with the interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to meet responsibilities as citizens of their community, state and nation. This course will cover: interdependence, global issues, culture, international system, pluralism, trans-nationalism, global economy, ecology issues, planetary ethics, human-environment interactions, movement and cultural diffusion.

Course Number: 2104610 AMERICAN MOSAIC
La Salle Number: 359 Credit: .5
Co-Pre-requisite(s): Multicultural Studies

This course is designed to teach students an understanding of many of the diverse groups in American society. Through the study of African-Americans, Hispanics, Women and the Jewish experience in the Holocaust, students will understand what tolerance is and the importance of accepting differences in American society today. Additionally, students will compare and contrast experiences among groups, to not only define their differences but to describe their shared histories. Thus, in teaching the culture of oppression shared by many groups, students will be helped to understand the American Mosaic.